Mustafa Özkent is a Turkish musician, composer and arranger. Best known for his 1973 album, Gençlik İle Elele, he also earned a reputation as an in-demand session player, arranger, and producer, "creating music that fused psychedelic and pop/rock influences with R&B grooves and jazz-influenced improvisations."[1] He was referred by Andy Votel as the "Dr. Frankenstein of Anatolian pop".[2]
Mustafa Özkent | |
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| Origin | Ankara, Turkey |
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| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1960–present |
| Labels | Evren |
Özkent started his professional career in the band the Teenagers in 1960. Embarking a career as a session musician and arranger, Özkent signed with Evren Records which was known for its high production standards and audiophile recording techniques. He started recording Gençlik İle Elele with a hand-picked team of musicians and released it 1973.[1] In 1975, he went to Belgium and the Netherlands to study music.[3] Later, he stayed musically active in Turkey, releasing solo records and producing music.[1]
In 2006, Gençlik İle Elele was reissued by British Finders Keepers record label, achieving rave reviews and commercial success. Following the success of the reissue, Özkent embarked a tour, performing the songs off the record on festivals such as Le Guess Who? and Europalia.[3][4][5]