An album of Erkin Koray's songs from 1970-1977 entitled 'Meçhul: Singles & Rarities ' released by Sublime Frequencies is now finding airtime on U.S. radios and acclaim by music lovers.
Sublime Frequencies company official Mark Gergis explains that the album, which is Koray's first release in the U.S., is being played on the radio frequently. Gergis goes on to state that the album is being distributed worldwide, and that Koray will be coming to San Francisco to promote its release. "The CD has seen significant success in America, but also in Australia, New Zealand and Japan. And we are very pleased to be able to say this."
Gergis also mentioned that there have been a series of positive reviews on Erkin Koray's work released in newspapers, magazines and websites. The San Francisco Chronicle has also published a large piece on the album, which is extremely pleasing, Gergis says.
'' Is it too much to hope Erkin undertake a Western tour?''
Reviews released in The U.S. press also detail Koray's extensive career and influence on rock music in Turkey.
Some excerpts from reviews are as follows: -"Erkin Koray's records have been slowly reissued and compiled in the West over the past few years, giving new listeners a chance to hear the man who essentially brought rock music to the Anatolian country. Sublime Frequencies adds another jewel to his crown with this excellent CD," wrote Othermusic website.
-"Known as the first musician to ply Turkey with rock 'n' roll, Koray has been battling bootleggers intent on ripping off his intoxicating hybrid of imposing riffs and Anatolian soul," wrote the San Francisco Chronicle.
-''Tracks like "Kendim Ettim Kendim Buldum" and "Hadi Hadi Ordan" are going to make you very happy…Is it too much to hope that Sublime Frequencies will get Erkin to undertake a Western tour like labelmate Omar Souleyman, one of these days...?''-Aquarius Records'un internet sitesi
-"One of the few brand new CDs I recall listening to obsessively this year (played it five times the day I got it) was of material from 1970-1977 by Erkin Koray. You probably know him, he's the father of Turkish Rock'n'Roll, their Elvis, Beatles, and Hendrix all rolled into one.''-Blastitude
-'Listening to Meçhul is like reading one of those alternate histories. What if, after absorbing blues and folk in the 1960s, rock had turned towards Istanbul? What if Turkish psych had been as big an influence as reggae or disco in the 1970s? Instead of the Police trying to rock steady or Mick Jagger attempting a dance beat, we might have had something very much like this. Shame really. By all indicators, it would have been a much more interesting world."-Blurt
-'' Erkin Koray, the undeniable father of Turkish rock and experimental deviations from the land has set the standard for Anatolian, folk and psychedelic Turkish rock since the late 50′s and 60′s.''-Soundcolourvibration
-"Erkin Koray, hailing from Istanbul, was essentially Turkey's longer-living Elvis.''-Spectrum Culture
-"What more is there to say about Erkin Koray? An iconic guitar and song writing genius. A voice of gold - Having founded the country's first ever rock and roll group in 1957, he is regarded worldwide as the father of Turkish rock. Forging western sounds with his own inimitable musical mastery, he self-produced singles and LPs throughout the 1960s and 1970s that shook and altered Turkish society. He is now recognized as one of the foremost global leaders of psychedelic, folk rock, pop and balladry.'' -Squidco
-''Koray, who was born in 1941, is still alive and active. And it is reported that in Turkish music circles he is sometimes called "Erkin Baba" (Erkin the Father) because of his pioneering and lasting influence on Turkish pop music.''-Foxydigitalis
-SEVEN YEARS OF SONGS
Erkin Koray's album Meçhul consists of songs specially picked by Koray and produced between the years 1970-1977, including, ''Meçhul'', ''Ve...'', ''Kendim Ettim Kendim Buldum'', ''Gün Doğmuyor'', ''Goca Dünya'', ''Krallar'', ''Cümbür Cemaat'', ''Hadi Hadi Ordan'', ''Düşünüş'', ''Olmayınca Olmuyor'' and ''Sevdiğim''. The album is also planned for release in Turkey.
World-renowned pop star Rihanna performed a dazzling concert for an audience of 35,000 in Istanbul’s İnönü Stadium on Thursday night as part of her Diamonds World Tour.
Second-place winner of the Eurovision Song Contest Azerbaijani singer Farid Mammadov paid a visit to Istanbul after his win and prominent display of the Turkish flag during the live broadcast.
In his new book “Inferno”, American writer Dan Brown describes Istanbul as “a world divided, a city of opposing forces.”
Cannes’ popular venue Plage des Palmes hosted an international Istanbul meeting yesterday evening on the sidelines of the famous film festival. 
AK Party Malatya Deputy Ömer Faruk Öz has sent apricots to American film star Angelina Jolie, who recently had a preventative double mastectomy because she carries the BRCA1 gene, which significantly increases the risk she may get breast cancer.
“Inferno”, the new book by Dan Brown, the author of the worldwide best-seller “The Da Vinci Code”, is now on the shelves in a simultaneous release in 12 different countries, including Turkey. The final section of the book takes place in Istanbul and is expected to result in a surge of tourists for Istanbul’s historic Hagia Sophia.
The International Istanbul Puppetry Festival, which will be hosting performances from 15 different nations, kicks off today with a showing of the German-French-Swiss production of “Hotel de Rive”.
When 30,000 Justin Bieber fans all rushed to arrive to the Ayazağa Stadium for the popular young star’s performance Thursday night, traffic was jammed for hours. However, the famous singer did not disappoint his Turkish ‘Beliebers’.
Justin Bieber stopped his performance twice mid-concert last night in Istanbul to honor the ‘Azan’, the Islamic call to prayer. 
A new album has been released of songs composed from eulogies and verses made by Ottoman sultans entitled 'Şarkıların Sultanı' (The Sultan of Songs). 
Conductor Özfırat of the Antakya Civilizations Choir, which consists of 150 members of a diverse variety of religious and sectarian backgrounds and performs in Turkish, Arabic, Armenian and Kurdish, says, “I want to spread the message of peace with my music.”
