He was born in Izmir in 1963.  As his father was a rythm artist, he has learned rythm in his early childhood and he had the chance to work with great musicians of his era on Turkish Music.

He continued his works in Istanbul to where he moved in 1986.

With his brother Mehmet Akatay, he has released his album ‘Dest Be Dest’ in 2004, as Akatay Project.

He has performed on many projects and festivals. Sound of Cultures Project (with Berlin Philarmonic Orchestra), Beatles Alaturca, Brooklyn Funk Essentials, Djivan Gasparyan, Kudsi Ergüner and Shusela Raman concerts...

These are some musicians Hamdi Akatay accompanies in Turkey:

Ajda Pekkan, Bülent Ersoy, Ebru Gündeş, İbrahim Tatlıses, Orhan Gencebay, Selami Şahin, Sezen Aksu, Sibel Can, Tarkan.

Hamdi Akatay is a founder member of a band "Trance İstanbul Quartet" consisted by precious musicians Göksel Baktagir, Eyüp Hamiş and Yurdal Tokcan.

Hamdi Akatay continuous his work under the name of Akatay Rhythm Trio together with his brother Mehmet Akatay and his son Memduh Akatay.

The artist works as teacher at his own ‘Hamdi Akatay Rythm Atelier’ and he writes his book ‘Tabor Methods’.