Zeki Müren

Zeki Müren (; 2 January 1931 – 24 September 1996) was a Turkish classical music artist, composer, songwriter, actor and poet. Known by the nicknames "The Sun of Art" he was one of the prominent figures of Turkish classical music. Due to his contributions to the art industry, he was named a "State Artist" in 1991. He was the first singer to receive a gold certification in Turkey and throughout his career recorded and released hundreds of songs on cassettes and phonograph records.

Life and career Childhood and education Müren was born in the Hisar district of Bursa, at the wooden house number 30 on Ortapazar Road as the only child of Kaya and Hayriye Müren. His father was a timber merchant.

Müren went to the Bursa Osmangazi School (later Tophane School and Alkıncı School). When he was at school, his musical ability was discovered by his teachers and he started to have a prominent role at school musicals. His first ever role was the character of a shepherd in one of these musicals. In 1976, he became the first Turkish artist to perform at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Throughout his career, Müren recorded 600 cassettes and phonograph records. His first song recorded on a phonograph was "Bir Muhabbet Kuşu" by Şükrü Tunar. With his song "Manolyam" in 1955, Müren became the first Turkish artist to receive a gold certification. In 1991, he was chosen as a State Artist.

Other ventures In 1965, he published a poetry book called Bıldırcın Yağmuru (The Quail Rain), which contains nearly 100 poems. Zeki Müren started acting in the movie Beklenen Şarkı in 1953. After this movie, he acted in 18 more movies. In 1965, he played the leading role in the play Tea and Sempati, staged by Arena Theatre.

Public image Public reception of Müren's fashion sense, and persona is controversial. In the 1950s, with his special patterns of behavior, dressing and his performance on stage, he managed to keep people constantly interested in himself. In the early years of his career, he chose to wear ordinary clothes and hair styles, but later showed a favor for feminine-styled clothes, and performed with new hair styles and make-up. In 1958 he wore a sequin jacket for the first time in his career. In 1970, he put on a costume featuring a miniskirt as a first for him. He is one of the first representatives of cross-dressing in the public sphere in Turkey.

Personal life Zeki Müren never married. He never commented on his sexual orientation and occasionally his name appeared alongside that of women. The general opinion was that he was gay. He was known to speak Turkish very clearly. Referred to as the "Pasha of Music", in 1969, after his Aspendos concert, for the first time, he started being favored by the people of Antalya. He explained that although he was delighted because of their support, he still did not know why he was that much favored. He served as an assistant officer in Ankara Infantry School (6 months), Istanbul Harbiye Representative Office (6 months) and Çankırı (3 months) in 1957–1958. On 24 September 1996, during the ceremony held for him at TRT İzmir Television in Kültürpark, he had a heart attack and died. His funeral ceremony was attended by a large number of people. His body was taken to his birth place, Bursa, and buried in Emirsultan Cemetery.

He left all his assets in his will to the Turkish Education Foundation and Mehmetçik Foundation. TEV and Mehmetçik Foundation built Zeki Müren Fine Arts Anatolian High School in Bursa in 2002. In a statement on 24 September 2016, TEV Bursa branch president Mehmet Çalışkan said that the foundation had helped 2,631 students with the Zeki Müren Scholarship Fund over the last 20 years.

After his death, the house in which the artist lived in Bodrum for the last years of his life was transformed into Zeki Müren Art Museum by the order of the Ministry of Culture and was opened to the public on 8 June 2000. It was visited by more than 200 thousand people between its opening on 8 June 2000 and December 2006. enclosed in the nearby glass viewing garage.

Legacy With Onur Akay's suggestion on TRT Music, Müren's date of birth (6 December) has been celebrated as the Turkish Art Music Day since 2012. On 6 December 2018, a Google Doodle was displayed to celebrate his 87th birthday.

