APersonIndependent states
Zeki Müren
"The Sun of Art" (1931–1996), the most beloved singer of Turkish art music, also a composer and actor.
Zeki Müren was born in Bursa. In 1951 he passed the Istanbul Radio audition and became famous after his first live broadcast. The clarity of his voice and his flawless diction set a new standard for singing the şarkı.
He sang hundreds of songs, composed many himself and acted in films. His glittering costumes and the catwalk that brought him close to the audience are seen as the beginning of show culture in Türkiye, and he received the country's first gold record.
He died on stage on 24 September 1996 during a ceremony in his honour in İzmir. His house in Bodrum is now the Zeki Müren Arts Museum.
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Updated: October 2, 2026