Onno Tunç
Encyclopedia
Onno Tunç was a leading Turkish-Armenian
musician, working mainly as a composer and an arranger. Tunç also played bass guitar and occasionally double bass, contributing to the albums of several musicians. He was the elder brother of musician Arto Tunçboyacıyan
.
. His music experience started with the church choir of Hayrur Mangaz (Hundred students). In his first year of middle school, he had to drop out to go to work to support his family.
Born in a financially limited family, he could not afford a musical instrument although they fascinated him, until Anush ("Sweet" in Armenian), the mother of his friend Arman bought her son a guitar, and one for Onno too. Onno, a fast-learning autodidact, started a music band and soon repaid Anush.
, he co-wrote and composed many of the songs she performed throughout her career, as well as arranging all of her albums. It was widely known that his death tipped Sezen Aksu into depression. She dedicated her album Düş Bahçeleri to Onno (and numerous songs on virtually all of her albums since).
His symphony Su was performed by the Istanbul Symphony Orchestra.
He collaborated with Hülki Aktunç and Dağhan Baydur on the Turkish entry Sevince at the Eurovision Song Contest 1978
, which was performed by Nilüfer
and Nazan.
Onno's younger brother Arto Tunçboyacıyan
worked with him musically for 25 years. Arto is highly inspired by his brother, having dedicated numerous songs to him (and the mountain that caused Onno's accident) and an album "Onno" (1996), together with Ara Dinkjian
. On performances, you can often read the letters O N N O on Arto's clothing.
on his journey from Bursa to İstanbul
. Hasan Kanık, his friend aboard also died at the accident. Onno Tunç is buried in Şişli Armenian Catholic Cemetery in İstanbul. He was survived by two daughters Selin and Ayda from his first wife, Canan Ateş.
In 2002, a monument was erected in his memory at the crash site and in the city center of Yalova
.
Onno Tunç Şarkıları ("Onno Tunç Songs").
Armenians in Turkey
Armenians in Turkey have an estimated population of 40,000 to 70,000 . Most are concentrated around Istanbul. The Armenians support their own newspapers and schools...
musician, working mainly as a composer and an arranger. Tunç also played bass guitar and occasionally double bass, contributing to the albums of several musicians. He was the elder brother of musician Arto Tunçboyacıyan
Arto Tunçboyaciyan
Arto Tunçboyacıyan is an Armenian-Turkish musician. A famous avant-garde folk artist , he appeared on more than 200 records in Europe before arriving in the United States, where he went to work with numerous jazz legends including Chet Baker, Al Di Meola, and Joe Zawinul as well as a semi-regular...
.
Early years
Onno Tunç was born in 1948 in IstanbulIstanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
. His music experience started with the church choir of Hayrur Mangaz (Hundred students). In his first year of middle school, he had to drop out to go to work to support his family.
Born in a financially limited family, he could not afford a musical instrument although they fascinated him, until Anush ("Sweet" in Armenian), the mother of his friend Arman bought her son a guitar, and one for Onno too. Onno, a fast-learning autodidact, started a music band and soon repaid Anush.
Career
He composed 175 songs and represented Turkey in many European music contests. A very close friend of Turkish singer Sezen AksuSezen Aksu
Sezen Aksu is a Turkish pop music singer, song-writer and producer who sold over 40 million albums worldwide. Her nicknames include the "Queen of Turkish Pop" and Minik Serçe ....
, he co-wrote and composed many of the songs she performed throughout her career, as well as arranging all of her albums. It was widely known that his death tipped Sezen Aksu into depression. She dedicated her album Düş Bahçeleri to Onno (and numerous songs on virtually all of her albums since).
His symphony Su was performed by the Istanbul Symphony Orchestra.
He collaborated with Hülki Aktunç and Dağhan Baydur on the Turkish entry Sevince at the Eurovision Song Contest 1978
Eurovision Song Contest 1978
The Eurovision Song Contest 1978 was the 23rd of its kind, and was held on 22 April 1978 in Paris. With Denise Fabre and Léon Zitrone as the presenters - the first time more than one presenter hosted the contest - the contest was won by Izhar Cohen & the Alphabeta who represented Israel, with their...
, which was performed by Nilüfer
Nilüfer Yumlu
Nilüfer Yumlu is a Turkish pop singer known as Nilüfer.In 1992, one of her biggest hits, Show Yapma, included in Yine Yeni Yeniden album...
and Nazan.
Onno's younger brother Arto Tunçboyacıyan
Arto Tunçboyaciyan
Arto Tunçboyacıyan is an Armenian-Turkish musician. A famous avant-garde folk artist , he appeared on more than 200 records in Europe before arriving in the United States, where he went to work with numerous jazz legends including Chet Baker, Al Di Meola, and Joe Zawinul as well as a semi-regular...
worked with him musically for 25 years. Arto is highly inspired by his brother, having dedicated numerous songs to him (and the mountain that caused Onno's accident) and an album "Onno" (1996), together with Ara Dinkjian
Ara Dinkjian
Ara Dinkjian is an Armenian-American musician. He is the founder of the band Night Ark. Ara Dinkjian is considered one of the top oud players in the world, his compositions have been recorded in thirteen different languages, which include the multi-platinum hit "Dinata", it was performed in the...
. On performances, you can often read the letters O N N O on Arto's clothing.
Death
Onno Tunç died on January 14, 1996, when his private plane he was piloting crashed in bad weather on a mountain at Tazdağ near Selimiye village of Armutlu, YalovaArmutlu, Yalova
Armutlu is a town and district of Yalova Province in the Marmara region of Turkey. The mayor is Mehmet Birkan .-External links:*...
on his journey from Bursa to İstanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
. Hasan Kanık, his friend aboard also died at the accident. Onno Tunç is buried in Şişli Armenian Catholic Cemetery in İstanbul. He was survived by two daughters Selin and Ayda from his first wife, Canan Ateş.
In 2002, a monument was erected in his memory at the crash site and in the city center of Yalova
Yalova
Yalova is a city located in northwestern Turkey, on the eastern coast of the Sea of Marmara, and is the capital of the Yalova Province. Yalova has a city population of 92,166, while the population of the Yalova Province is 202,531. as of 2009...
.
Onno Tunç tribute
In 2007, several renowned Turkish singers and pop groups came together and released a compilation albumCompilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
Onno Tunç Şarkıları ("Onno Tunç Songs").