Aşık Veysel (1894-1973) was one of the most iconic figures in Turkish folk music and a remarkably influential poet, singer, and saz player. Born in the village of Sivrialan in the Şarkışla district of Sivas, Turkey, Veysel's life was steeped in the tradition of the "aşıks," the Turkish troubadours who have been crafting and singing songs inspired by the human experience and Sufi philosophy for centuries. He became blind after suffering from smallpox at the age of 7, but this adversity did not hinder his musical spirit; it instead deepened his poetic soul and musical expression.

His songs eloquently captured the essence of rural life, the beauty of the land, love, and the human condition, becoming anthems of Turkish folk culture. "Uzun Ince Bir Yoldayım" (I am on a Long and Narrow Road) is one of his most revered works, illustrating the metaphorical journey of life. Veysel's music reflected his profound attachment to the land and the common folk, and he wielded his saz—an Anatolian stringed instrument—with a mastery that conveyed his narratives' emotional depth. His legacy goes beyond the strings of his saz and into the heart of Turkey's collective consciousness, influencing many generations of musicians and poets who see Aşık Veysel as a guiding force and as an embodiment of the soul of Anatolian folk traditions.

Genres

Baglama

Turkish Folk

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Neşet Ertaş

Musa Eroğlu

Selda Bağcan

Erkin Koray

Özdemir Erdoğan

Edip Akbayram

Zülfü Livaneli

Arif Sağ

Erkan Oğur

Aşık Mahzuni Şerif

Ali Ekber Çiçek

Latest Release

Uzun Ince

Aşık Veysel•

Evgeny Grinko

Single - Released May 17, 2024