Zeki Muren is one of the first names that come to mind when Bodrum is mentioned. Zeki Müren is still an idol in the country, even after many years, with his crystal-clear voice that is in our memory, his interpretations associated with unforgettable songs, his extraordinarily colorful life, and the romantic films he gifted to Turkish cinema.
Born in Bursa in 1931, the artist won the soloist competition held by TRT Istanbul radio in 1950, and started to make his voice heard to music lovers with his first concert in Istanbul Radio in 1951. Performing most of his radio programs live, the artist has quickly become an idol of all of Turkey. The artist, who composed more than 300 compositions, filled more than 600 records and cassettes, contributed hundreds of poems to our literature, and acted in 18 different films, led a life beyond his time by performing brave stage shows.
In addition to years of music and sound education, he studied design at the Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts (today's Mimar Sinan University). In this way, he designed most of the stage outfits himself.
Zeki Muren and His love for Bodrum
Zeki Muren usually spent his holidays in Antalya. Starting from the 1950s, Bodrum became known with the books of the Fisherman of Halicarnassus, and the idea of a blue voyage pioneered by him had already covered the intellectual layer of the country. Bodrum residents also understood the value of tourism. Thereupon, Zeki Muren visited Bodrum for the first time in June 1967. The town he arrived at after a long journey impressed him greatly. In this first meeting, the people of Bodrum hosted the sun of art in a way that would make the Bodrum sun jealous.
From that day on, Zeki Muren became Bodrum's fan first and then its lover. The artist describes his feelings for Bodrum in his beautiful Turkish as follows:
“Bodrum has nights that are difficult to describe. So are the landscapes. At sunrise and sunset. The waters are beautiful in another way, the magnificence of the trees in the forests is as huge as the art. I couldn't resist and bought a house quickly. Then I started to wander around Bodrum village by village.” Various kinds of fish. Huge, delicious... After that, fires are burning in the bay. The fish sizzle on the fires like pomegranates... I dedicate myself to silence. I'm going far, far away without moving from my place. I am at the peak of a cove, I'm physically in Bodrum but spiritually I'm elsewhere”
Zeki Muren and his house in Bodrum
In 1977, the artist bought a two-storey house in Bodrum from sociologist Fatma Mansur for 1 million 200 thousand liras. He begins to spend more and more time in this house in Kumbahce, with the onset of heart disease, and he usually goes into the sea from Bardakci Bay. In fact, in the eighties, the blue cruise boats passed a little slower than Bardakci Bay in the hope that we could see Zeki Muren. Since 1990, he has been in seclusion in his house in Bodrum due to his illness.
Zeki Muren died on September 24, 1996, at the age of 65, due to a heart attack during a shooting for TRT İzmir Television. His death shocks the whole country. He is buried in Emir Sultan Cemetery in Bursa, his birthplace. Bodrum Municipality names the street of the house where he lived in memory of the artist, and on July 8, 2020, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism turns his house into a museum. Information and documents about the artist's life and works, photographs, stage clothes and personal belongings, hand embroidered cloaks, flat-heeled lame boots and jewelry are exhibited in this house. The artist's car and bronze statue holding a microphone are also located in front of the house. An average of 60 thousand people visit the museum every year.
Do not leave Bodrum without seeing the Zeki Muren Museum, one of our greatest artists of all time, that left its mark on a period with this extraordinary life. The museum is waiting for you until 17:00 every day except Mondays.
Phone: 0252 313 19 39
Address: Kumbahce, Zeki Muren street. No:11 Bodrum