Reyhan Karaca

Reyhan Karaca — Biography

Born Reyhan Soykarcı, Reyhan Karaca is the daughter of Yeşilçam actor Ahmet Karaca; born in Istanbul's Şişli district, she grew up immersed in music, joined the Istanbul Children's Choir at eight, trained at Istanbul Technical University's Turkish Music State Conservatory, later took a master's degree there, and taught for several years at the conservatory. Drawn to music by her admiration for George Michael, she began her professional career in 1987, spending years as a backing vocalist for Zerrin Özer, and in 1991 represented Turkey at the Eurovision Song Contest alongside İzel and Can Uğurluer with the song "İki Dakika," finishing 12th. Her debut album Başlangıç (1993) was produced by Garo Mafyan, but her real breakthrough came with Sevdik Sevdalandık in 1997, followed by Yaman Olacak (2000), Mesela (2003) and İmza (2007). She has also taken occasional television and stage roles. After losing her brother Fatih Karaca to cancer in 2010, she turned toward charitable work, co-founding the bone and skeletal tumor association KİTDER with Dr. Harzem Özger. She continues to tour, performing at events such as the Çaycuma Günleri festival and the Honaz Cherry Festival.