İbrahim Erkal

1967–92: Early years

Ibrahim Erkal was born in Erzurum, the eldest of seven children. He started playing various instruments during elementary school. He completed his education in Erzurum; after graduating from high school, he attended Musa Eroglu Music Education Centre where he took solfege and music lessons. At the age of 16, he released his first album as İbrahim Güzelses, a stage name. It was not a success. Erkal began his performance career in Ankara as an amateur during 1984. He started his military service in 1987 and in the following years, he was a soloist in Istanbul Kalender Orduevi. After completing his military service he returned to Erzurum. In 1989, Erkal decided to go back to Istanbul where he began working as a waiter. He continued his musical education while working, and by 1991, was performing on stage. Erkal spent 1992 performing in the district of Tekirdağ Kumbağ.

1993–06: Ulus Music era and fame

In 1992, he began to write his own songs. In 1993 he decided to return to Erzurum. In 1993, encountered with İskender Ulus. The first album, released on 24 January 1994, from Tutku. The album received positive reviews. The album sold 150 thousand copies. İbrahim Erkal announced its name in the music world. In 1994 he published the album for Galatasaray. In 1995, Sıra Bende/Aklımdasın released the album. The album has sold 270 thousand copies. Album was more successful than the first album. Was released three songs from the album.

The third album was released in 1996, Gönlünüze Talibim. The album sold 1.4 million copies. All the tracks on the album were hits. "Canısı", it was the best part of the album. In 1997, he starred in Canısı. In Turkey became one of the best singers. Rose to number one in the lists. "Erzurum'a Gel" the song became a popular folk song. In 1997, Kral Video Music Awards nominated the song in four categories, two successfully.

On 15 May 1998, the fourth album was released on Sırılsıklam. It was the second-bestselling album of 1998 in Turkey, selling 2.2 million copies. Sırılsıklam series began on 6 October 1998. De Get Yalan Dünya, released the album in 2000. The album has sold 1.1 million copies. Was released three songs from the album. The album Su Gibi was released in 2001. 400,000 albums were sold. Erkal's seventh studio album wasreleased in 2002 (Aşknâme). In 2004, he produced his eighth album (Gönül Limanı). In 2006, Yüreğinden Öpüyorum/Gülüm pulled the album.

2007–2017: New albums and music companies

In 2007 he published the Aranağme the album. A song from the album was released. The album failed to get positive results compared to the previous album. It is the first album with the new company. Two years later he began recording a new album. In 2011, published twelfth album. The album's title was Burnumda Tütüyorsun. After this album, he gave a short break from music. In 2015 reached an agreement with Poll Production. On 30 March 2015, the album Nefes 1 was released.