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🇹🇷 Özkan Uğur passed away

Today the sad news came to us that Özkan UÄŸur passed away. UÄŸur represented Turkey in the Eurovision Song Contest twice: in 1985 and 1988, both times as a member of the group MFÖ. Özkan UÄŸur was 69 years old. Early years Born on February 16, 1954, in Ankara, Turkey, Özkan UÄŸur is a renowned Turkish musician, singer, and songwriter. His career is spanning several decades UÄŸur’s passion for music blossomed at a young age. Growing up in a musically inclined family, he was exposed to various genres, from traditional Turkish folk music to Western rock and pop. This diverse musical upbringing played a crucial role in shaping UÄŸur’s artistic identity, allowing him to effortlessly blend different styles and create a unique sound of his own. Mazhar-Fuat-Özkan In the late 1970s, UÄŸur’s career took off when he became the lead vocalist and bassist for the influential Turkish rock band MFÖ (Mazhar-Fuat-Özkan). Alongside his bandmates Mazhar Alanson and Fuat Güner, UÄŸur contributed to the band’s success with his powerful vocals and dynamic stage presence. MFÖ’s innovative approach to rock music, infused with elements of Turkish folk and pop, resonated with audiences and propelled them to national stardom. MFÖ and Eurovision UÄŸur’s collaboration with MFÖ resulted in numerous hit songs, including “Ele Güne Karşı Yapayalnız,” “Peki Peki Anladık,” and “Mazeretim Var Asabiyim Ben.” Their distinctive sound and energetic performances earned them a dedicated fan base, and they continue to be revered as pioneers of the Turkish rock scene. In 1985, MFÖ represented Turkey in the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time. Their song “Didai didai dai (aşık oldum)” reached a 14th place. Three years later, the band was in Eurovision again with the song “Sufi”, being 15th in the ranking. Solo career Despite his success with MFÖ, UÄŸur embarked on a solo career in the 1980s, eager to explore his creative boundaries beyond the confines of a band. His solo albums showcased his versatility as an artist, as he experimented with various musical genres, including pop, jazz, and even classical music.  Collaborations Throughout his career, UÄŸur has collaborated with numerous prominent musicians and songwriters, further solidifying his reputation as a versatile artist. He has worked with notable Turkish composers such as Fikret Kızılok, Timur Selçuk, and Sezen Aksu, contributing his unique vocal talents to their compositions. UÄŸur’s collaborations have resulted in timeless classics, including “Küçük Bir AÅŸk Masalı,” “Benimle Oynar Mısın,” and “Öpüşmek Ä°stiyorum.” Film and television Aside from his musical endeavors, UÄŸur has also ventured into acting, showcasing his versatility as a performer. He has appeared in several films and television series, earning critical acclaim for his on-screen presence and natural acting ability. Awards Özkan UÄŸur’s contributions to Turkish music have been recognized with numerous awards and accolades. He has received prestigious honors, including the Golden Butterfly Award for Best Male Performer and the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Kral TV Music Awards.

