Asim Can Gündüz
Encyclopedia
Asım Can Gündüz is a Turkish
rock and blues guitarist. He is also known as Awesome John, especially outside Turkey
, partly because his name is pronounced very much like Awesome (Asım) John (Can).
until early 1980s as John Gundez where he formed "Zacharia", a 3 piece rock band playing his original material. Influenced by Jimi Hendrix
, Alvin Lee
and Jan Ackerman, Johnny Winter
, he sold out 4 nights at the Bottom Line
, a famous NYC night club. The club owner called him the best guitarist he ever heard, while being interviewed live on radio. He once opened for Leslie West
, and was kept on stage for 4 encores. Gündüz also starred (portraying Jimi Hendrix) in the Broadway musical "Jimi and Janis Together Again". During these performances he was touted by critics as "the coming of the next Jimi Hendrix". His career in the USA was cut short after family obligations forced Gündüz to return to Turkey at the height of his USA career. Returning to Turkey, he formed many influential rock bands like Ambulans, Delikanlı, Affetmez, Çapkınlar, Hard Rakı. Gündüz finished the sessions for his first album Anasının Gözü Cin Gibi in 1989, but it could only be released three years after, in 1992. The tapes of the record were circulated in these three years, making a great influence on the rock genre in Turkey. Gündüz released his second album Bir Sevgi Eseri / "A Work Of Love" which consisted of Turkish versions of blues classic in 1998.
Gündüz has starred on many TV and radio shows on ATV
and Power FM (of İstanbul http://www.powerfm.com.tr/), Kiss FM, TRT 1
and many others.
Outspoken and outlandish in his media presence Asım Can Gündüz is a mixture of modern electric guitar virtuoso, stage show man and talk show host, and social activist all in one, making him very unusual amongst Turkish Pop icons. He is credited with being the first artist to perform Turkish Rap, Turkish Hard Rock, and Turkish blues . His virtuoso guitar skills and colorful showmanship has attracted viewers from around the world to Awesome John related videos and info on the internet. It was after the year 2000 that Asım Can Gündüz / Awesome John once again started touring and performing outside of his native Turkey performing thrilling shows regularly posted on public internet video sites creating great interest from internet viewers.
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
rock and blues guitarist. He is also known as Awesome John, especially outside Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, partly because his name is pronounced very much like Awesome (Asım) John (Can).
Career
Gündüz lived in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
until early 1980s as John Gundez where he formed "Zacharia", a 3 piece rock band playing his original material. Influenced by Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
, Alvin Lee
Alvin Lee
Alvin Lee is an English rock guitarist and singer. He began playing guitar at the age of 13, and with Leo Lyons formed the core of the band Ten Years After in 1960...
and Jan Ackerman, Johnny Winter
Johnny Winter
John Dawson "Johnny" Winter III is an American blues guitarist, singer, and producer. Best known for his late 1960s and 1970s high-energy blues-rock albums and live performances, Winter also produced three Grammy Award-winning albums for blues legend Muddy Waters...
, he sold out 4 nights at the Bottom Line
Bottom Line
The Bottom Line was a music venue at 15 West Fourth Street between Mercer Street and Greene Street in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City...
, a famous NYC night club. The club owner called him the best guitarist he ever heard, while being interviewed live on radio. He once opened for Leslie West
Leslie West
Leslie West is an American rock guitarist, singer and songwriter.-Biography:Originally named Leslie Weinstein, West was born in New York City, grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey, and in East Meadow, Forest Hills and Lawrence. After his parents divorced, he changed his surname to West...
, and was kept on stage for 4 encores. Gündüz also starred (portraying Jimi Hendrix) in the Broadway musical "Jimi and Janis Together Again". During these performances he was touted by critics as "the coming of the next Jimi Hendrix". His career in the USA was cut short after family obligations forced Gündüz to return to Turkey at the height of his USA career. Returning to Turkey, he formed many influential rock bands like Ambulans, Delikanlı, Affetmez, Çapkınlar, Hard Rakı. Gündüz finished the sessions for his first album Anasının Gözü Cin Gibi in 1989, but it could only be released three years after, in 1992. The tapes of the record were circulated in these three years, making a great influence on the rock genre in Turkey. Gündüz released his second album Bir Sevgi Eseri / "A Work Of Love" which consisted of Turkish versions of blues classic in 1998.
Presence in Turkish culture
Asım Can Gündüz is best known for his high energy guitar shows and powerful stage presence. He is also doing charity work and social service for the needy, having done countless charity concerts and fund raisers for victims of poverty and natural disasters .Gündüz has starred on many TV and radio shows on ATV
ATV Turkey
atv is a nationwide TV channel in Turkey, founded in 1993. atv is one of the most widely watched TV channels in Turkey. atv is an acronym of Actual Television.Since 2007 atv is owned by Çalık Holding.- Shows :News Programming* atv Ana Haber...
and Power FM (of İstanbul http://www.powerfm.com.tr/), Kiss FM, TRT 1
TRT 1
TRT 1 is the first Turkish national television station. It launched on January 31 , 1968.-Introduction:TRT 1, the first television channel in Turkey, started their test transmissions on January 31, 1968, and commenced full national broadcasts in December 1971. It was the only channel in Turkey...
and many others.
Outspoken and outlandish in his media presence Asım Can Gündüz is a mixture of modern electric guitar virtuoso, stage show man and talk show host, and social activist all in one, making him very unusual amongst Turkish Pop icons. He is credited with being the first artist to perform Turkish Rap, Turkish Hard Rock, and Turkish blues . His virtuoso guitar skills and colorful showmanship has attracted viewers from around the world to Awesome John related videos and info on the internet. It was after the year 2000 that Asım Can Gündüz / Awesome John once again started touring and performing outside of his native Turkey performing thrilling shows regularly posted on public internet video sites creating great interest from internet viewers.