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10 Most Famous Israeli Singers

Israel is home to several talented musicians who have influenced the world significantly. Their music is unique and there are tonnes of popular artists.

There are several Israeli singers and bands from the old classics to emerging new artists.

In Israel, music has always been a fundamental part of national identity. Hebrew songs were very popular back in the day and received immense support.

Public singalongs were a common pastime for the early settlers in which they found identity.  This music is regarded as part of nation-building.

They have created their own identity and culture through music. The music in Israel is a mix of influences from Europe, Asia, the Middle East and other regions of the world.

Opera is also another popular classical music in Israel and the New Israel Opera Company was founded in 1985.

With that brief background on music in Israel, here are the 10 most famous Israeli Singers you need to know.

1. Gene Simmons

We start the list with Gene Simmons. He is the co-founder of the popular rock band Kiss. His stage persona is the Demon. As a band, they have more than 25-gold certified albums.

His first band as a teenager was called Lynx which they renamed the Missing Links. They disbanded and formed another band called Long Island Sounds.

While playing in this band, they also did odd jobs on the side to make more money.

After graduating from college, Gene joined another band, Bullfrog Bheer. They recorded a demo titled Leeta which was later included on the Kiss box set.

Some of his popular albums include Kobra and the Lotus, Silent Rage, Gypsy Rose and House of Lords.

2. Tzachi Halevy

Photo by Vered Adir – Wikimedia

Another iconic singer from Israel is Tzachi Halevy. He is also an actor who’s famous role was in the biblical film Mary Magdalene as Ephraim.

As a singer, Tzachi was part of the Mayumana troupe, that mixed songs, percussion, and dance.

His biggest break happened in 2012 when he participated in the reality show The Voice Israel. He was being mentored by Shlomi Shabat.

Although he reached the finals, Halevy did not win the contest. After the show ended, Halevy went to the studio and released his first album “Kivvunim” (Directions) in 2012.

In 2014, he collaborated with Idan Raichel and wrote the French song “Petit Roi”.

Tzachi Halevy won the first season of the Israeli production of The Masked Singer as The Rooster in 2020.

3. Arik Einstein

Arik is regarded as one of the most significant Israeli musicians of all time. He is nicknamed the voice of Israel. Throughout his career, he has produced and recorded over 500 songs and 34 albums.

Einstein has had several collaborations with other Israeli musicians and bands. Most of his songs have themes based on Israel’s culture and history.

In addition to his musical talents, Arik also works as an actor and a screenwriter.

His career spanned over 5 decades with 500 plus songs on his name.

4. Zohar Argov

Zohar is credited with singing the most authentic Middle Eastern music. He is referred to as the king of Mizrahi music and is Israel’s most popular musician.

Argov grew up in a humble background and had 10 siblings. He took singing at a very early age chanting to the religious Yemenite community.

When it came to commercial singing, Zohar was among the first to achieve nationwide success.  

He excelled in Mizrahi-style music even though his music was not mainstream at the time. Most of his songs that were played on radio stations were more of pop music from overseas.

5. David D’or

David grew up in Israel but has roots in Libya. While his parents hoped he would pick a career in medicine or law, David chose music instead.

As a teenager, David took some voice training lessons to cover his high and low ranges. He went for military training as required for every youth in Israel when he turned 18.

After his service, D’or got an invitation from the Israeli National Theatre and was warmly received.

David can cover more than four octaves with his voice. Additionally, he is a three-time winner of the Israeli Singer of the Year and Best Vocal Performer awards.

In 2008, 9 of his albums had gone platinum.

6. Ilanit

Photo by Talmoryair – Wikimedia

Hanna Dresner-Tzakh, also known as Ilanit, was one of Israel’s most popular singers from the late 1960s to 1980s. She was a soloist in the two-member bad Ilan ve-Ilanit.

Ilanit represented Israel twice in the Eurovision Song Contest. Her career spanned over 4 decades and she recorded more than 600 songs and 30 best-selling albums.

In 1968 Ilanit released her first solo song, “It’s After Midnight”. A year later she had her first solo performance at the Israeli Song Festival.

Then in 1973, she took part in the 1973 Eurovision Song Contest in Luxembourg. She finished in the 4^th position. It was the first time for an Israeli contestant.

7. Ofra Haza

Ofra started singing when she was 11 years old. In 1958, she released her album Fifty Gates of Wisdom which gave her the public limelight.

Her influence is so immense in Israel that she is referred to as The Israeli Madonna.  

Most of her music is inspired by Hebrew culture and her Yemenite heritage. This makes her a pioneer among modern Israeli musicians.

Through her music, the Eastern and Western elements were brought together. She is not only popular at home but also in Europe and America.

Ofra’s first Hebrew album was released in 1994 after 7 years since her last album. It was her most successful album with the biggest hits.

8. Yardena Arazi

Yardena Arazi was a member of the female vocal trio Chocolate, Menta, Mastik along with Leah Lupatin and Ruthie Holzman back in the 1970s.

They represented Israel in the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest with the song Emor Shalom (“Say Hello”) and became number 6.

After the competition, they had an international tour where they visited Brazil, Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.

They also released several singles in English, French and German as well as had media tours in TV shows all over Europe.

In 1978, Arazi left the band. A year later, she was the co-host of the Eurovision Song Contest in Jerusalem with news anchor Daniel Pe’er.

Her hosting was positively reviewed across Europe and she participated in other TV shows in the Netherlands with Milk and Honey and in Belgium with Mike Burstyn.

Arazi has 10 gold and platinum albums.

9. Keren Peles

Keren Peles is a pianist, singer-songwriter, and poet.

Throughout her career, she has contributed enormously to the success of other popular singers like Shiri Maimon and Miri Mesika.

Peles wrote the lyrics of some of the hit songs of these singers. Additionally, she also found success as a singer and several of her albums have been certified gold. 

Her debut album, ‘If This Is Life’ was released in 2006 and was certified gold after selling 20,000 records. She wrote all the songs in that album.

In 2006, She was nominated as the Female Singer of the Year by Galgalatz. She was also named Israeli Singer of the Year by the Israeli radio stations.

Peles graduated from the Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music

10. Achinoam Nini

Achinoam Nini, known professionally as Noa, is a singer-songwriter, percussionist, poet, composer as well as a human rights activist.

She plays the conga drums and percussions as she sings and performs with guitarist Gil Dor.

In 2009, Noa represented Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest together with singer Mira Awad, with the song “There Must Be Another Way”.

Several of her songs have fused languages and styles. Noa has performed in 52 countries and was the first Israeli artist to perform in the Vatican.

Noa has songs in English, Hebrew, Yemenite Hebrew, Spanish, Neapolitan, French, Italian, Sardinian, Galician, and Arabic.