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Il Volo

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts MembersPiero BaroneIgnazio BoschettoGianluca Ginoble Founded2010 Nationality🇮🇹 Italian National SelectionSelection Method In Eurovision2015 Vienna SongGrande Amore (2015) Biography Il Volo is an Italian music group composed of two tenors and a baritone: Piero Barone (born on June 24, 1993, in Naro), Ignazio Boschetto (born on October 4, 1994, in Bologna), and Gianluca Ginoble (born on February 11, 1995, in Roseto degli Abruzzi). The trio was formed in 2009 during the participation of the three singers in the second edition of the children’s singing talent show “Ti lascio una canzone”. Initially, they auditioned as soloists, not knowing each other before. However, at the request of director Roberto Cenci, they occasionally performed together as a trio. Due to their vocal talents and young age, they were given the nickname “tenorini” (little tenors). After their television experience, the emerging music group caught the attention of record producers Michele Torpedine and Tony Renis. They signed a two-million-dollar contract for the release of an album on the international market. Before adopting the name Il Volo, the group was initially called The Tryo and participated in the recording of “We Are the World 25 for Haiti” to raise funds for the populations affected by the earthquake in Haiti. Shortly after, the three singers were invited back to the Ariston Theatre and, as guests of the 60th Sanremo Music Festival. They changed their name into Il Trio. The title of their first album, “Il Volo,” marks the young singers’ new name. The album was released in Italy on November 30, 2010, and reached the sixth position on the Italian chart in the first week of 2011. In the last week of 2013, it was certified platinum by FIMI for selling over 60,000 copies. On May 17, 2011, the album was also released in the United States and Europe. Following several television appearances, including a live performance on the talent show American Idol, the album reached the tenth position on the Billboard 200 chart. “Il Volo” also entered the top 10 in France, the Netherlands, and the Belgian region of Wallonia. In Austria, it debuted at the second position and eventually topped the album sales chart. On June 7, 2011, the album was released in Spanish and received the RIAA Latin Gold Award in the United States. It achieved double platinum status in Venezuela, platinum in Mexico, and gold in Colombia and Puerto Rico. The album also received gold certification in Austria, France, and the Netherlands. In late July and early August, the group expanded their promotion to the Asian market with tours in Malaysia, Taiwan, and Singapore, followed by Australia and New Zealand. Il Volo was certified gold in New Zealand and Singapore as well. Their first North American tour began on September 24, 2011, with seventeen dates in the United States and Canada.  In November 2011, they embarked on a 13-concert tour in Europe. On February 28, the CD and DVD “Il Volo Takes Flight – Live from the Detroit Opera House” were released. In April and May, the group embarked on a twelve-concert tour for their first Latin American tour. From early August to early October, they toured the United States and Canada, performing in twenty-eight concerts. In the fall of 2012, Barbra Streisand invited the group to be special guests on her North American tour, “Back to Brooklyn.”  At the end of the year, their second album, “We Are Love,” was released. It featured duets with tenor Plácido Domingo and Eros Ramazzotti. In the United States, the album was reissued in the spring of 2013 as the “We Are Love Special Edition,” with five songs replaced. The album included the song “Luna nascosta,” which was the main theme of the movie “Hidden Moon.” A live album, “We Are Love – Live from The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater,” was released after the specials aired. In May, the Latin version of “We Are Love” was released under the title “Más que amor.” In its first week of sales, the album reached the number one position on the Billboard Latin Pop Albums chart and the number two position on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart. “Más que amor” was certified gold in Mexico and Argentina. In August, the “We Are Love Tour,” their fourth North American tour, began and lasted for two months, featuring twenty dates in the United States and Canada. From October to November, the group embarked on the “Más que amor” tour, performing twenty-seven concerts in Central and South America. On October 26, 2013, the international version of “Buon Natale – The Christmas Album” was released, featuring some of the most famous American Christmas songs, along with two songs in Latin and one in German.  In 2014, Il Volo won the Billboard Latin Music Award award for Best Group of the Year in the Latin Pop Albums category and also won the El Pulso Social award, which recognizes the artist who dominated social media interactions during the Billboard Awards. In June, they returned to North America for a summer tour of fifteen concerts in large outdoor theaters in the United States and Canada, accompanied by a band and orchestra. The concert setlist featured their most successful songs, and the tour received excellent reviews from critics. On August 21, the group won the Favorite Duo or Group award at the Premios Tu Mundo, held in Miami and broadcasted by the US television network Telemundo. At the final evening of the 2015 Sanremo Festival, which began on February 14, 2015, and ended late at night, the song “Grande amore” won the competition with 39% of the votes. Released as a single, the song preceded the release of the trio’s EP titled “Sanremo grande amore,” which was released on February 17 of the same year. In addition to the new song, the EP included six reinterpretations of past Sanremo Festival winning songs, including “Ancora” by Eduardo De Crescenzo, which the trio performed during the third night of the festival. The EP

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