Barış Manço was a Turkish musician and a central figure in the development of the Anatolian rock genre. Over a prolific career, he composed roughly 200 songs and achieved success with his band Kurtalan Ekspres. He was also a television host for the program 7'den 77'ye, which reached diverse audiences before his death in 1999.
Barış Manço, born in 1943, emerged as a central figure in the development of the Anatolian rock genre, fusing traditional Turkish folk melodies with Western rock structures. Throughout his career, he composed roughly 200 songs, becoming one of Turkey's most recognized performers before his death in 1999 at the age of 56 in Kadıköy.
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Born in Istanbul, Manço began his musical career while attending Galatasaray High School. In the early 1960s, his work with the band Harmoniler helped catalyze the Anatolian rock movement by blending Turkish folk music with rock and roll arrangements. Following his graduation in 1963, he moved to Europe, studying at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Liège, Belgium. During this period, he performed across Germany, Belgium, and France with groups including Les Mistigris. A significant turning point in his visual identity occurred in 1967 following a car accident, after which he grew his signature moustache to hide a facial scar.
Collaborations and Breakthrough Success
Manço frequently organized his work around various musical collaborators. In 1970, he formed the group Barış Manço Ve... to record the hit single Dağlar Dağlar, which sold over 700,000 copies and cemented his stature in both Turkey and Belgium. He later performed with the band Moğollar and in 1972 established Kurtalan Ekspres, a group that remained a fixture of his performances for the rest of his life. In 1975, he released the conceptual album 2023, while also starring in the feature film Baba Bizi Eversene.
Television and Later Career
In addition to his prolific recording career, which included 1980s albums like Sözüm Meclisten Dışarı and 24 Ayar Manço, he became a household name through his television work. He produced and hosted the long-running show 7'den 77'ye, which allowed him to travel globally and engage diverse audiences. His influence extended beyond music, as evidenced by his recognition as a State Artist and his 1997 appointment as an honorary citizen of Liège. He remained active in the public sphere until his death in 1999, after which he was interred at Kanlıca Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1943, Istanbul
- Died: 1999, Kadıköy
- Education: Galatasaray High School
- Key Band: Kurtalan Ekspres
- Honorary Citizen: Liège (1997)
- Religion: Islam
- Burial Site: Kanlıca Cemetery
- Posthumous Award: Presidential Culture and Arts Grand Awards (2023)
Questions readers ask
What is Anatolian rock?
It is a musical genre that combines traditional Turkish folk music with rock and roll elements, pioneered by artists including Barış Manço.
What was the significance of the 7'den 77'ye television program?
It was a show created and hosted by Manço that featured his international travels and reached audiences of all ages.
