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Dr. Mehmet Özbek was born in 1945 in Şanlıurfa, where he finished primary and middle school education. He graduated from the Departmen of Turkish Language and Literature in the Faculty of Letters at Istanbul University. He then completed his doctoral degree at his alma mater. While he was a student, Özbek studied Turkish music with Münir Nurettin Selçuk, Melahat Pars, Muzaffer Birtan, Şefik Gürmeriç, Halil Bedi Yönetken, Süheylâ Altmışdört and Dürdane Altan at the Department of Turkish Music in the Istanbul Municipality Conservatory for two years. In 1966, Özbek passed an examination of TRT and started working as a Turkish Folk Music artist at the Istanbul Radio. He became the head (1977) and the director (1982) of the Department of Turkish Folk Music and Dances of TRT Music. He taught Turkish Folk Music at Hacettepe University (1983-1995), Gazi University (1998-2000), and Ankara University (2006-2007). Between 1996 and 2000, Özbek was a member of the Scientific Committees of the Supreme Board in the Atatürk Culture, Language and History, and served as the director in the Department of Music Note and Stage Arts. Between 1986 and 2007, he worked as a director in the Ankara State Turkish Folk Music Chorus, belonged to the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Since 1966, Özbek has worked as a vocalist and director. Between 1977 and 1986, he served as a member and director in the Committee of TRT Turkish Folk Music Supervision and Repertoire. He gathered numerous folk songs not only from Anatolia, but also Iraq, Azerbaijan, Yugoslavia, and Bulgaria; and put more than 300 songs in the TRT repertoire. While working for TRT, he prepared many radio and TV programs on Turkic folk songs and folk dances. Özbek has given many concerts in Turkey, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Yugoslavia, Iraq, Germany, Holland, Denmark, Switzerland, Egypt and Azerbaijan. Some of his concerts have been recorded as LP. He has released many albums including “Altun Hizma”, “Türklerin Dilinden”, “Mum Kimin Yanan Kerkük”, and “Yadigâr Türkler”; and has published many books such as “Folklor ve Türkülerimiz”, “Müzik Eğitimi”, “Türk Halk Çalgı Bilgisi”, “Türk Hakl Müziği Terimleri Sözlüğü”, and “Türkülerin Dili”. Özbek was given honorary doctorate from Harran University. In 2011, he was awarded Aydın Doğan Award.
Reference: mehmetozbek.com, turkudostlari.net, bkses.com, home.arcor.de, google.com.tr/images
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