Gülden Karaböcek

Gülden Karaböcek — Biography

Born Saniye Gülden Göktürk on November 4, 1953, in Ankara, Gülden Karaböcek is a Turkish singer known for blending Turkish folk music with arabesque and 'fantezi' pop styles. She launched her professional music career in the early 1970s and quickly became one of the leading voices of arabesque music, also appearing in the 1978 film 'Dilek Kutusu'. She is the sister of fellow singer Neşe Karaböcek.

Often referred to as the 'queen of arabesque', Karaböcek kept up an active touring schedule through 2025 and 2026, performing in cities across Turkey including Istanbul, Erzurum, Edirne, Iğdır, Kars, Marmaris, and Kayseri. A joint performance with fellow singer Ömür Gedik in March 2026 drew considerable attention. In late 2025, she also went public with a legal dispute against a music company over the unauthorized use of her work.