	Home Serif Mahsuni 1939 - 2002 (63) QUOTES
	Aşık Mahsuni Şerif (1939-2002) was a Turkish musician, composer, poet and writer, he remains one of the most famous musicians of Turkish folk music. He was born in the village of Berçenek in Kahramanmaraş, Turkey on November 17, 1939. He was interested in the Turkish folk tradition from an early age and learned to play baglama from his uncle. He began writing poetry in 1956 while attending the military academy from which he was expelled for disorderly conduct. He became known for his poems and the songs he wrote and performed. His subject matter had to do with political issues and the problems of people. One of his poems with which he became widely known had to do with the lack of schools and education in remote areas of the country. His first album was released in 1964. He moved to Ankara and joined the left-wing Labor Party, working for the party's youth department for 2 years. He collaborated with articles in left-wing newspapers, founded a company of folk poets and a record company that soon went bankrupt. Because of his political beliefs he often had problems with qovermnment. In 1971, after the military coup, the new government hardened its stance towards the left wing, Serif was arrested and sentenced to 10 months in prison for a song he considered ridiculous against the new president. In 1974, returning from a concert abroad, he was arrested as an accomplice in a kidnapping because a kidnapper had used his name; he was sentenced to 14 months in prison. In the mid-1970s he was banned from appearing on stage for 8 years as well as leaving the country. He made a living by selling records in a small shop. In 2001, he was sued for an article he had written. His first trial began on December 27, 2001, but he had heart problems and eventually died in Cologne, Germany, on May 17, 2002. During his lifetime, Serif released 453 records (mostly folk music), 50 cassettes and 9 books.

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Serif Mahsuni 1939 - 2002 (63)

QUOTES

Aşık Mahsuni Şerif (1939-2002) was a Turkish musician, composer, poet and writer, he remains one of the most famous musicians of Turkish folk music.

He was born in the village of Berçenek in Kahramanmaraş, Turkey on November 17, 1939. He was interested in the Turkish folk tradition from an early age and learned to play baglama from his uncle. He began writing poetry in 1956 while attending the military academy from which he was expelled for disorderly conduct. He became known for his poems and the songs he wrote and performed. His subject matter had to do with political issues and the problems of people. One of his poems with which he became widely known had to do with the lack of schools and education in remote areas of the country.

His first album was released in 1964. He moved to Ankara and joined the left-wing Labor Party, working for the party's youth department for 2 years. He collaborated with articles in left-wing newspapers, founded a company of folk poets and a record company that soon went bankrupt. Because of his political beliefs he often had problems with qovermnment. In 1971, after the military coup, the new government hardened its stance towards the left wing, Serif was arrested and sentenced to 10 months in prison for a song he considered ridiculous against the new president. In 1974, returning from a concert abroad, he was arrested as an accomplice in a kidnapping because a kidnapper had used his name; he was sentenced to 14 months in prison.

In the mid-1970s he was banned from appearing on stage for 8 years as well as leaving the country. He made a living by selling records in a small shop. In 2001, he was sued for an article he had written. His first trial began on December 27, 2001, but he had heart problems and eventually died in Cologne, Germany, on May 17, 2002. During his lifetime, Serif released 453 records (mostly folk music), 50 cassettes and 9 books.