Playing and singing in many orchestras until the end of the '60s, Ersen's faith turned when he met Cem Karaca in person. A newborn star in Turkish rock scene, Karaca was managing Bunalimlar at the time and offered Ersen an opportunity to record. His first single, "Olvido — Ak Guvercin," was released in 1969 and featured hypnotic guitar work from Unol Buyukgonenc. A year later, Ersen replaced Aziz Azmet of Mogollar to lead the band. The collaboration was very short, as Mogollar headed to France, so Ersen joined forces with another Anadolu pop band, Uc Hurel.
Ersen's early singles were mostly Spanish-influenced, but he later evolved into a unique blend of Turkish folk and Western progressive themes. His breakthrough single, "Kozan Dagi," was released in 1972. "Sor Kendine," released that same year, was an incredible show of talent, and it's still one of the pivotal points of his career.
He later joined Mogollar once again, played with Kardaslar, and at last formed his well-known band Dadaslar. Being a group of talented musicians of the present scene, Dadaslar could never maintain a stable line-up; however, they supplied the necessary background for one of the most important figures in the Anadolu pop/rock scene. Ersen released "Cakmagi Çak," "Yine Seni Taninm," "Bir Ayrilik Bir Yoksulluk Bir Olum," "Uc Kiz Bir Ana," "Ne Sevdigin Belli Ne Sevmedigin," and "Ekmek Parasi," among other singles, until the end of 1978. Following the tendency of the Turkish music market in the '80s Ersen laid aside his band and continued his career alone. Like the rest of his fellow Turkish musicians, he was also forced to choose a side in the political turmoil of the day. Despite trying not to reveal clear political beliefs, he was right wing-oriented, and after the Army took control of the government, he was disrespected by many musicians and fans. He played and recorded for the Army and the governmental media, TRT.
Hatamizi Bilmeden Cekiyoruz (1980) and Anadolu Pop (1983) were the last of his musically rich albums. Leaning toward a more poppy and shallow sound, Ersen faded away with his last album of the '90s, Ersen Ustadan Kuru Fasulye in 1993. After a nine-year hiatus, Ersen returned to the music business with Ersen Mevlana Gibi. The album, finding Ersen in a more mystical and spiritual form, failed to draw attention, just like the following year's Donemem. In 2007, Ersen ve Dadaslar re-recorded five of their classic tunes and released them as an album called Ersen ve Dadaslar Yeniden (1973-2007).
Ersen - Dertli Kaval
In the early 1960s, Bebey moved to France and started work in the arts, establishing himself as a musician, sculptor, and writer. He was also the first African musician to use electric keyboards and programmable drum machines which he set alongside off the traditional African instruments. His most popular novel was Agatha Moudio's Son. While working at UNESCO from 1961-74, he was able to become the head of the music department in Paris. This job allowed him to research and document traditional African music.
Bebey released his first album in 1969 and would go on to release over 20 albums on Ozileka, between 1975 and 1997. His music was primarily guitar-based, but he integrated traditional African instruments and synthesizers as well. Though Bebey's music is now widely praised, it created controversy at the time due to its blending of African and Western traditions. His style merged Cameroonian makossa with classical guitar, jazz, pop, and electronics, and was considered by critics to be groundbreaking, "intellectual, humorous, and profoundly sensual". He sang in Duala, English, and French.
Moreover, Bebey had a major role in popularizing the n'dehou, a one-note bamboo flute created by the Central African pygmies. Bebey conducted field research among pygmy tribes, focusing especially on their musical traditions.
Bebey wrote novels, poetry, plays, tales, short stories, and nonfiction works. He began his literary career as a journalist in the 1950s and at one time worked as a journalist in Ghana and other African countries for the French radio network, Société de radiodiffusion de la France d'outre-mer (SORAFOM); in addition to exploring childhood and adult experiences in his works, Bebey also wrote tales drawn from the African oral tradition.
Francis Bebey - African Electronic Music 1975-1982
