Özel Türkbas (1936-2012) was a huge talent and a huge star! After starting out as a child star (at the age of seven), in her native Turkey, she went on to play starring roles in fourteen Turkish movies. She was brought to the US by Italian director Franco Zeffirelli, in 1959, in order to appear in the role of La Oriental in his production of Opera Thais. She released five Belly Dance records. She also wrote and published two Belly Dancing books and a Turkish Cookbook[1].
See also: Top Turkish Talent by Jasmin Jahal, January 2002
"Ozel Turkbas made five[2] incredible records of authentic but fully modernized Turkish music on her own El-Ay label (last known address in Flushing, NY). Several feature even deep funk breaks, electric guitar, Moog synthesizer, and Middle Eastern organ solos. The music is the genius of arranger and conductor Tarik Bulut, clearly a master of the full spectrum of traditional Middle Eastern music (all types and instruments). Most or all of the LPs feature dance-instruction booklets. Typically there is one nearly side-long dance routine, and Ozel always sings on some cuts. Born in 1940, Ozel starred in fourteen Turkish movies before being brought to the U.S. in 1959 to play La Orientale in Franco Zefirelli's production of Opera Thais. She had command of the Greek and Arabic languages and dances as well as Turkish. Major appearances included long runs in Texas and Washington, D.C. She graces the jacket of the early LP Keyif in Istanbul (Nina L-82) in addition to her own records." SOURCE
[1] The Art of Belly Dancing | The Belly Dancer in You | The Turkish Cookbook
[2] How to Make Your Husband a Sultan; El-Ay 2687 Murray Hill 944332)
The 1960s classic that first introduced Americans to authentic Turkish bellydance, and to some of the great Turkish nightclub musicians of the 20th century, including the legendary Turkish-Gypsy clarinet player Mustafa Kandirali--all under the guise of that swing-era staple, the art of domestic seduction. Produced by and featuring the famous Turkish dancer Özel Türkbas, first brought to America to dance by Italian movie director Franco Zeferelli, the album sold 150,000 copies in the US (and a million in Turkey), spawning the craze for bellydance and Turkish music that continues today. Notes include Özel’s original bellydance instructions with pictures. “A practice run through with the record,” she promised, “and tonight you can be bellydancing for that luckiest of men--your sultan!” BUY CD
How to Belly Dance for Your Sultan; El-Ay 2789
Dance Into Your Sultan's Heart; El-Ay 2877 Murray Hill 944332)
Alla-Turca; El-Ay 2982; 1975 Murray Hill 944332)
Recorded in Istanbul in the 1960s, the heyday of the Turkish nightclub scene, Alla-Turca is one of the most influential bellydance albums of the era, featuring dancer Özel Türkbas and a line-up of legendary Turkish and Turkish-Gypsy musicians. This reissue includes bonus tracks from a second classic Özel bellydance album, Kismet, featuring the great ney master Aka Gündüz Kutbay. Notes include Özel’s original bellydance instructions, with pictures. BUY CD
Kismet; El-Ay E-5436; 1978
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