TPAO Batman
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1963 |
| Founder | Ahmet Akman |
| Defunct | 2000 |
| Headquarters | Batman , Turkey |
Key people | İlhan Telli, Semih Özmert, Çetin Oral, Ünal Yiğitbaş, Atilla Akman |
| Products | Pop music performances and recordings |
TPAO Batman was a well-known Turkish pop music group that operated from 1963 until 2000.
Background
The acronym TPAO represents Türkiye Petrolleri Anonim Ortaklığı, the state-owned oil company of Turkey, while Batman refers to a city located near the nation's sole oilfield. The refinery in Batman began operations in 1955. During the 1950s, the majority of refinery employees resided within the facility's premises, where the management offered various social services, including the formation of a dance band.
Band and musicians
Established in 1963 by Ahmet Akman, the ensemble originally focused on dance and jazz genres but soon expanded their performances to feature arranged traditional folk tunes (Türkü). Although Akman eventually departed, the band persisted until 2000. Key members comprised İlhan Telli (keyboard and vocals), Semih Özmert (drums), Çetin Oral (bass guitar), Ünal Yiğitbaş (saxophone), and Atilla Akman (lead guitar).
Golden Microphone award
From 1965 through 1968, the Hürriyet newspaper hosted annual competitions that emphasized newly composed or adapted folk songs. TPAO Batman entered these contests in 1966, 1967, and 1968 with the following pieces:
| Year | Song | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Kaleden Top Atarlar | (Finalist) |
| 1976 | Karatoprak | (Finalist) |
| 1968 | Meşelidir Enginde Dağlar | Template:Gold1 Prize |
These appearances significantly increased the group's recognition beyond the confines of TPAO. Moreover, their B-side track Fırat Kenarında Yüzen Kayıklar achieved widespread acclaim across Turkey.