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Latif Bolat was born in Mersin. After receiving his degree in folklore and music at Ankara State Conservatory and Gazi University in Ankara, he taught traditional Turkish music at high schools throughout Turkey. He then went on to manage Ankara Halk Tiyatrosu, a musical theater company, which performed traditional musical plays. Bolat received additional degrees in Turkish History and Middle East Religion and Politics from the Faculty of Political Sciences at Ankara University. He then completed his MBA at San Francisco State University. Since then, he has lived in the United States and given numerous concerts and lectures at colleges and universities in the US. He has also performed in many arts institutions and festivals across the US, Canada, England, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Bulgaria, Philippines, Scotland, Singapore, Indonesia, India and Turkey. With a vast repertoire that includes songs in classical, folk and Sufi mystic music styles, Bolat accompanies his singing on the baglama (long-necked lute), and various other traditional instruments such as ney (flute), kanun, keman (violin) and oud from the Turkish folk music tradition.
Specializing in the ancient Turkish mystic-devotional music genre, Bolat has been received with appreciation and enthusiasm throughout the world, as he provides a unique philosophy and approach to the performance of traditional music. By creating an intimate, almost "storytelling" atmosphere, he explains Turkish folk and mystic music and its sociopolitical and cultural elements.
Bolat is the co-author of the Turkish mystic Sufi poetry translations and anthology: “Quarrelling with God: Mystic Rebel Sufi Poems of the Dervishes of Turkey”. He released 4 CDs which were distributed worldwide. Bolat received the European Union′s “Best collaboration song” award with the Bulgarian group Lot Lorien. The California Art Council rewarded him with a grant for his contributions to the preservation of Turkish traditional music. He was also awarded a grant for his Turkish Sufi poetry translations project “Quarreling with God” by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Reference: latifbolat.com, akustikmuzik.com
Reference: latifbolat.com, akustikmuzik.com
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