Who is Ayhan Küçükboyacı, known as Balık Ayhan, and how old is he? What is his illness?

Ayhan Küçükboyacı, known as Balık Ayhan, one of the beloved names in Romani music, was taken to Prof. Dr. Cemil Taşcıoğlu City Hospital by his relatives after falling ill on Saturday evening.

The famous artist, who was brought to the hospital with complaints of shortness of breath, was admitted to the intensive care unit and placed in a medically induced coma as a precaution. While Küçükboyacı's condition is being closely monitored and his treatment continues, his family and loved ones are waiting at the hospital with hope.

The artist's daughter, Şans Küçükboyacı, expressed her feelings in a statement made in front of the hospital:

'The doctors are not mentioning a critical situation at the moment, but he has been put to sleep as a precaution. This decision was made to avoid panic. Our doctors will provide detailed information, and we will make a statement later. We have been at the hospital since Saturday. He had a respiratory problem and was taken to intensive care. He has been sedated for two days. We love our father very much; this process is quite difficult for us. We never lose hope in God, and we believe we will receive good news about him.'

WHO IS BALIK AYHAN?

The famous musician and singer Ayhan Küçükboyacı, known as Balık Ayhan, was born in the Hacıhüsrev neighborhood of Istanbul. A child of a Romani family, Ayhan is the youngest of eight siblings. Growing up in an environment intertwined with music, the artist developed his first sense of rhythm with darbukas he made from tin cans.

He owned his first real darbuka when he was just 6 years old and began playing percussion instruments at neighborhood weddings from a very young age. He later improved himself by taking private lessons and stepped into his professional music career at the Galata Tower at the age of 16.

He made a strong entry into the music world with his album "Yaşayan Ruhlar" (Living Souls) released in 1992, and subsequently made his name known to large audiences with his albums "İstanbul İmparatorları" (Emperors of Istanbul) and "Bab’ı İstanbul" (Gate of Istanbul). Balık Ayhan, who has also composed music for many motion pictures, has become one of the most beloved names in Romani music. He has stated that he earned the nickname "Balık Ayhan" (Fish Ayhan) because when the elders of the neighborhood would take him from his mother's arms when he was small, he would slip out of their arms like a fish.

In addition to his music career, the artist has also appeared as an actor in the motion pictures "Dansöz" (The Belly Dancer), "Ispanaktan Nağmeler" (Melodies from Spinach), "Kehribar" (Amber), and "Baba Bi Buçuk" (Father One and a Half), as well as the television series "Delikanlı" (Young Man).

News Source: 12punto