The life of İlham Gencer is being adapted for the big screen
Following Müslüm Gürses, Bergen, Dilber Ay, and Cem Karaca, the life of another famous figure is being turned into a film. The life of jazz pianist İlham Gencer, who passed away in 2023, is being brought to the cinema. The artist's son, Bora Gencer, announced, "My father's life will be adapted for the big screen."
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As one of Turkey's first pianist-singers, İlham Gencer made significant contributions to the popularization of jazz music in the country.
Gencer, who passed away at the age of 101, left his fans deeply saddened by his death.
The artist's musician son, Bora Gencer, announced that İlham Gencer's life would be adapted for the cinema.
'WE ARE IN DISCUSSIONS'
Gencer stated, "We are in discussions with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The budget issue is being addressed. My father's life will be adapted for the big screen. The release date has not yet been finalized. In addition to the film project, I have also written a book about his life. We will launch the film and the book at the same time."
Gencer was born in Istanbul on August 30, 1922. Stating that he first started music in 1931 with lessons from his mother and by playing the console piano in their home, Gencer mentioned in an interview that he did not receive any other formal music education, and therefore did not actually know how to read music, playing and singing by improvisation. He composed his first piece, "İlham Vals" (İlham Waltz), at the age of five and gave his first concert at the Saray Cinema at the same age.
Graduating from "Beyoğlu High School for Boys" in 1943, İlham Gencer began his musical life as an amateur in the People's Houses (Halk Evleri). In 1944, he continued his music career professionally in Beyoğlu. The first local jazz group of the era included İlham Gencer on piano, Badi Kemal on trumpet, Mehmet Akter on clarinet, and Türkan Pasiner on vocals.
He formed another music group in 1949. He hosted programs on Istanbul Radio from 1949 to 1963. In the 1950s, he taught the song "Kâtibim" to American singer Eartha Kitt. The song, also known as "Üsküdar'a Gider İken", became a worldwide hit. In 1960, he opened his own venue, "Çatı Kulübü" (Roof Club), in Şişli, Istanbul. He introduced many singers to the music world at this club and provided opportunities for some singers to develop their own styles.
In 1961, at the "Çatı Kulübü," Gencer performed the song "C'est écrit dans le Ciel," which had been made famous that year by Lebanese-born French singer Bob Azzam, in Turkish with fun lyrics written by Fecri Ebcioğlu. This track was the first pop song sung in Turkish. The song, now titled "Bak Bir Varmış Bir Yokmuş," was first released in 78 RPM shellac record format and later as a 45 RPM vinyl record, receiving great interest nationwide.
Thus, "Bak Bir Varmış Bir Yokmuş" went down in Turkish pop history as the song that started the "arrangement" music movement, which would last for about a decade in Turkey.
İlham Gencer entered the top 10 with his song "Zamane Kızları" in the "Golden Microphone" competition, organized for the first time by the Hürriyet newspaper in 1965. İlham Gencer married singer Ayten Alpman in 1953, and they separated in 1961. His second marriage was to Necla Gencer. His children, Bora Gencer, Ayşe Gencer, and İlhan Gencer, were also involved in music.
Gencer, who founded the "Association for Protecting and Sustaining the Beauties of Istanbul," passed away in Bodrum on May 24, 2023.