İbrahim Erkal

İbrahim Erkal — Biography

İbrahim Erkal, born in the Narman district of Erzurum, worked as a Turkish singer, lyricist, composer and actor until he passed away in Istanbul on 11 May 2017. Nicknamed the "king of fantezi music," he built a recording career spanning more than three decades and became one of the best-selling artists in Turkish pop and arabesque music, with cumulative album sales reaching into the millions.

He debuted in 1984 under the stage name İbrahim Güzelses with the album Sarhoş Baki, then released further records under his own name, including Sensiz Yaşıyamam. Through the 1990s, albums such as Tutku, Sıra Bende/Aklımdasın and Gönlünüze Talibim brought him mainstream success, while his work at Ulus Müzik also included writing and producing songs for other artists. His single "Canısı" became one of the most popular songs of its year, and he starred in a television film of the same name that drew record audiences. He kept releasing hits into the 2000s, starting with Sırılsıklam.

Beyond music, Erkal wrote poetry, publishing a collection titled Ben Bu Şöhreti Sevmedim in 2002, and received honors at the Kral TV Video Music Awards. Years after his death, he continues to be remembered each spring by his family, including his wife Filiz Erkal and daughter Dilara Erkal.