Semiha Yankı

Semiha Yankı — Biography

Born on January 15, 1958, in Istanbul to a family of circus acrobats with roots in Thessaloniki on her father's side and Trabzon on her mother's, Semiha Yankı is one of the pioneering names in Turkish pop music. After her tightrope-walker brother died young in an accident, she turned to music, taking to the stage at just 14 with her mother's support and being discovered by Ülkü Aker, who helped her release her first record.

The turning point of her career came in 1975, when she became the first artist to represent Turkey at the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Seninle Bir Dakika." Although she finished last in the Stockholm final, the achievement secured her a lasting place in Turkish music history. Beyond singing, Yankı has also worked as a presenter and film actress, has helped bring young talent to public attention over the years, and has never truly left the stage, continuing to give concerts abroad decades into her career.