Who is Ferdi Tayfur?

Tayfur's education ended with the death of his father. His mother remarried, and despite his desire to study, he was unable to do so due to the impoverished and tragic life he led, working as an apprentice in his stepfather's candy shop during his childhood.

The artist, who learned to read and write while working, later began contributing to his family's livelihood by working on a farm; during those same years, he sang at weddings.

- Participated in the Adana Radio music competition

After seeing an advertisement in a local newspaper, he participated in the Adana Radio music competition and placed second. Despite his stepfather's opposition, he came to Istanbul, found work at the Lunapark Casino, and began playing the bağlama with Nurten İnnap.

Ferdi Tayfur, who recorded his first record titled "Leyla" and earned 500 liras from it, signed a two-record deal with Seda Plak in 1968. Failing to receive the expected attention, the artist returned to Adana and took over the work on the farm.

Continuing his musical work during these years, the artist released the record "Huzurum Kalmadı" after a three-year hiatus. He gained attention in 1973 with the 45-rpm record "Kır Çiçekleri," which he made for Görsev Plak, and made a name for himself in 1974 with the 45-rpm record "Bana Gerçekleri Söyle."

- Gained a wide fan base with the song "Çeşme"

In 1975, Ferdi Tayfur transferred to Elenor Plak and gained a wide fan base with the songs "Bırak Şu Gurbeti" and "Çeşme," making his name known throughout the country.

Although his first record sold more than expected, the artist, whose two songs he composed were sold to Gülden Karaböcek due to financial difficulties at the initiative of Elenor Plak owner Atilla Alpsakarya, achieved his real breakthrough with the song "Çeşme." His first feature film of the same name, in which he starred alongside Necla Nazır, was released in 1976 and was watched by 12 million people.

Tayfur's 1992 album "Prangalar" became one of Turkey's best-selling albums with 5 million copies. Meeting his fans at concerts, Tayfur's 1993 concert at Gülhane Park broke the record of the time with 200,000 attendees.

The artist had a son named Timur from a woman he lived with when he was 16-17 years old. He married Zeliha Hanım in a modest ceremony in 1974. He had two daughters named Tuğba and Funda from Zeliha Hanım, his first and only legally wedded wife.

He had a daughter named Tuğçe from cinema actress Necla Nazır, with whom he lived for about 30 years and separated from in 2007. While he was with Necla Nazır, another child named Ferdi Taha was born to the artist from Habibe Ümyani Demir. After many years, Tayfur began living with his first wife, Zeliha Turanbayburt, again in 2010.

The artist, who had been living in Marmaris for a long time, passed away on January 2, 2025, at the hospital where he was receiving treatment in Antalya.

Throughout his musical career, he was awarded 9 Gold Records as well as numerous best singer and honorary awards by various institutions and organizations.

The beloved name of Arabesque music, Ferdi Tayfur, won the admiration of his fans with dozens of albums he signed and the feature films he starred in, in addition to many songs he performed such as "İçim Yanar," "Bana Sor," "Yaktı Beni," "Hatıran Yeter," "Ben de Özledim," "Sabahçı Kahvesi," "Merak Etme Sen," and "Benim Gibi Sevenler."

- His albums and songs:

