Barış Manço

Barış Manço (1943–1999) was a Turkish singer, composer and television personality from Istanbul, widely regarded as one of the founding figures of Anadolu Rock — the genre that fused Western rock instrumentation with Turkish folk melodies, rhythms and instruments like the saz. He began performing while still a student at Galatasaray Lisesi in the late 1950s and went on to lead the band Kurtalan Ekspres for most of his career, becoming one of the most recognizable voices in Turkish popular music.

His songwriting drew on Anatolian folklore, social commentary and playful humor, producing enduring hits such as «Gülpembe», «Kara Sevda», «Dağlar Dağlar» and «Sarı Çizmeli Mehmed Ağa». Several of his compositions were translated and covered internationally in languages including Greek, Arabic, Japanese and French, giving him a rare reach beyond Turkey for an artist of his era.

Beyond music, Manço became a beloved television host, most famously with the long-running program «7den 77ye», and was known for his extensive travels and documentary work across dozens of countries. He remains a cultural icon in Turkey, remembered as much for his artistic versatility as for his role in shaping a distinctly Turkish rock sound.