[6] His father wanted his son to have a proper education, but after he was murdered when exiting a casino, Tayfur left school and led a life in poverty,[7] with his mother marrying another man after his death.

[7] Tayfur, who later worked on the farm and contributed to the family's income, started singing at weddings during the same years.

Tayfur's first album, which included songs written by himself, made a good sale in the years when he started his musical career but due to financial difficulties, he sold two songs to Elenor Plak's proprietor Atilla Alpsakarya who eventually gave them to Gülden Karaböcek.

Tayfur continued to publish his records and eventually became widely known with his song "Çeşme", and in 1977 he was cast in a leading role alongside Necla Nazır in a movie with the same title.

[11][12] He was transferred to Istanbul, and buried in the family grave at Yeniköy Cemetery following a memorial ceremony in the Atatürk Cultural Center and the funeral prayer at Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha Mosque on 4 January.