Muhlis Akarsu, born on February 20, 1948, in Kangal, Sivas, Turkey, was a Turkish folk singer and musician. He began his career as a Bağlama player and became one of the most prominent figures in Alevitian music. In 1972, Akarsu married Muhibe Leyla Akarsu, daughter of Seyyit Halil Çiftlik. Throughout his career, he collaborated with notable artists such as Arif Sağ, Musa Eroğlu, Yavuz Top, and Aşık Mahzuni Şerif. His most renowned album was Sivas Ellerinde Ömrüm Calınır. Tragically, on July 2, 1993, Muhlis Akarsu and his wife were among the victims of a hotel fire during the Pir-Sultan-Abdal Festival in Sivas. Despite his untimely death, Akarsu's music continues to be celebrated within the Alevi cultural sphere. In 2006, the melody from his song "Allah Allah Desem Gelsem" was used by American producer Timbaland for Nelly Furtado's album Loose.
