Kâmil Sönmez

Kâmil Sönmez — Biography

Born in the Perşembe district of Ordu in 1947, Kâmil Sönmez completed his early schooling in Giresun before entering the Opera-Voice department of the Ankara State Conservatory, and carried out his military service between 1966 and 1968. On his return he began a professional stage career at the Avni Dilligil Theatre, later performing with the Kardeş Oyuncular Theatre and Ankara Sahnesi. During this period he launched his recording career with the record İnce Memed - Hekimoğlu, produced by Zülfü Livaneli, passed an examination to join state radio, and became known above all for his renditions of Black Sea folk songs. He also released a cassette on the Türkola label, sang as a soloist with the State Turkish Folk Music Choir from 1996 until his death, and was awarded the title of State Artist in the late 1990s. Also active in film and television, he suffered a brain haemorrhage on 4 December 2012 and died at a hospital in Istanbul on 20 December 2012.