Poet-Singer. B. in 1938 in Kırtıllar village / Çiçekdağı /
Kırşehir, D. on 25th September 2012 in Izmir. He learnt how to play
violin and bağlama (instrument with three
double strings) during his primary education. He accompanied his father Muharrem
Ertaş playing bağlama and singing folk songs during wedding organizations in
the region, who was in his words the only person to influence him. For eight
years they went to cities of Kırşehir, Nevşehir, Niğde, Kırıkkale, Kayseri and
Yozgat and their villages, earning their keep. Therefore he could not study. In
1950s he went to Istanbul to work and released his first record which contained
the folk song Neden Garip Garip Ötersin
Bülbül and a folk song of his father. This popular record of him was followed
by other records and concerts. After staying for two years in Istanbul he
settled to Ankara and continued his works here. After a while he became sick
and went to Germany upon the invitation of his brother (1979). After living in
Germany for a long time, he returned to the scenes with a concert he held in
Istanbul in 2000.
Starting from
1960s, Ertaş with his authentic style became an artist who was remembered with bağlama
and who was appreciated and liked by wide masses of people and serious music environments.
He told the story of his life in his poems he wrote using the pen name “Garip”.
At home and abroad he held numerous concerts on his own and together with other
poet-singers.
He refused the
title of “State Artist” which was offered to him during the Presidency of Süleyman
Demirel, saying “We are all artists of
this state, besides the title of state artist sounds like discrimination to me.”
Ertaş who was regarded as “living human treasure” by UNESCO was deemed worthy
of honorary PhD by Istanbul Technical University State Conservatory on the 25th
of April 2011.
Gönül Ne
Gezersin Seyran Yerinde (1988), Kendim Ettim Kendim Buldum (1988), Hapishanelere Güneş
Doğmuyor (1989),
Türküler Yolcu (1992),
Gitme Leylam (1992),
Seher Vakti (1995),
Benim Yurdum (1997),
Gönül Yarası (1998),
Gönül Dağı (1999), Mühür
Gözlüm (1999), Gönül
Dağı (1999), Zülüf
Dökülmüş Yüze (1999),
Neredesin Sen (1999),
Zahidem (1999).
REFERENCE: Bayram Bilge Tokel / Neşet Ertaş Kitabı (2000), Öner Özcan/ Neşet Ertaş’ın Hayatı ve Eserleri (2001), Mehmet Özbek / Folklor ve Türkülerimiz (2002), İhsan Işık / “Çır, Hüseyin” (Resimli ve Metin Örnekli Türkiye Edebiyatçılar ve Kültür Adamları Ansiklopedisi (2007, 2009), Türkiye Yazarlar Birliği / Türkiye Kültür Sanat Yıllığı (2013), 2012 yılında aramızdan ayrılan ustalar (mynet.com, 16.11.2012).
