Kenan Doğulu

Infobox musical artist
Name = Kenan Doğulu


Img_capt = Doğulu performing at 2007 Eurovision Song Contest
Background = solo_singer
Origin = Istanbul, Turkey
Born = birth date and age|1974|5|31
Genre = pop , urban , soul , R&B , jazz
Years_active =
Label =
URL = http://www.kenandogulu.com.tr/
Past_members =

Kenan Doğulu is a Turkish pop musician. He represented Turkey at the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 in Helsinki, where he reached fourth, with 163 points.

Early years

At the early age of five, he enrolled into the piano class of the School of Music with the highest scores. Having completed six years of education in the piano class, he started flute classes from Erkan Alpay, his instructor, and continued with guitar classes from Erdem Sökmen with the establishment of the class. In the mean time he continued his education in drama and rhythmic instruments, and he carried on singing as a soloist in the children's chorus. Later, he successfully graduated from Kültür Koleji and completed the Communications certificate program at Hesser College.

Rise

His first album, "Yaparım Bilirsin" was released in August 1993. 93 concerts held that year was a considerable achievement in Turkey. His second album "Sımsıkı Sıkı Sıkı" was released in December 1994 and achieved an unbelievable success with 175 live performances of the singer that year. The album "Kenan Doğulu 3" which was launched in the music shops in August 1996 achieved great appreciation of his fans.

"Decennial March", a symbol of the Republic of Turkey, was arranged and presented by Kenan Doğulu to contemporary Turkey and Turkish people on October 29, 1997, the Republic Day. The maxi single "Kenan Doğulu 3.5" including the mentioned arrangement of the Decennial March was released in 1997. He has contributed to a great extent in making the Republic March put on the agenda, become popular and to be embedded in children's and youth's minds again. Within the celebration programmes of the 75th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey in 1998, he also successfully accomplished a "Republic Road Show" starting in Bursa, followed by Antalya, İstanbul, Ankara, İskenderun, Samsun, Selçuk and ended in İzmir.

In 1999, inspired by the great attention of the Turkish people on the rearrangement of the Decennial March, the artist released a new album with the rearrangement of the "Youth March" in the memory of Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey. He believes these works play an important role in conveying the spirit of nationalism to younger generations. The new album "Ben Senin Herşeyinim" was released the same year. Keeping silent for two years, he fulfilled the expectations of his fans with his album "Ex Aşkım" which became a hit in 2001. In 2002 "Kenan Doğulu 5.5", the unplugged version of "Ex Aşkım" was released and it reached mass audiences gaining as much appreciation as "Ex Aşkım". He addressed his fans again in 2003 with a brand new album "Demedi Deme". In the summer of 2006, Doğulu released the album "Festival", containing the hit single "Çakkıdı", [cite news|url=http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/2006/07/23/cpsabah/yas110-20060722-101.html
accessdate=2008-07-26
title=Yaza damga vuranlar
work=Sabah
language=Turkish
date=2006-07-22
first= Cem
last = Ceminay ] in collaboration with Sezen Aksu.

He represented Turkey at the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest in Helsinki with Shake It Up Şekerim. Owing to his third position in the semifinal, he passed to the final where he placed fourth with 163 points.

He is planning to release a "best of" album, which will include the most popular songs from his previous albums.

Group members

* Kenan Doğulu (Lead Vocal)
* Tahsin Endersoy (Electronic Guitar)
* Hami Barutçu (Bass Guitar)
* Tarik Sezer (Keyboards)
* Ozan Dogulu (Keyboards)
* Murat Yeter (Drums)
* Aydin Karabulut (Percussion)
* Murat Yeter (Back Vocal, Guitar)

Discography

tudio albums

Tours

*2007: GNCTRKCLL 40 Partileri Tour

See also

* Music of Turkey
* Turkish pop music

References

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79lRd9Vi3X4 Video of song "Shake it up, Shekerim" at the final of Eurovision 2007]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJDblIQ79Q0 Video of song "Shake it up, Shekerim" at the semifinal of Eurovision 2007]
* [http://www.kenandogulu.com.tr/ Official Website] tr icon en icon
* [http://www.eurovision-turkey.com Eurovision Turkey] tr icon en icon
* [http://www.esc-turkey.tk Esc Turkey] en icon
* [http://www.trt.net.tr/eurovision2007/ Eurovision Song Contest 2007 - Turkey] tr icon en icon