All the trials of Müslüm Gürses' life—poverty-stricken beginnings and even a brush with death—can be heard in the melancholy tones of his work, which ranges from Turkish folk to Ottoman Arabesque and modern pop. The sorrow in his voice resonated with his fans, earning him as devoted a following as any Turkish artist of his era. Also known for his film work, Gürses appeared in dozens of movies, where his acting earned him as much acclaim as his singing. But Gürses' voice above all remains an inspiration to anyone striving to rise above life's disappointments.