Cem Karaca

Turkish rock pioneer Cem Karaca was born April 5, 1945 to professional actors Mehmet Ibrahim Karaca and Irma Felekyan. He first performed in a cover band called "the Dynamites," followed an Elvis Presley tribute group called "the Jaguars"; and from there Karaca eventually began writing his own original songs, honing a massively influential style that combined traditional Anatolian lyrics with cutting-edge contemporary rock melodies. According to legend, his father hired people to 'boo' at early performances in the hopes that the catcalls would persuade his son to quit singing ...