Turkey on Friday mourned the death of one of its most successful singers and songwriters, Kayahan, who won the hearts of millions with his popular love ballads. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan led tributes to Kayahan Acar, known simply as Kayahan and seen by many as Turkey's number one pop icon, who doctors said had died of cancer aged 66 earlier Friday.
"With his songs and music, Kayahan earned a special place in the hears of our nation and played an important role in the development of Turkish pop music," Erdogan said in a statement, saying the death had left "deep scars".
"The works of our singer will live on and always be treated with love and respect," said Erdogan.
Culture Minister Omer Celik wrote on Twitter: "I've learnt with great sorrow of the passing of Kayahan... With his touching songs and his chivalry, Kayahan will always have a special place." Born in 1949 in the Aegean city of Izmir, Kayahan's career took off in the late 1970s and he released over a dozen highly-regarded albums from the 1980s onwards.
The multi-talented Kayahan won plaudits not just for his soulful singing voice but talents as a songwriter, lyricist and as a guitarist. He wrote all of his own material.
He represented Turkey in the 1990 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Gozlerinin Hapsindeyim" ("I am Held Captive in your Eyes"), which to the disappointment of his fans only placed 17.
He was famed also for his duets with the admired Turkish female singer Nilufer, although for many years their collaboration was halted by a row over copyright.
Married three times he is survived by his third wife, singer Ipek Tuter, 40. An activist for environmental and nature issues, he gave many charity concerts.
Kayahan is to be buried Saturday after a ceremony at one of Istanbul's top concert halls.
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