Arif Şentürk, born in 1941 in Kumanova, Macedonia, is a Turkish folk music performer, collector, and artist. ^【1】

His musical talent was shaped in childhood through folk songs learned from his mother, and he received professional music training at the Music Branch of the Halkevi in Bakırköy and Yeşilköy. The turning point in his career came when he heard an announcement for the "Turkish Folk Music Amateur Vocal Competition" on TRT radio in 1974, leading him to audition in 1975 at the Mesut Cemil Studio in Harbiye. Although he initially performed Anatolian folk songs during the audition, the jury directed him toward Rumelian folk songs; with the support of Nida Tüfekçi, he earned the right to record for TRT and thus embarked on his professional artistic career. ^【2】

^{Arif Şentürk Infographic} (AA)

As a "source person" and "collector," he contributed numerous works from Kosovo, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, and Greece to the literature of Turkish folk music. The artist introduced 17 newly collected pieces from the Balkan region to the TRT repertoire, contributing significantly to the preservation of cultural heritage. Throughout his career, he released more than twelve albums, presenting works such as "Rumeli Türküleri," "Deryalar," "Kına Havası," "Mendilimin Yeşili," and "Yemen" to music lovers. ^【3】

His most famous work, "Deryalar" (Between Kırcaali and Arda), is a lament recounting the story of Feride, the daughter of a wealthy family, and Yusuf, a young man who dies after being swept away by floodwaters in the Arda River. Şentürk recorded this song with a fever of 39 degrees, and the folk song remained at the top of music charts for nineteen weeks. Other significant works in his repertoire include widely recognized folk songs such as "Ramize," "Safiye," "Vardar Ovası," and "Bulut Gelir Seher ile." ^【4】

Throughout his artistic career, he shared the stage with prominent figures such as Emel Sayın, Ajda Pekkan, İbrahim Tatlıses, and Barış Manço during the gaziño era. On television, he produced and hosted programs titled "Rumeli'den Sesler" and "Rumeli Rüzgarı," and performed as a vocalist at numerous festivals across Balkan countries and throughout Türkiye. In his acting career, he appeared in numerous film and television projects including "Akasya Durağı" (2010), "Buruk Sevinçler Sokağı" (2001), "Artık Dün Yok" (1999), "Bitmeyen Bekleyiş" (1997), "Afilli Kemal" (1995), "Sıra Bende" (1995), "Yaşarken Öldüm" (1993), "Ramize" (1989), and "Soykırım" (1985). ^【5】

^{Arif Şentürk’s Funeral} (AA)

In December 2018, the artist underwent bypass surgery due to health issues and recovered successfully after the operation. However, he was hospitalized again in February 2022 and received treatment in intensive care. Arif Şentürk passed away on 15 February 2022 at the age of eighty-one. His body was laid to rest following a funeral prayer held at the Zeytinburnu Seyyid Nizam Camii. His life story was compiled in the autobiographical work titled "Kumanova'dan Zeytinburnu'na Bir Rumeli Delikanlısı," and in his memory, the Zeytinburnu Municipality named a street "Arif Şentürk Sokak." ^【6】

Throughout his professional career, the artist signed more than twelve albums. The most prominent works recorded and documented in sources include: "Rumeli Türküleri", "Deryalar", "Kına Havası", "Mendilimin Yeşili", and "Yemen". Additionally, the artist announced that he was working on a new album project encompassing the seventeen newly collected Rumelian folk songs he had added to the TRT repertoire prior to his death. ^【7】