Discography Studio albums Albums published during his lifetime

Singles + Playlist with selected list positions, release year and album name Single Year Format Notes Hem Okudum Hem Yazdım 1951 Asmalar Kol Uzatmış 1951 Gönlümün Baharı Bir Gün Açacak 1953 Zehretme Hayatı 1955 Ruhumda Yine Aşk Bestesi Var 1955 Hasret Acısı 1957 Yiğidin Alnına Yazılan Gelir 1957 Karanlık Geceler Beklerim Yolunu 1957 Bende Hicran Yarasından 1958 Gözlerinin İçine Başka Hayal Girmesin 1958 Züğürt: Nem Alacak Felek Benim 1959 Zennobe 1960 Senden Ayrı Günlerimde 1962 Renk Almış İpek Saçların 1962 İki Damla Gözyaşı 1970 Hayat Kumarı / Mahpushane 1973 45s Şarkıların Kaderi 1974 45s Nasıl İçmem Arkadaşım 1977 45s Kandil / Mutluluğun Sırrı 1986 45s Madem Derdimi Sordun Dinlemeye Mecbursun 1987 Aşk Kurbanı 1998 45s Published posthumously Yemen Türküsü 2016 Published posthumously Biz Ayrılamayız 2018 Published posthumously Günah Defteri / Hasret Ateşi 2018 45s Published posthumously Su Akar Şırıl Şırıl 2018 Published posthumously Sus Kalbim Sus 2018 Published posthumously Canım Benim Gülüm Benim 2018 Published posthumously The phrase "45s" indicates that the singles were published as vinyl records.

Compilation albums + Playlist with selected list positions, release year and album name Album Year Format Notes 1992 Batmayan Güneş 2006 Taş Plak Klasikleri 2019

Albums released abroad + Playlist with selected list positions, release year and album name Album Year Records Notes The Best of Zeki Müren Love Songs Folk Songs Popular Songs of İstanbul 1964 Balkan Records The Golden Voice of Zeki Müren 1964 Balkan Records Latest Hits of Zeki Müren 1964 Balkan Records The Golden Voice Zeki Müren 1964 Balkan Records Zeki Müren Altın Sesli The Golden Voice 1964 Balkan Records

Duo albums + Playlist with selected list positions, release year and album name Album Year Format Notes 1998 He sang with Muazzez Abacı.

Albums released posthumously 2000: Muazzez Abacı ve Zeki Müren Düet 2002: Zeki Müren: 1955-1963 Kayıtları 2005: Selahattin Pınar Şarkıları 2005: Sadettin Kaynak Şarkıları 2006: Batmayan Güneş 2008: Baş Başa Radyo Günleri 1 2008: Baş Başa Radyo Günleri 2 2008: Baş Başa Radyo Günleri 3 2009: Lunapark Konseri 2009: Saklı Kayıtlar 1952-1984

In addition to these, there are 12 other albums attributed to Zeki Müren published during 1968–1974 by Grafson Plak.

Filmography International titles are given in parentheses.

YearFilmDirectorTaskNotesSourceActorMusic directorScriptwriterSoundtrack Role 1953 Beklenen Şarkı (Awaited Song)Orhon Murat Arıburnu, Sami Ayanoğlu, Cahide Sonku Zeki His only movie with Cahide Sonku. 1955 Son Beste (The Last Musical Composition) Arşavir Alyanak Zeki Müren 1957 Berduş (The Vagabond) Osman F. Seden Bedri 1958 Altın Kafes(Gilded Cage)Osman F. Seden 1959 Kırık Plak(The Broken Disk)Osman F. Seden Zeki Müren Work in the Credits: Zeki Müren is mentioned. The screenplay is Bülent Oran. Gurbet (Foreign Place)Osman F. Seden 1962 Hayat Bazen Tatlıdır (Sometimes Life Is Enjoyable)Nejat Saydam 1963 Aşk Hırsızı (Love Thief)Osman F. Seden Zeki 1963 Bahçevan (The Gardener)Nejat Saydam Fındık Ali 1964 İstanbul Kaldırımları(Pavements of Istanbul)Metin Erksan Zeki 1965 Hep O Şarkı (Always That Song)Atıf Yılmaz 1966 Düğün Gecesi (The Wedding Night)Osman F. Seden 1967 Hindistan Cevizi (The Coconut)Osman F. Seden Zeki1968İstanbul'da Cümbüş Var(There is a Revel in Istanbul)Sırrı Gültekin Zeki Müren 1968 Kâtip (Üsküdara Giderken) (Kâtip)Ülkü Erakalın Katip 1969 İnleyen Nağmeler (Howling Tunes)Safa Önal Zeki Müren Kalbimin Sahibi(Owner of my Heart)Safa Önal 1970 Aşktan da Üstün (Fallen Out Of Love)Atıf Yılmaz Zeki 1971 Rüya Gibi Like A DreamLütfi Akad Zeki 1975 Deli Deli Tepeli(Crazy Crazy Crested)Nejat Okçugil Zeki

Others Clips he has appeared in or songs dedicated to him Year Artist Song Album Notes 2002 Aziza Mustafa Zadeh Ayrılık Shamans In an interview she said she is a fan of Zeki Müren. 2006 Nil Karaibrahimgil Bu mudur? Tek Taşımı Kendim Aldım In his video, she included the scenes with Zeki Müren.