Turkish rock legend Erkin Koray dies at 82

Turkish rock singer, songwriter, guitarist, and electro-baglama player, Erkin Koray, died on Monday at the age of 82.

The rock legend passed away in a hospital in Toronto, Canada, where he has been living for the few years before his death.

Damla Koray, the late singer’s daughter, said “My father was nearing the end of his illness. He was put to sleep so that he would not suffer any more pain,” hours before his death.

“He proved that he is an extreme person in this as well as in everything else,” she added.

She then announced his death on her Instagram account saying that there will be a commemoration event later for his fans.

Koray was born in Istanbul in 1941 and had passion for music ever since his early childhood. He started his career in the 1950s when he was in high school.

He released 45 records of English songs in 1966, but they did not sell well, and so he decided to make his next songs in Turkish.

In 1967, Koray released his first album which became famous across Türkiye. Throughout his career, he adapted songs from artists such Pink Floyd and Cream.

Koray released 15 albums from 1973 to 1999 with well known songs such as İlla Ki, Deli Kadın, Öyle Bir Geçer Zaman Ki, Arapsaçı, Fesupanallah, and Yalnızlar Rıhtımı.

He made history in Turkish music when he produced the electric Turkish bağlama. Erkin Koray is a turkish legend that will be remembered for many years to come.