Mahmut Mazhar Alanson (born February 13, 1950) is a Turkish musician, guitarist, member of the popular Turkish pop music band MFÃÂ, and an actor.
He was born on February 13, 1950, to a family of musicians in Ankara, Turkey, where his father was the head trumpeter in the State Philharmonic Orchestra. He attended Kadñköy Anadolu Lisesi, commonly known as Kadñköy Maarif College for his high school education in Istanbul following his father's death. After high school, he attended the State Conservatory in Ankara and graduated in performing arts, in particular (theater).
He started playing the guitar during his high school years. In 1966, Mazhar formed the band Kaygñsñzlar ("The Carefree") along with Fuat Güner and Sadik Kuyas. They played the music of the Beatles, Crosby, Stills & Nash and the Rolling Stones and collaborated with the renowned Turkish pop singer BarÃ±à  Manço. Later on, ÃÂzkan UÃÂur joined the band, and in 1972 the trio was renamed MFÃÂ, after the initials of the members. While ÃÂzkan was serving his military duty, Mazhar and Fuat released their first album Türküz Türkü ÃÂñÃÂñrñrñz ("We are Turkish, we will sing Türkü"). The album song Güllerin ðçinden ("From in-between the roses") brought the group to a broader audience. In 1974, Galip Boransu and Ayhan SicimoÃÂlu joined the band, and the quintet took the name ðpucu Beà Âlisi ("Clue Quintet"). However, the band dissolved after a short time, and the group MFàcontinued to play as a trio again.
Between 1972 and 1982, Mazhar Alanson performed as an actor at the Ankara State Theatre, performing a number of leading roles in major plays.
MFÃÂ represented Turkey in the Eurovision Song Contest twice, in 1985 with Didai Didai Dai (placed 14) and in 1988 with Sufi (placed 15), both written and performed by themselves.
Aside from the band, he released two solo albums: Herà Âey ÃÂok Güzel Olacak (1999), and Türk Lokumuyla Tatlñ Rüyalar (2002).
The album Türk Lokumuyla Tatlñ Rüyalar (2002) was written in the U.S. when he was abroad and apart from his group members.
He is a former jury member in most viewed TV Show of Turkey O Ses Türkiye (Turkish version of The Voice).
Before MFÃÂ, he mostly composed folk rock. Mazhar Alanson wrote almost all of the MFÃÂ's songs, including "Bu Sabah YaÃÂmur Var ðstanbul'da", "Güllerin ðçinden", "Bodrum", "Peki Peki Anladñk", "Gözyaà Âlarñmñzñ Bitti mi Sandñn", "Sen ve Ben", and "Sarñ Laleler". Sufism items attract attention in his songs, such as "Buselik Makamñna", "Uç Oldum", "Adñmñz Miskindir Bizim" and "Yandñm".
He played in several TV commercials and some films. In the film Arkadaà Âñm à Âeytan (Demon, My Friend), directed by Atñf Yñlmaz, he played the role of Mephistopheles. He wrote also the film score. In his second film Her à Âey ÃÂok Güzel Olacak ("Everything's Gonna Be Alright") directed by ÃÂmer Vargñ, Mazhar Alanson shared the leading roles with Cem Yñlmaz and Ceyda Düvenci. The film, which he also wrote the score for, became the highest-grossing movie in 1998. He shared in 2002 the leading role again with Cem Yñlmaz in the film Yñldñzlñ Pekiyi ("A+" (letter grade in school)). The same year, he played in the TV series ÃÂekirdek Aile ("Nuclear family") produced for Kanal D. In 2006, he appeared in the Cem Yñlmaz movie Hokkabaz ("The Magician").
He married Hale Alanson in 1972. The couple had two children and divorced in 2003. Mazhar got married for a second time to Biricik Suden, a fashion designer. He is a known member of the Istanbul-based Sufi Islamic Jerrahi tariqa.