Editing Cem Karaca

{{Short description|Turkish rock singer and songwriter (1945–2004)}}
{{Expand Turkish|topic=bio|date=January 2022}}{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Cem Karaca
| image             = 2021_09_15_Moda_Cem_Karaca_Heykeli.jpg
| image_upright     = 1.3
| alias             = Cem Ağabey
| birth_name        = Muhtar Cem Karaca
| birth_date        = {{birth date|1945|4|5|df=yes}}
| birth_place       = [[Bakırköy]], Turkey
| death_date        = {{death date and age|2004|2|8|1945|4|5|df=yes}}
| death_place       = [[Istanbul]], Turkey
| instrument        = {{hlist|[[Vocal]]s|[[guitar]]}}
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Anatolian rock]]|[[protest song]]|[[progressive rock]]|[[symphonic rock]]|[[hard rock]]|[[psychedelic rock]]}}
| occupation        = {{hlist|Singer-songwriter|composer}}
| years_active      = 1961–2004
| website           = [http://www.cemkaraca.com www.cemkaraca.com]
| past_member_of   = [[Moğollar]], [[Kurtalan Ekspres]], [[Apaşlar]]
}}

'''Muhtar Cem Karaca''' (5 April 1945 – 8 February 2004) was a Turkish legendary [[rock music|rock]] musician and one of the most important figures in the [[Anatolian rock]] movement.<ref>Barchard, David. ''Cem Karaca: A dissident Turkish singer, he spent much of the 1980s in exile''. The Guardian, March 8, 2004.</ref> He was a graduate of [[Robert College]]. He worked with various Turkish rock bands such as Apaşlar, Kardaşlar, Moğollar and Dervişan. With these bands, he brought a new understanding and interpretation to Turkish rock.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.biyografi.net/kisiayrinti.asp?kisiid=331|title=biyografi.net: Cem Karaca biyografisi burada ünlülerin biyografileri burada|last=(c)2000.|first=Author by webofisi.com Copyright|website=www.biyografi.net|access-date=2016-12-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103215823/http://www.biyografi.net/kisiayrinti.asp?kisiid=331|archive-date=2016-11-03|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Biography==
{{More citations needed|section|date=October 2018}}
He was the only child of Mehmet İbrahim Karaca, a theatre actor of [[Azerbaijanis in Turkey|Azerbaijani]] origin,<ref name="aksiyon040216">{{cite news|title=Cem Karaca:Sanat Yapar |first=Sema |last=Sak |date=2004-02-16 |access-date=2007-03-04 |publisher=Aksiyon |url=http://www.aksiyon.com.tr/detay.php?id=11171 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930155104/http://www.aksiyon.com.tr/detay.php?id=11171 |archive-date=2007-09-30 |language=tr |url-status=dead }}</ref> and [[Toto Karaca|İrma Felekyan]], a popular opera, theatre, and movie actress<ref name="aksiyon040216"/> of [[Armenians in Turkey|Armenian]] origin.<ref>{{cite web|title=Toto Karaca (1912-1992)|url=http://www.biyografi.net/kisiayrinti.asp?kisiid=960|publisher=biyografi.net|access-date=2007-02-05|language=tr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202100716/http://www.biyografi.net/kisiayrinti.asp?kisiid=960|archive-date=2007-02-02|url-status=dead}}</ref> His first group was called ''Dynamites'' and was a classic rock cover band. Later he joined ''Jaguars'', an [[Elvis Presley]] cover band. In 1967, he started to write his own music, joining the band ''Apaşlar'' (The Rowdies), his first [[Turkish language]] group. The same year, he participated in the [[Golden Microphone]] ({{langx|tr|Altın Mikrofon}}) contest, a popular music contest in which he won second place with his song ''Emrah''. In 1969, Karaca and bass-player Serhan Karabay left Apaşlar and started an original Anatolian group called ''Kardaşlar'' (The Brothers).

In 1972, Karaca joined the group ''[[Moğollar]]'' (The Mongols) and wrote one of his best-known songs, "''Namus Belası''". However, [[Cahit Berkay]], the leader of Moğollar, wanted an international reputation for his band, and he left for [[France]] to take the group to the next level. Karaca, who wanted to continue his Anatolian beat sound, left Moğollar and started his own band ''Dervişan'' (Dervishes) in 1974. Karaca and Dervişan sang poetic and [[progressive rock|progressive]] songs.

In the 1970s, Turkey was dealing with political violence between supporters of the left and the right, separatist movements and the rise of [[Islamism]]. As the country fell into chaos, the government suspected Cem Karaca of involvement in rebel organisations. He was accused of treason for being a separatist thinker and a [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninist]]. The Turkish government tried to portray Karaca as a man who was unknowingly writing songs to start a revolution. One politician was quoted as saying, "Karaca is simply calling citizens to a bloody war against the state." ''Dervişan'' was ultimately dissolved at the end of 1977. In 1978, he founded ''Edirdahan'', an acronym for "from [[Edirne]] to [[Ardahan]]"; the westernmost and the easternmost provinces of Turkey. He recorded one LP with ''Edirdahan'' called "''Safinaz''".

