Darío Moreno (April 3, 1921 – December 1, 1968) was a Turkish polyglot singer of Jewish origin, as well as an accomplished composer, lyricist and guitarist, who was born in İzmir, Turkey, in 1921, and who attained fame and made a remarkable career centered in France which also included films, during the fifties and the sixties.
His real name was David Arugete and he was born in the poorer Jewish quarter of İzmir to a large family. He was orphaned in early childhood when his father, who worked in a train station in the city, was shot dead under tragic circumstances. He was placed in the Sephardic orphanage of İzmir (Nino De Guerfanos) by his mother and remained there until he was four.
After a primary education in the Jewish educational establishments of İzmir, he did many odd jobs during his early youth. But he has also put great effort into improving his education at the same time while working for the bread, and having started as an errand boy in the cabinet of one of the city's prominent lawyers, he was in time raised to becoming a clerk in his office. In the evenings, he would study French in İzmir's Central Library. With a guitar that had fallen into his hands by chance, he also learned, mainly on his own with occasional tutoring asked here and there, to master playing that instrument.
He started singing in the Bar Mitzva feasts as a secondary occupation. In his early twenties, he had already become a well-known singer in İzmir, and particularly among the Jewish community. During his military service in the Turkish Army, he was employed as a singer in officers' quarters in various garrisons and became more focused on music. His first truly professional musical performance started in his hometown right after his discharge, through connections established while under the arms. Since he had started making money thanks to music, he moved to the more well-off Jewish quarter of Karataş to a house in a street leading to the historical building of Asansör, one of the city's landmarks (and which means, literally, the "Elevator", people taking an actual elevator to go to the higher part of the quarter, this part being separated by the coastal strait with a steep slope). This street is named Dario Moreno Sokağı (Dario Moreno Street) today in his memory.
A hyper-active personality, Darío Moreno died of a heart attack in a taxi while going to the airport in Istanbul on 1 December 1968. He was only 47. He was buried in Holon, Israel, by his mother Madam Roza.[1]
Dario Moreno Street near Asansör in İzmir, where the house he lived in his twenties is situated.Contents [hide] 1 Lyrics 2 Films 3 Albums 4 Awards 5 References 6 External links
[edit] Lyrics My dear İzmir (Canım İzmir, written in Turkish)
İzmir! My sweet and dear city! If I die far away from you one day, May they bring me to you, But, while taking me to my grave, May they not say of me, "He died", May they say, "He is sleeping". The girls of İstanbul (İstanbul kızları, written in Turkish)
If you only knew how sweet they are, the girls of İstanbul, How they can attract you to their side, from far away, That I could not forget them, all lovely as they are, And how I was bewitched at first sight by one, and how I loved her, Wishing I could live forever and destiny could keep us together.
[edit] Films La femme et le pantin, by Julien Duvivier with Brigitte Bardot Le salaire de la peur, 1952, by Henri-Georges Clouzot with Yves Montand, Charles Vanel and Peter van Eyck La Môme vert-de-gris, 1953, by Bernard Borderie with Eddie Constantine with Howard Vernon, Dominique Wilms and Maurice Ronet Quai des blondes, by Paul Cadeac with Michel Auclair Tous peuvent me tuer, 1957, by Henri Decoin with Anouk Aimé Oh! que mambo, 1959, by John Berry with Magali Noël Voulez-vous danser avec moi ?, 1959, by Michel Boisrond with Henri Vidal, Brigitte Bardot and Noël Roquevert Candide ou l'optimisme au XXe siêcle, 1960, by Norbert Carbonnaux with Jean-Pierre Cassel and Dahlia Lavi Le tout pour le tout, 1960, by Patrice Dally with Karen Blanguernon with Dirk Sanders Marie des Isles, 1960, by Georges Combret mat der Belinda Lee Tintin et le mystère de la toison d'or, 1961, by Jean-Jacques Vierne with Charles Vanel with Georges Wilson Le bon Roi Dagobert, 1963, by Pierre Chevalier with Fernandel and Gino Cervi
[edit] Albums Granada- Adios Amigos Bossa Nova Calypso Le coco Canım İzmir Si Tu Vas A Rio / Viens Long Bos Moreno Poy poy Mulata Ye Ye Ye Hatıralar Hayal Oldu / Olam Boyun Kurbanı Tropical Dario Oh Que Dario
