Muammer Ketencoglu

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The Accordion master Ketencoglu is the most famous name about Rebetiko and Balkan music in Turkey. He became a popular musician in the international music arena with his traditional music carreer world wide.



He was born in Izmir in 1964. He received a good music training in schools for the blind. He learned to play the accordion, the piano and the drums.



His first album “Sevdali Kiyilar” was released in 1993. Two Rebetiko compilations prepared by him appeared in 1994 and 1996.



In 1995 he prepared an anthology, Halklardan Ezgiler (Popular Tunes), comprising four albums, each containing folk songs that best represent the traditional music of Armenia, Azarbaijan, Georgia and Central Asian Turkic Republics respectively.



Another anthology compiled by Ketencoglu and produced in 1995 was entitled “Pioneers of the Klezmer Music”. The album brought together examples of Klezmer music based mainly on traditional eastern European Jewish music.



As from 1996 he participated in various activities both in Turkey and abroad with his two ensembles; Kompania Ketencoglu and The Balkan Journey.



In March 2003 he founded “Muammer Ketencoglu and His Zeybek Ensemble” by adding new repertory and musicians to Kompania Ketencoglu .



Ketencoglu made his second personal album “Karanfilin Moruna” which is composed of West Anatolian zeybek songs and melodies in April 2001. The album named “Ayde Mori” which he made with The Balkan Journey ensemble was released in September 2001. This album contains folk songs and tunes from all over the Balkans.



He wrote many articles on traditional music from all over the world which were published in many different newspapers and magazines.



From November 1995 on he is the producer and announcer of the program "From This Side of Danube" mainly focusing on Balkan music, which is broadcasted every week by the Acik Radyo 94.9 in Istanbul.