Neşet Ertaş

Neşet Ertaş (1938 – 25 September 2012) was a Turkish folk music artist, lyricist, modern ashik and virtuoso of the traditional Turkish instrument the bağlama. His profession in Turkish is known as halk ozanı, which literally means "folk bard". Yaşar Kemal gave Ertaş his nickname, "Bozkırın Tezenesi" (literally: "Plectrum of the Steppe"), writing it in a book he gave him as a gift.

Early years and family life Neşet Ertaş was born in 1938, in Kırtıllar, a village in Kırşehir. His father, Muharrem Ertaş, was also a folk poet. His mother, Döne Koç, was Muharrem's second wife, whom he married after his first wife, Hatice, died early. Neşet was the second of four children; he had an older half-brother, Necati, from his father's first marriage and two younger sisters, Ayşe and Nadiye.

His mother Döne also died early, and his father married again, to Arzu. From his third marriage four sons, Ekrem, Ali, Muharrem and Cemal, were born. The couple divorced after ten years of marriage.

Music career At the age of five and six, Neşet Ertaş started to play first the violin and then the bağlama, the Turkish national instrument. His father earned his living by playing at wedding ceremonies in Central Anatolian villages, and for eight years Neşet accompanied him. As a result, he was not able to finish primary school.

He interpreted musical pieces of the Abdal-Turkoman tradition.

In 2010, Neşet Ertaş was honoured with the UNESCO "National Living Human Treasure" award. His body was flown to Ankara, from where it was transported to Çiçekdağı in Kırşehir Province. After the religious funeral held in Ahi Evran Mosque, which was attended by high-ranked politicians such as Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Minister of Culture Ertuğrul Günay and opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and renowned people from the Turkish music scene such as Orhan Gencebay and Arif Sağ along with ten thousand others, he was buried at the foot of his father's grave as he had requested in his will.

Discography Singles Neden Garip Garip Ötersin Bülbül Hareli Gelin Diloylu Halay Havası Varıp Bir Kız On Yaşına Değince Şeytanın Atına Binip Yeldirme Bir Leyla Misali Yardan Tatlısı Bulunmaz Engeller Koymuyor Yar Sana Varsam Ceylan Vefasız Yar Aşkına (vay bana vah bana) Kıbrıs Destanı (Kıbrıs Barış Harekatından Sonra Yazmış Olduğu Türküsü) Giyindim Kuşandım Gittim Düğüne Aşk Elinden Ağlayan Sar Leyla Leyla(ayrıldığı karısına yazmıştır) Hasta Düştüm Tor Şahin Misali Uyma Sakın

Albums 1957 – Neden Garip Garip Ötersin Bülbül 1960 – Gitme Leylam 1979 – Türküler Yolcu 1985 – Sazlı Oyun Havaları 1987 – Türkülerle Yaşayan Efsane Deyişler Bozlaklar Türküler 1988 – Gönül Ne Gezersin Seyran Yerinde 1988 – Kendim Ettim Kendim Buldum 1988 – Kibar Kız 1989 – Hapishanelere Güneş Doğmuyor 1989 – Sazlı Sözlü Oyun Havaları 1990 – Gel Gayri Gel 1992 – Şirin Kırşehir 1993 – Kova Kova İndirdiler Yazıya 1995 – Seçmeler 2 1995 – Seçmeler 3 1995 – Seher Vakti 1995 – Altın Ezgiler 3 1995 – Benim Yurdum 1997 – Nostalji 1 1998 – Ölmeyen Türküler 2 1999 – Ölmeyen Türküler 3 1998 – Gönül Yarası 1999 – Zahidem 2000 – Hata Benim 2000 – Agla Sazim 2000 – Sevsem Oldururler 2001 – Dostlara Selam 2001 – Sabreyle Gonul 2002 – Vay Vay Dunya 2003 – Yolcu 2007 – Acem Kiz 2008 – Neset Ertas 2009 – Neset Ertas Turkuleri 2