1967 - Melekler Yüze Güler/Derdin nedir sormuyorlar

1968 - Leyla/Aşkınla Beni Öldürdün

1968 - Tatlı Çingenem/Adana Barajında

1968 - Eyvah/Kalbimde Bir Ateştin

1969 - Dilek Kapısı/Öldürecek Beni Bu Kara Sevda

1969 - Dünya Ahret Kardeşimsin/Bilemem ki Deli Gönül

1970 - Kaderimsin /Çok Bekledim Gelmedin

1971 - Yapıştı Canıma Bir Kara Sevda/Allah Şahidim Olsun

1971 - Nerelerdesin Sultanım / Sebebim Nazlı Yar Oldu

1972 - Mahkumların Duası / Mahşer Günü

1972 - Sana Kaderimsin Dedim / Postacılar

1973 - Dur Dinle Sevgilim / Kır Çiçekleri

1974 - Yüreğimde Yara Var / Bana Gerçekleri Söyle

1974 - Ne Bilirdim Ki / Sakın Düşme

1975 - Akşam Güneşi / Çiçekler Açsın

1975 - Bırak Şu Gurbeti / Sevdalılar Beni Anlar

1975 - Çeşme / Muhtaç Etme Beni

1976 - Alıştım / Yağmur Gözyaşım

1976 - Yadeller – Ağlamazsam Uyuyamam

1976 - Huzurum Kalmadı

1977 - Benim Gibi Sevenler / Söz Geçmiyor Gönlüme

1977 - Vazgeç Felek / Derbeder

1977 - Batan Güneş

1978 - Merak Etme Sen / Söz Veriyorum

1978 - Son Sabah

1979 - Hapishane (Görüş Günü) / Gönül Oyunu

1979 - Yuvasız Kuşlar

1980 - Nisan Yağmuru

1981 - İnsan Sevince

1982 - Ben De Özledim Odebs Plak

1983 - Sen de mi Leyla

1984 - Yaktı Beni

1985 - Kurtuldum

1986 - Ferdifon'dan Seçmeler 1

1986 - Haram Oldu

1978 - Ferdifon'dan Seçmeler 2

1987 - İçimde Bir His Var - Ya Benimsin Ya Toprağın

1987 - Ferdifon'dan Seçmeler 3

1988 - Naz Etme - Canına Okuyacağım

1989 - Allah'ım Sen Bilirsin (albüm)

1989 - Ferdifon'dan Seçmeler 4

1989 - Gülhane'den Sevgilerle Konser Albümü

1990 - Hoşçakal

1991 - Ferdifon'dan Seçmeler 5

1991 - Gelirsen - Bana da Söyle

1992 - Prangalar

1994 - Mor Güller - Fadime'nin Düğünü

1995 - Dünya "Bir Şarkı Seç Kendine"

1996 - Zaman Tüneli Arşiv 1 Derleme

1997 - Of Dağlar

1998 - Ferdi Tayfur Klasikleri Arşiv 2 Derleme

1999 - Yoksun - Kör Talih

1999 - Zengin Olursam

2001 - Zaman Tüneli Arşiv 3 Derleme

2002 - İnceden

2003 - Durun Ayaklarım

2003 - Yandı Gönlüm

2004 - Ferdifon'dan Seçmeler 6

2004 - Bir Demet Gül

2006 - Aşkın Cezası

2007 - Gençliğimin Şarkıları

2009 - Boynu Bükük Şarkılarım

- Films he starred in:

1981 - Kara Gurbet

1982 - Sen de mi Leyla

1983 - Yıldızlar da Kayar

1983 - Kalbimdeki Acı

1976 - Çeşme

1977 - Derbeder

1977 - Benim Gibi Sevenler

1978 - Yadeller

1978 - Batan Güneş

1978 - Son Sabah

1979 - İnsan Sevince

1980 - Boynu Bükük

1980 - Huzurum Kalmadı

1980 - Durdurun Dünyayı

1981 - Bir Damla Ateş

1981 - Olmaz Olsun

1981 - Ben de Özledim

1982 - Günaha Girme

1982 - Hasret Sancısı

1983 - Yaktı Beni

1984 - Çılgın Arzular

1984 - Utanıyorum

1985 - Haram Oldu

1985 - Her Şeyim Sensin

1986 - Affet Allah'ım

1986 - İçimde Bir His Var

1987 - Ya Benimsin Ya Toprağın

1987 - Sevgiler Çiçek Gibi

1988 - Ah Bir Çocuk Olsaydım

1988 - Elveda Mutluluklar

1988 - Bu Talihimin Canına Okuyacağım

1989 - Bu Şehrin Geceleri

1989 - Allah'ım Sen Bilirsin

2007 - Ben Ferdi Tayfur

2007 - Natuk Baytan Belgeseli

- TV series he appeared in:

2002 - Reyting Hamdi

2000 - Hayatım Roman

2007 - Yersiz Yurtsuz

2008 - Memur Muzaffer