Samim Bilgen

Ahmet Samim Bilgen (April 12, 1910 Thessaloniki, Salonica Vilayet, Ottoman Empire – September 9, 2005 Ankara) was a Turkish lawyer, best known for his musical career as a violinist and composer. His song Ilgaz (lyrics also belong to him) has become a household tune in Turkey, and is popular even in China. Early life Bilgen studied and practiced law professionally, but has also been an active musician, particularly in his youth. After finishing Haydarpaşa German Primary School and Kabataş High School, he studied law at Istanbul University and graduated in 1931. In 1961-62, Bilgen studied international law at Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Samim Bilgen served as a lawyer at State Forestry Administration and in later years as a legal advisor at the Ministry of Finance.