He is 80 years old as of this writing. He rarely performs live anymore. But his shadow is long. Every time a Turkish rock band adds a bağlama solo. Every time a poet sheds a tear on stage. Every time a migrant worker puts his headphones on and closes his eyes on a long bus ride home—that is Orhan Gencebay.
He didn't just play the saz. He made it speak. this is orhan gencebay
During his youth, Gencebay received classical Western training while simultaneously absorbing Turkish folk music (Halk Müziği) and Turkish classical music (Sanat Müziği). This dual education allowed him to see the structural connections between Eastern and Western musical theory, laying the groundwork for his future innovations. Breaking the Mold: The Birth of a New Genre He is 80 years old as of this writing