Levent Yüksel

A Turkish singer and versatile multi-instrumentalist, Levent Yüksel was born on October 21, 1964, in Antalya, Turkey. He began playing violin at five years old and started singing at local events shortly thereafter. Later, while studying music at Istanbul University State Conservatory, he expanded his skillset to include several other instruments, most notably bass guitar. Med Cezir, his debut album, was released in 1993, earning praise throughout Turkey for its modern interpretation of pop music. Levent Yüksel'in 2 followed in 1995. Yüksel earned radio hits with singles like 1996's "Zalim" and 1997's "Bi Daha," while albums like 1998's Adı Menekşe, 2000's Aşkla, and 2004's Uslanmadım showcased the wide range of his music. Although still classified as pop, Yüksel's records also made room for elements of folk, jazz, and alternative rock, while also highlighting his skills as an instrumentalist. He continued showcasing his musical diversity with Kadın Şarkıları (2006), Sıfır Km (2009), Topyekûn (2012), and Hayatıma Dokunan Şarkılar (2017). Although his career had lapsed into inactivity by the 2020s, his music remained popular in Turkey, where "Tuana" — a track from 1993's Med Cezir — hit Number 25 on the country's Top 50 Spotify chart in 2023, three decades after its original release.