Mirkelam

Mirkelam — Biography

Born Fergan Mirkelam in Istanbul on 20 May 1966 to a family rooted in the Birecik district of Şanlıurfa, he is the son of Nazım Mirkelam, a lawyer and musician who both composed the song Gül Ağacı Değilem, Her Gelene Eğilem and served as an MP and senator for İzmir. He began composing in middle school, sang in the Saint Joseph High School orchestra, and graduated from Yıldız Technical University's geophysics engineering department in 1990. His music career started with the 1986 Turkish Eurovision heats alongside Kayahan, backing-vocal work for other artists, and a stint as a producer and presenter at Best FM in 1994. In 1995 the video for his song Her Gece earned him the nickname "Koşan Adam" (Running Man), and his self-titled debut album sold in huge numbers. He went on to release Joker, Unutulmaz, Kalbimde Parmak İzin Var, Mutlu Olmak İstiyorum, the Kargo collaboration RRDP and Denizin Arka Yüzü, and later coached a contestant to third place on a televised singing competition.