Arif Susam

Arif Susam — Biography

Arif Susam is a Turkish tavern-music singer born in 1956 in Elazığ. He spent eight years studying classical Western music at the Istanbul Conservatory, served his military duty as an orchestra conductor at the Yeniköy Officers' Club, and began performing on stage in Tarabya in 1982.

He released his debut album, Efsane Aşk, in 1984, and alongside Cengiz Kurtoğlu became one of the earliest names on the Şahin Özer label as tavern music rose in popularity. His 1986 release Tavernada Yıldönümü sold more than 1.5 million copies nationwide, marking the peak of his career; since most of his albums are live recordings that capture his on-stage banter between songs, he is often credited with shaping a distinctive style within the genre.

Susam performed for many years at a venue in Emirgan before continuing his residency for roughly five more years in Kumkapı, and he has also occasionally appeared on screen as an actor in film and television projects.