In early 1979, Karaca left for [[Cologne]], [[West Germany]] for business reasons. In 1980 he began singing in German with the song [[Nazim Hikmet]] - ''Kız Çocuğu'' (''Little girl''): Cem performed the German verses alternating with his best friend, manager, producer, arranger and bandleader/bass player/keyboarder/drummer, guitar player ''[[Ralf Mähnhöfer]]'' accompanying him on [[grand piano]], solo or with the band ''[[Anatology]]'', singing the song in the [[Turkish language]].

Turkey continued to spin out of control with military curfews and the [[1980 Turkish coup d'état]] on September 12, 1980. General [[Kenan Evren]] took over the government and temporarily banned all the nation's political parties. After the coup, many intellectuals, including writers, artists and journalists, were arrested. A warrant was issued for the arrest of Karaca by the government of Turkey.

The state invited Karaca back several times, but Karaca, not knowing what would happen upon his return, decided not to come back.

While Karaca was in [[Germany]] his father died, but he could not return to attend the funeral. After some time, the Turkish government decided to strip Cem Karaca of his Turkish citizenship, keeping the arrest warrant active.

Several years later, in 1987, the [[Prime Minister of Turkey|prime minister]] and leader of the Turkish [[Motherland Party (Turkey)|Motherland Party]], [[Turgut Özal]], issued an amnesty for Karaca. Shortly afterwards, he returned to Turkey. His return also brought a new album with it, which released in September 12 of that year, ''Merhaba Gençler ve Her Zaman Genç Kalanlar'' ("''Hello, The Young and The Young at Heart''"), one of his most influential works. His return home was received cheerfully by his fans, but during his absence Karaca had lost the young audience and acquired only a few new listeners. He died of a heart attack on February 8, 2004, and was interred at [[Karacaahmet Cemetery]] in the [[Üsküdar]] district of Istanbul.

==Musical Style==
The appreciation towards Cem Karaca won't be easy while at the same time he is also one of the most powerful voices of the Turkish rock scene. But the music styles audience will find him singing however will range very much, from severe mellowness chanson until powerful progressive song-based rock music. His first records were surely progressive, in a rock-sense, and Safinaz is symphonic piece comparable to a more western progressive rock albums. It remains rock music. Especially the period with Mogollar should appeal to collectors.

==Discography==

===45s===
* ''Emrah/Karacaoğlan'' (1967) (with Apaşlar)
* ''Hudey / Vahşet / [[Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)|Bang Bang]] / [[Shakin' All Over]]'' (1967) (with Apaşlar)
* ''Emrah / Hücum / Karacaoğlan / Ayşen'' (1967) (with Apaşlar)
* ''Ümit Tarlaları/Anadolu Oyun Havası/Suya Giden Allı Gelin/Nasıl Da Geçtin'' (1967) (with Apaşlar)
* ''İstanbul'u Dinliyorum/Oy Bana Bana'' (1968) (with Apaşlar and Ferdy Klein Band)
* ''Oy Babo/Hikaye'' (1968) (with Apaşlar)
* ''İstanbul/Why'' (1968) (with Apaşlar and Ferdy Klein Band)
* ''Emrah 1970/Karanlık Yollar'' (1968) (with Apaşlar and Ferdy Klein Band)
* ''Resimdeki Gözyaşları/Emrah'' (1968) (with Apaşlar and Ferdy Klein Band)
* ''Resimdeki Gözyaşları/Şans Çocuğu'' (1968) (with Apaşlar and Ferdy Klein Band)
* ''Tears/No, No, No'' (1968) (with Apaşlar and Ferdy Klein Band)
* ''Ayrılık Günümüz/Gılgamış'' (1969) (with Apaşlar and Ferdy Klein Band)
* ''Zeyno/Niksar'' (1969) (with Apaşlar and Ferdy Klein Band)
* ''Bu Son Olsun/Felek Beni'' (1969) (with Apaşlar and Ferdy Klein Band)
* ''Emmioğlu/O Leyli'' (1970) (with Ferdy Klein Band)
* ''Kendim Ettim kendim Buldum/Erenler'' (1970) (with Ferdy Klein Band)
* ''Adsız/Unut Beni'' (1970) (with Ferdy Klein Band)
* ''Muhtar/Baba'' (1970) (with Ferdy Klein Band)
* ''Dadaloğlu/Kalender'' (1970) (with Kardaşlar)
* ''Oy Gülüm Oy/Kara Sevda'' (1971) (with Kardaşlar)
* ''Tatlı Dillim/Demedim Mi'' (1971) (with Kardaşlar)
* ''Kara Yılan/Lümüne'' (1971) (with Kardaşlar)
* ''Acı Doktor (Kısım 1)/Acı Doktor (Kısım 2)'' (1971) (with Kardaşlar)
* ''Kara Üzüm/Mehmet'e Ağıt'' (1971) (with Kardaşlar)
* ''Askaros Deresi/Üryan Geldim'' (1972) (with Kardaşlar)
* ''Obur Dünya/El Çek Tabib'' (1973) (with Moğollar)
* ''Gel Gel/Üzüm Kaldı'' (1973) (with Moğollar)
* ''Namus Belası/Gurbet'' (1974) (with Moğollar)
* ''Beyaz Atlı/Yiğitler'' (1974) (with Dervişan)
* ''Tamirci Çırağı/Nerdesin?'' (1975) (with Dervişan)
* ''Mutlaka Yavrum/Kavga'' (1975) (with Dervişan)
* ''Beni Siz Delirttiniz/Niyazi'' (1975) (with Dervişan)
* ''Parka/İhtarname'' (1976) (with Dervişan)
* ''Mor Perşembe/Bir Mirasyediye Ağıt'' (1977) (with Dervişan)
* ''1 Mayıs/Durduramayacaklar Halkın Coşkun Akan Selini'' (1977) (with Dervişan)

