Maria Rita Epik

Maria Rita Epik (born 1 January 1958 in Izmir) is a Turkish musician of Italian descent, who won the Turkish pre-Elimination of the Eurovision Song Contest 1979.

ESC 1979 controversy

Epik has won the internal Turkish pre-Elimination in 1979 to sing for Turkey at the first ever Eurovision Song Contest hosted by Israel. However due to political reasons and pressure by other Arabic countrys, to boycott Israel, she had to withdraw and stay at home, instead of having a chance to get a European career. She would have sung "Seviyorum" (Love) together with the band 21.Peron.^[1]

Sources

1. ^ Türkei beim Eurovision Song Contest

External links

• Epik's song at the Pre-Elimination

Persondata
Name	Epik, Maria Rita
Alternative names
Short description	Musician
Date of birth	1 January 1958
Place of birth	Izmir, Turkey
Date of death
Place of death