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Neşet Ertaş was a revered Turkish folk musician, composer, singer, poet, and virtuoso bağlama player. He is considered the most iconic representative of the 'Abdallık' tradition and Turkish folk music (Türk Halk Müziği), often called the 'Bozkırın Tezenesi' (Fingerstyle of the Steppe).Born into an Abdal family of musicians in Kırşehir, Turkey, Ertaş learned music from his father, Muharrem Ertaş. He mastered the bağlama (saz) and developed a unique, deeply emotional vocal and instrumental style. His music, rooted in the Abdal tradition, expressed the joys, sorrows, and wisdom of rural Anatolian life. Facing poverty early on, he moved to Istanbul and later Ankara to pursue music professionally. Despite immense popularity among the people, he lived modestly. He was officially recognized as a 'Living Human Treasure' by UNESCO in 2010, two years before his death from prostate cancer.

• His father, Muharrem Ertaş, was a legendary folk musician himself, profoundly shaping Neşet's style and repertoire.
• He spent approximately 23 years living in Germany (from the late 1970s to early 2000s), partly due to health reasons (treatment for a nervous condition affecting his hands) and partly due to feeling misunderstood and unappreciated by the Turkish cultural establishment at the time. This period is often described as a form of self-imposed exile.
• Despite his immense fame and influence, Ertaş lived a remarkably simple and humble life, often shunning the spotlight associated with commercial success.
• He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ) State Conservatory in 2011, acknowledging his immense contribution to Turkish music.
• The cause of his death was complications from prostate cancer.