Turkey’s pop great Kayahan dies at 66

ISTANBUL

Well-known 90s Turkish pop singer, songwriter and composer Kayahan has died of cancer, aged 66.

Kayahan, who always wrote his own material, was one of the best-selling musicians in Turkey.

He was diagnosed with soft tissue cancer in 1990, for which he had been receiving long-term treatment. Recovering a couple of times, he relapsed in 2005 and 2014.

He had been under intensive care at Acibadem Maslak Hospital in Istanbul when he passed away at 7:00 (GMT 5:00).

Kayahan, who released some of Turkey’s best selling albums during his career spanning more than 40 years, took to the stage lastly in Istanbul on February 14, celebrated as the Valentine’s Day.

Also a guitar virtuoso, Kayahan was accompanied by his singer wife Ipek Acar and his long-time duet partner Nilufer.

Nilufer sang Kayahan’s compositions most of her career, creating some of Turkey’s best-known pop songs.

Kayahan was born in the Aegean region province of Izmir on March 29, 1949. He spent his childhood in Turkish capital Ankara, and then moved to Istanbul. 

In 1990, he represented Turkey at Eurovision Song Contest with his song “Gozlerinin Hapsindeyim” (I’m Imprisoned by Your Eyes) and ranked seventeenth.

He attained success after releasing his debut album “Yemin Ettim” (I Made a Vow) in 1991. He released tens of albums through out his career. His last album “Biricigime” (To My One and Only) was released in 2007.