Çelik

Çelik — Biography

Çelik Erişçi, known by his stage name Çelik, is a singer, songwriter and composer who became one of the prominent names of Turkish pop in the 1990s through his album sales. He studied double bass at the İTÜ Turkish Music State Conservatory and became known for songs such as Ateşteyim, Meyhaneci, Hercai, Kızımız Olacaktı and Yaman Sevda; he has released more than twenty albums.

His career began with a trio formed with his conservatory friends İzel Çeliköz and Ercan Saatçi. The 1991 album Özledim by İzel-Çelik-Ercan sold over a million copies; the group became known as the opening act on Ajda Pekkan's tour of Germany and was named Best Group at the 1992 Golden Butterfly awards. Çelik left the group that year. His first solo album, Ateşteyim (1994), produced hits almost throughout and brought him the Golden Butterfly for Best Male Pop Artist the following year. In 1995 he opened for Rod Stewart's concert at İnönü Stadium, and Hercai, from the album Benimle Kal, won Best Composition at the Kral TV Video Music Awards. In 2001 he recorded 8inci with musicians who had worked with Sting and David Bowie, writing, composing and arranging everything himself. On Yol (2002) he sang a duet with Ebru Gündeş, and Affet, Gariban and Kod Adı Aşk followed.

Besides music he published the book Yumuşakçalar ve Diplomasi in 2004, wrote newspaper columns and lived in Azerbaijan from 2008 to 2010. In 2023 he released the album İz Düşümü.