Nükhet Duru (born 19 May 1954 in Istanbul) is a Turkish singer and actress. She became one of the most powerful voices and most famous singers of popular music in Turkey in the 70s and 80s.
She was born in Istanbul as the daughter of a family originally from the Bor district of Niğde. She graduated from Kandilli Girls' High School. She suffered a temporary paralysis when she was 11 years old, due to the grief she experienced due to her parents' separation. Nükhet Duru, who could not walk for about a year, expressed her experiences in an interview as follows:
The doctors did not find any physical ailments… My problem was purely psychological and I was in great shock because of my parents' divorce… So I was paralyzed. I cannot explain the agony I went through. One God, one mother is witness. The doctors were saying, 'There is no reason why he shouldn't walk,' but I couldn't walk. Then one day, I got rid of all my troubles, I decided to connect to life and laugh.”
In 1971, she started singing as a soloist in the Florya Deniz Club in the Bakırköy district of Istanbul as a soloist in the dance music orchestra. She attracted attention with her beauty and the color and tone of her voice. In 1974, his first 33-piece record, You in My Mind, You in My Mind – Karadır Kaşları was released. A large audience was reached with 1975 of the songs titled "Let Me Go With Me – The Rest is Vız Come", which was produced in 33. This record earned the artist his first Gold Record Award. The first long record record was released in 1976, Like a Nefes. She received the best performer and the most successful female soloist awards that year.
In 1978, he participated in the Eurovision Turkey qualifiers with the song "Invitation to Friendship" composed by Ali Kocatepe and the Modern Folk Trio. They participated in the Seoul International Song Contest with the same team and song and won the first place. In the 80s, he began to interpret classical Turkish music works as well. During this period, he also showed himself as a headliner on the stages.
Nükhet Duru took part in many musical plays and cabarets throughout her career. Long Live the World in 1977; Hello Music in 1979; In 1980 And Ten Years Passed; Operates in 1982; Saz in 1983? Jazz?; from 1984 to 7 in 77; 1985's Carmen: Let There Be Blood and Roses and Love; Smiling Nights and Yesilyurt Nights in 1991; Musicomedy in 1992; Cahide in 1998: It's a Legend; Hormuz with Seven Husbands in 1999, ask.com.tr in 2000; In 2016, he took part in musical shows titled Istanbulname.
On August 21, 2014, the world-famous Rhytms & blues singer The Weeknd used some parts of Nükhet Duru's "Ben Sana Vurgunum" in "Often", which he published. It is one of the important factors that enable the artist to be heard abroad.
Nükhet Duru, who gave a concert with Timur Selçuk at the Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theater in Harbiye district of Istanbul on August 27, 2014, shared the same stage with Yaşar on September 18, 2015. Nükhet Duru won many awards, especially the Gold Plate.
On February 13, 2020, his new album, titled There is a Story, was released.
He made a guest role in the television series Call My Manager, the second episode of which was broadcast on September 3, 2020.
The documentary film entitled Being Duru, which includes important sections from Nükhet Duru's life and tells about her musical life, was released on Netflix Turkey. The documentary directed by Mu Tunç brought discussions with it.
Nükhet Duru explained that she had a 20-year relationship with Erol Simavi, the son of Sedat Simavi, the founder of Hürriyet newspaper:
“I fell in love with Erol Bey like a child. I was 21-22 years old. He played games to make me fall in love. Besides, I didn't agree. It's been after me for months. He knew I liked red, he would send me a ruby ring in red gelatin. I would be happy that 'the biscuit has arrived'. 'What do you think I am?' I would say. He died to give me a present. As I witnessed his indiscriminate behavior, I took him under my wing. I stopped drinking, I lost weight. I said if you don't leave, I will go. Two drinks were allowed in the evening. I loved it very much… Of course, I didn't want to hide it, but at that time, no one would reveal anyone's secret. The music industry knew. My first big love…”
After Erol Simavi, Nükhet Duru had relationships with music producer Mehmet Teoman and later with musician Doğan Canku. He was married twice; She was married to Dikran Masis between 1987 and 1991 and to Özalp Birol between 1995 and 1999. He has a son named Cem from his first marriage.
45s, EPs and Singles
- 1975: You Are On My Mind, You Are On My Mind – Your Eyebrows Are Black
- 1976: Leave Me With Me – The Rest Comes Down
- 1976: Everything Is Alright Now – Two Drops of Tears
- 1977: I Got Hurt – Let's Extend Friend
- 1977: Acrobat – Let's Live
- 1977: War and Peace – A Man Is Born
- 1978: Memories – The Sun
- 1978: Invitation to Friendship – Swaps – (with Modern Folk Trio)
- 1979: Portofino – The Stars
- 1983: What Happened to Us – Take My Heart And Drag The Land
- 1998: Remix-1
- 1998: Remix-2
- 1999: Nükhet Duru '99
- 2008: Out of Time
- 2010: Top 2
- 2018: Blue Dreams
- 2020: My Heart Remains in the Aegean
- 2021: I'm Gone
- 2021: Talls
- 2022: Don't Let Our Hands Touch
Studio Albums
- 1976: Like a Breath
- 1978: Melancholy
- 1979: Dear Children
- 1979: Nükhet Duru IV
- 1981: Nükhet Duru 1981
- 1982: What Does It Matter If I'm In Love?
- 1984: Everything New
- 1985: Love
- 1986: Rare
- 1987: Pull Rope My Heart
- 1988: My Songs
- 1989: My Way
- 1991: Open Your Eyes Man
- 1992: Oh my God!
- 1994: Nükhet Duru
- 1996: Silver
- 1997: Seal
- 1998: Cahide – This is a Legend
- 2001: Despite Me
- 2004: The Amazing Duo – (with Cenk Eren)
- 2006: …Twelve O'clock at Night
- 2012: Just in Time
- 2015: N State of Love
- 2020: Has a Story
Collection and Concert Albums
- 1979: Nükhet Duru with Her Favorite Songs
- 1993: Nükhet Duru Classics
- 1998: Like a Breath by Nükhet Duru
- 2006: Hand in Hand with Love – (with Surp Vartanants Choir, on behalf of Cenk Taşkan)
- 2008: Nükhet Duru with the Best of 1981-1982
- 2014: Nükhet Duru on Stage