On the 30th anniversary of his death, Müren is remembered for his work in the field of stage and visual arts, as well as his musical career.
The artist, who is the only child of Kaya and Hayriye Müren, who migrated from Skopje to Bursa, was born in Bursa on January 2, 1930, according to some sources, and on December 6, 1931, according to some sources.
Müren, whose interest in music started at an early age, received music lessons from tamburi İzzet Gerçeker in Bursa. The artist, who came to Istanbul for high school education by convincing his family, started studying at Boğaziçi High School in 1946.
Müren, who received music training from composers Şerif İçli and Kadri Şençalar, as well as Agopos Efendi and Udi Krikor, recorded his first record with Şükrü Tunar's "Bir Muhabbet Kuşu" when he was in his senior year of high school.
Müren, who is stated to have composed around 300 songs in the sources, became known to wider circles after the acekkurdi work called "Don't poison my life, my dear", which he composed in Bursa, was performed by Suzan Güven on TRT radio.
Academy education developed different aspects of his art
Müren entered the Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts in 1950. The artist, who studied at the Sabih Gözen workshop in the Higher Decoration Department, graduated from the academy with first place. He continued his pattern studies, which he started during his student years, in the following years and opened exhibitions in different periods.
Müren's interest in visual arts was also reflected in his stage works. Using the stage clothes he designed himself, the artist made innovations regarding the stage layout, such as having the instrumental team wear uniform clothes and using a T-shaped podium. These practices were also mentioned among the elements of Müren's stage approach in TRT Music and Kral Music sources.
The artist's painting and drawing works continued along with his music career. Müren opened exhibitions consisting of paintings, freelance works and fabric patterns in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir in 1965, and some of his patterns were also woven as carpets and rugs. In the 1970s, some of these works were used as decorations on casino stages.
He won the Istanbul Radio soloist exam with first place
Zeki Müren won the Istanbul Radio soloist exam in 1950, where 186 candidates participated, with first place. The artist, who gave his first live radio concert on January 1, 1951, performed works in radio programs for approximately 15 years.
Müren, who gave his first stage concert on May 26, 1955, won the Golden Record Award, given for the first time in Türkiye, with "My Manolyam" in the same year. Known to have performed alternately with Behiye Aksoy at Maksim Gazinosu for 11 years, Müren's artistic life was not limited to music. The artist, who entered the cinema in 1954 with the movie "Expected Song", shared the leading role with Cahide Sonku. Müren, whose 10 compositions are featured in the film, also took the stage in the play "Tea and Sympathy" of the Arena Theatre, in addition to his film work. In the press archives of the period, it was reported that the play brought Müren to the stage as a theater actor for the first time.
Müren, who also published his poems in a book, published his poetry book "Quail Rain" in 1965.
Art life extending from Royal Albert Hall to Bodrum
In addition to his work in Türkiye, Müren also gave concerts abroad. The artist, who performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 1976, became the first Turkish artist to give a concert in this hall, according to TRT Music and various biographical sources.
Müren, who is stated to have recorded more than 600 records and cassettes throughout his life, reached large audiences with his works such as "You Are Far Away Now", "My Magnolia", "Bir Demet Yasemen", "Let No Other Dreams Enter Your Eyes" and "Surely We Will Meet One Day". He was awarded the title of "State Artist" in 1991.
Due to health problems, Müren reduced his stage work in the 1980s and settled in Bodrum. He gave his last concert at Bodrum Castle in 1984.
Müren, who died during the program organized for him at TRT İzmir on September 24, 1996, was buried in Bursa Emir Sultan Cemetery.
According to the records of the Turkish Education Foundation, the artist left half of his assets to the Turkish Education Foundation (TEV) and the other half to the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) Mehmetçik Foundation.
The house where the artist spent the last period of his life in Bodrum was converted into the Zeki Müren Art Museum by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism after his death and was opened to visitors on June 8, 2000. The artist's stage clothes, paintings, personal belongings and various materials related to his artistic life are exhibited in the museum.
