Moğollar

The band was founded end of 1967 by Aziz Azmet, Murat Ses, Cahit Berkay, Hasan Sel and Engin Yörükoğlu

In 1970, Hasan Sel was replaced by Taner Öngür, previously a member of Meteorlar (Meteors) and the Erkin Koray Quartet. The band tried to fuse the technical aspects of pop music with the melodies of Anatolian folk music in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

In July 1970, Aziz Azmet, the band's vocalist left the band due to musical disagreements and Ersen Dinleten replaced him for a short time. Moğollar recorded Ternek/Haliç'te Gün Batışı (Ternek/Sunset on the Golden Horn) on a 45 rpm single, and left for Paris in August 1970. While they went to Paris, they signed a 3-year contract with CBS, releasing a 45 rpm single Hitchin/Behind the Dark in 1972. They made one album for the imprint "Guild International du Disque", Danses et Rythmes de la Turquie -- d'Hier d'Aujourd'hui. This album was recognized by the French Académie Charles Cros in 1971, earning comparisons to Pink Floyd. By that time, they met with Barış Manço and started to work with him while he was living in Belgium.

In 1968 the group won the third place in Turkish music contest Golden Microphone. In 1971 the group won the Grand Prix du Disque of the Charles Cros Academy for their instrumental album Danses et Rythmes de la Turquie.

In 1971, Barış Manço joined as vocalist and the band was renamed Manchomongol. Manchomongol recorded 2 45 rpms, and this partnership ended after four months. Also, Engin Yörükoğlu stayed in Paris, and the drummer of Mavi Işıklar (Blue Lights), Ayzer Danga, joined the band to replace him.

Moğollar recorded one single with Selda Bağcan during the first half of 1972. Ersen then re-joined the band in July 1972 and they recorded another single. Murat Ses left the band in August 1972. In September 1972, Moğollar replaced their soloists with Cem Karaca, who was then the soloist of Kardaşlar (Brothers).This partnership of Cem Karaca and Moğollar lasted for two years and they produced the song, Namus Belası, which became a great hit.

In 1974, Taner Öngür and Ayzer Danga left the band. Öngür joined Dadaşlar, a band with Ersen Dinleten between 1974–1975 and 1979–1980 and Dervişan (Dervishes), a band with Cem Karaca between 1974 and 1978. He also briefly joined Dostlar, a band with Edip Akbayram in 1975. Danga initially joined Kardaşlar between 1974 and 1975. He participated in Erkin Koray's 'Elektronik Türküler' (Electronic Songs) album in 1975. He then joined Dostlar between 1975 and 1978; Güneşin Sofrası, a band with Kerem Güney (1939-2012) in 1979; Dadaşlar, a band with Ersen Dinleten in 1983 and Zorbeyler in 1984 before his retirement from music. Meanwhile, Cahit Berkay left for France after the dissolution of the band to meet with Engin Yörükoğlu. Cahit and Engin recorded two albums under the name Moğollar. They also recorded a single with Ali Rıza Binboğa in 1975. The band completely dissolved in 1976.

After a 17-year absence, Cahit Berkay, Taner Öngür and Engin Yörükoğlu reformed the band in 1993, and were joined by keyboard player Serhat Ersöz. Murat Ses is dealing with other projects and is still pursuing an extraordinary international career.

In 2007, the Advertising agency TBWA decided to use Moğollar's track from the late 1960's, Garip Çoban (translated - Lonesome Shepherd; written by Murat Ses) in the This is Living advertisement campaign for Sony's PlayStation 3. Emrah Karaca (son of Cem Karaca) joined Moğollar in 2007 as a vocalist and guitarist. Engin Yörükoğlu was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2007 and died in 2010.

Current members

• Cahit Berkay – bağlama, guitar, kamancheh, mandolin, yaylı tanbur, vocals (1968–1976, 1993–present)
• Taner Öngür – bass, vocals (1969–1974, 1993–present)
• Serhat Ersöz – keyboards (1993–present)
• Emrah Karaca - vocals, guitar (2007–present)
• Kemal Küçükbakkal – drums (2011–present)

Former members

• Aziz Azmet – vocals, guitar (1967–1970)
• Murat Ses – synthesizer, hammond organ (1967–1972)
• Hasan Sel – bass (1968–1969)
• Engin Yörükoğlu – drums (1969–1971, 1974–1976, 1993–2010) (deceased)
• Ersen Dinleten - vocals (1970, 1972)
• Ayzer Danga – drums (1971–1974)
• Barış Manço - vocals (1971–1972) (deceased)
• Selda Bağcan - vocals (1972)
• Cem Karaca - vocals (1972–1974) (deceased)
• Mithat Danışan - bass (1974, 1975)
• Turhan Yükseler - keyboards, piano (1974, 1975)
• Tufan Altan - drums (1974, 1975)
• Sulubika - flute (1975)
• Michael Shollet - bass (1975)
• Romen Petiter - keyboards, piano (1975)
• Utku Ünal – drums (2010-2011)

• Official web site (English & Turkish)
• Band history & discography
• Moğollar Music at last.fm