===LPs===
* ''Apaşlar-Kardaşlar'' (1972)
* ''Cem Karaca'nın Apaşlar, Kardaşlar, Moğollar ve Ferdy Klein Orkestrasına Teşekkürleriyle'' (1974)
* ''Nem Kaldı'' (1975)
* ''Parka'' (1977)
* ''Yoksulluk Kader Olamaz'' (1977) (1)
* ''Safinaz'' (1978) (2)
* ''Hasret'' (1980) (It was sold as LP and tape)
* ''Bekle Beni'' (1982) (It was sold as tape only)
* ''Die Kanaken'' (1984)
* ''Merhaba Gençler ve Her Zaman Genç Kalanlar'' (1987)  (CD, cassette, LP)

===Other albums===
* ''Töre'' (1988)  (It was sold as CD) by [[Oğuz Abadan]] Orchestra
* ''Yiyin Efendiler'' (1990)
* ''Nerde Kalmistik'' (1992)
* ''Bindik Bir Alamete'' (1999)
* ''Kahpe Bizans'' (2000)
* ''Hayvan Terli'' (2004) (Single)

===Collection albums===
* ''The Best of Cem Karaca Volume 1'' (1996)
* ''The Best of Cem Karaca Volume 2'' (1997)
* ''The Best of Cem Karaca Volume 3'' (2000)
* ''The Best of Cem Karaca Volume 4'' (2001)
* ''The Best of Cem Karaca Volume 5'' (2002)
* ''Ölümsüzler'' (Immortals) (2004) (posthumously)
* ''Ölümsüzler 2'' (Immortals 2) (2005) (posthumously)
* ''Mutlaka Yavrum'' (Absolutely, baby) (2006) (posthumously)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Literature ==
* Martin Stokes: ''Music in Performance: Cem Karaca, Live.'' In: Virginia Danielson, Dwight Reynolds, Scott Marcus (Hrsg.): ''The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music.'' Band 6: ''The Middle East.'' Garland, London 2002, S. 243–245
*Türkischer Akademiker- und Künstlerverein, in Berlin (author), publisher: Jürgen Kleindienst (1977): ''Nazim Hikmet - Sie haben Angst vor unseren Liedern'', documentation, language: German-Turkish {{ISBN|9783885200093}}

==External links==
* [https://global.britannica.com/biography/Cem-Karaca Cem Karaca, ''Encyclopædia Britannica'']{{Dead link|date=June 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [https://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/mar/08/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries Obituary in ''The Guardian'']
* [https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/16/arts/music/16KARA.html Obituary in ''The New York Times'']
* [http://www.allmusic.com/artist/cem-karaca-mn0000336980 Cem Karaca, ''All Music'']
* [https://myturkishrock.ru/cem-karaca-english Cem Karaca in ''MyTurkishRock'']
* [http://testicanzoni.mtv.it/testi-Cem-Karaca_126392 Cem Karaca, ''MTV Italia''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304192949/http://testicanzoni.mtv.it/testi-Cem-Karaca_126392 |date=2017-03-04 }}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Karaca, Cem}}
[[Category:1945 births]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Antakya]]
[[Category:Robert College alumni]]
[[Category:Turkish rock musicians]]
[[Category:Turkish male composers]]
[[Category:Turkish male songwriters]]
[[Category:Turkish people of Armenian descent]]
[[Category:Turkish people of Azerbaijani descent]]
[[Category:Burials at Karacaahmet Cemetery]]
[[Category:Anatolian rock musicians]]
[[Category:People who lost Turkish citizenship]]
[[Category:Anatolian rock]]
[[Category:Bass-baritones]]
[[Category:Turkish Shia Muslims]]