Gönül Yazar

Gönül Yazar — Biography

Born Mürşide Gönül Özyenginer, Gönül Yazar came into the world on 12 August 1936 in İzmir and is regarded as one of the longest-active names in Turkish art-music, working as both a singer and film actress. Her sister Belkıs Özener also became known as a singer.

She pursued music professionally from 1954, became one of the sought-after voices at TRT Ankara Radio, and released her first recording, a 78 rpm single, in 1962. In 1968 she recorded a Turkish-language version of Marie Laforêt's song "Mon amour, mon ami" titled "Çapkın Kız". Over her career she put out eighteen studio albums and appeared in more than forty films between 1961 and 2007, including Bir Bahar Akşamı, Vurgun, and Bitmeyen Şarkı. She was later honored with the title of State Artist.