Erol Parlak was born in 1964, grew up in Ankara, and moved to Istanbul to attend the State Musical Conservatory at the Istanbul Technical University. Erol has given concerts throughout Europe, and was appointed Assistant Professor of Musicology in 2006. Erol Parlak's work is rooted in the rich cultural and musical traditions of Anatolia. In 2000, Erol founded Erol Parlak Bağlama Beşlisi (Erol Parlak Baglama Quintet), and in 2004, the group released their first recording, Esik (Threshold).