Road to the Grammys: Fahir Atakoglu's Album Hits the Charts

A major composer, arranger and pianist who is famous in his native Turkey and becoming increasingly well-known in the United States, Fahir Atakoglu’s latest album “Istanbul In Blue” is the “most added” and the most increased in air play album, according to Jazz Week and Media Guide.  

“Istanbul in Blue” is #39 on the Top 50 Jazz Albums Chart and #4 on the World Music Album Chart. New World and Media, the radio promoters of the Album, have reported a total of 77 radio stations playing Fahir Atakoglu all across US, and the number is increasing weekly.

Over the week of April 21-28, 2008, the total spins of the album was 84. Media Guide, which provides the world’s most comprehensive, accurate, and reliable airplay data products provided this information. Jazz Week is the definitive Jazz and Smooth Jazz national radio airplay chart—a weekly report of the top fifty Jazz and Smooth Jazz recordings played on radio stations across the United States and Canada.

Scott Yanow, author of nine jazz books, says: “When one considers the great variety to be heard throughout Istanbul In Blue and the perfect mix of melodies, grooves and improvisations, Fahir Atakoglu’s future is certainly one to watch closely.” Yanow describes the “Istanbul in Blue” album is a wide-ranging set that at first seems like jazz/rock fusion, but also includes the influences of Turkish music, some acoustic interludes, and sections that are completely unclassifiable.

Jazz Week publishes a weekly magazine, which includes articles, industry news, CD reviews and the Jazz Album Chart, the Smooth Jazz Album Chart, and the Smooth Jazz Single Chart of the top fifty most played albums and singles. Media Guide, a media monitoring and technology company, monitors music and advertising on over 2,700 college, non-commercial and commercial radio stations in 150 US markets, and over 3,500 internet stations in real-time, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

Previous, Fahir Atakoglu recorded “If” (a trio set with bassist Anthony Jackson and drummer
Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez) and the ballet East Side Story.

Beside the jazz album charts, XM Satellite Radio, which has over 12 million subscribers, is playing eight Atakoğlu’s tracks in their playlists.  They are playing Trapped, Fuse On, Sync-Op, Gypsy In Me, Aheste, Yana Yana, Saturday, and Ten Eight on their "Beyond Jazz" station.  To request to listen to Atakoğlu’s album, you can e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

ABOUT FAHİR ATAKOĞLU
Fahir Atakoğlu is a renowned Turkish pianist and composer who has worked with a wide range of artists across many genres of music, ranging in style from symphonic scoring to advertising jingles. He was born in Istanbul, Turkey.

From the age of 7, Atakoğlu was interested in music and began playing piano and drums. Though his family intended for him to continue in the family business, his mother fostered his interest in music and through his music teacher Muzaffer Uz he was introduced to Cemal Reşit Rey, Turkey’s famous composer, pianist, script writer, and conductor. Atakoğlu studied under Rey from 1977-1979. He attended the Istanbul State Conservatory from 1978-1980. In 1980 he moved to London and for five years studied at both the London School of Music and Croydon College. He earned a degree in marketing and advertising from Croydon College in 1983 and returned to Istanbul to work as a jingle composer in the advertising sector.
Atakoglu has created music for commercials, news segments, and documentaries via advertising agencies including Lintas, McCann Erickson, CDP Europe, Young & Rubicam, Saatchi & Saatchi, and Ogilvy & Mather. Atakoğlu acknowledges that his training in ad jingles honed his skill as a composer to create immediate context within his music.

He has also composed music for Turkey's top bands and musicians, including Mazhar Fuat Özkan, Sezen Aksu, and Sertab Erener. He also composed music for the Greek musician Notis Sfakinakis, with Atakoğlu's song Telos Dios Telos going platinum with sales over 480,000 copies.
Since 1994, Atakoğlu has recorded 10 albums which have sold over 2 million copies in 17 countries. His previous album, “If” is a collaboration featuring bass guitarist Anthony Jackson and two time Grammy award winning percussionist Horacio "EI Negro" Hernandez.