Dudu Elharar
Encyclopedia
Dudu Elharar is an Israel
i singer, music producer, actor and television and radio presenter.
Elharar was born in 1945 in a Jewish family in Morocco
. In 1950 the family made Aliyah
to Israel. Elharar studied in a Habad yeshiva
, but did not remain a hasid
.
After his service in the Golani Brigade
of the Israel Defense Forces
, Elharar worked as a water ski instructor in touristic town of Eilat in Southern Israel and in the evenings he would sing in clubs. There he met the singer Dani Litani and they started playing concerts together all around the country. In 1968 Elharar joined the Cameri Theater
troupe and played in many of its musical and dramatic productions, among them an adaptation of One Thousand and One Nights and a musical
based on Russian
protest
songs.
In 1970 Elharar recorded his first song as a singer, composed by Litani with lyrics by Yehuda Amichai
. Thus he became one of the pioneers of a movement that was popular in Israeli music in the 1970s - recording pop songs with lyrics by Hebrew poets. He recorded songs written by Yaakov Shabtai
, Yehuda Halevi
, Haim Hefer
, Meir Ariel
and other famous poets and composed by Shalom Hanoch
, Yochanan Zarai, Mati Caspi, Shosh Reisman and others.
Later during the 1970s Elharar along with guitarist Yossi Piamenta also became one of the pioneers of the fusion of Israeli rock
with ethnic Middle Eastern music
.
In the years 1975-1978 Elharar was one of the presenters of the popular Israeli children TV show Telepele (טלפלא, Tele-wonder).
After releasing a string of singles, Elharar released his first full-length album in 1976.
In 1978 Elharar produced an album for the first time - Gidi Gov
's debut. Later he produced several successful albums by Yehudit Ravitz
, Yoni Rechter
, Tuned Tone and the hugely popular children album Ha-Keves Ha-Shisha-asar (הכבש השישה עשר, The Sixteenth Sheep) with lyrics by Yehonatan Geffen
.
While continuing his musical work, mostly as a producers, since the early 1980s Elharar was active in many social endeavors - volunteering for organization that help mentally ill people, prisoners, drug addicts and families who lost their loved ones in the Israeli wars.
Elharar also had a long and fruitful artistic relationship with the song writer Naomi Shemer
. He produced many songs written by her and in 2000 he produced her comeback tour.
Since 1998 Elharar presented a weekly program on the Israel Defense Forces Radio. In the program he played old Israeli songs and openly presented his right-wing worldview
, which is rather rare in the Israeli media. In 2008 he was fired from the station. Elharar blamed the station for promoting left-wing politics, but the station commander Yitzhak Tunik refuted the claims.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i singer, music producer, actor and television and radio presenter.
Elharar was born in 1945 in a Jewish family in Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
. In 1950 the family made Aliyah
Aliyah
Aliyah is the immigration of Jews to the Land of Israel . It is a basic tenet of Zionist ideology. The opposite action, emigration from Israel, is referred to as yerida . The return to the Holy Land has been a Jewish aspiration since the Babylonian exile...
to Israel. Elharar studied in a Habad yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
, but did not remain a hasid
Hasidic Judaism
Hasidic Judaism or Hasidism, from the Hebrew —Ḥasidut in Sephardi, Chasidus in Ashkenazi, meaning "piety" , is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that promotes spirituality and joy through the popularisation and internalisation of Jewish mysticism as the fundamental aspects of the Jewish faith...
.
After his service in the Golani Brigade
Golani Brigade
The Golani Brigade is an Israeli infantry brigade that is subordinated to the 36th Division and traditionally associated with the Northern Command. Its symbol is a green tree on a yellow background, and its soldiers wear a brown beret. It is one of the most highly decorated infantry units in the...
of the Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
, Elharar worked as a water ski instructor in touristic town of Eilat in Southern Israel and in the evenings he would sing in clubs. There he met the singer Dani Litani and they started playing concerts together all around the country. In 1968 Elharar joined the Cameri Theater
Cameri Theater
The Cameri Theater , established in 1944 in Tel Aviv, is one of the leading theaters in Israel, and is housed at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center....
troupe and played in many of its musical and dramatic productions, among them an adaptation of One Thousand and One Nights and a musical
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
based on Russian
Music of Russia
Music of Russia denotes music produced in Russia and/or by the Russians. Russia is a large and culturally diverse country, with many ethnic groups, each with their own locally developed music...
protest
Protest
A protest is an expression of objection, by words or by actions, to particular events, policies or situations. Protests can take many different forms, from individual statements to mass demonstrations...
songs.
In 1970 Elharar recorded his first song as a singer, composed by Litani with lyrics by Yehuda Amichai
Yehuda Amichai
Yehuda Amichai was an Israeli poet. Amichai is considered by many, both in Israel and internationally, as Israel's greatest modern poet. He was also one of the first to write in colloquial Hebrew....
. Thus he became one of the pioneers of a movement that was popular in Israeli music in the 1970s - recording pop songs with lyrics by Hebrew poets. He recorded songs written by Yaakov Shabtai
Yaakov Shabtai
Yaakov Shabtai was an Israeli novelist, playwright, and translator.-Biography:Shabtai was born in 1934 in Tel Aviv, Mandate Palestine. In 1957, after completing military service, he joined Kibbutz Merhavia, but returned to Tel Aviv in 1967....
, Yehuda Halevi
Yehuda Halevi
Judah Halevi was a Spanish Jewish physician, poet and philosopher. He was born in Spain, either in Toledo or Tudela, in 1075 or 1086, and died shortly after arriving in Palestine in 1141...
, Haim Hefer
Haim Hefer
-Biography:Hefer was born in Sosnowiec, Poland in 1925 to Issachar Feiner, a chocolate salesman, and Rivka Herzberg, a housewife. He had a private Hebrew tutor....
, Meir Ariel
Meir Ariel
Meir Ariel was an Israeli singer-songwriter.He was known as a "man of words" for his poetic use of the Hebrew language in his lyrics. His influences included Hebrew poets such as Natan Alterman, S. Y...
and other famous poets and composed by Shalom Hanoch
Shalom Hanoch
Shalom Hanoch is an Israeli rock singer, lyricist and composer.He is considered to be the father of Israeli rock and the most important artist of that area. His works have profoundly influenced Israeli rock and modern Israeli music...
, Yochanan Zarai, Mati Caspi, Shosh Reisman and others.
Later during the 1970s Elharar along with guitarist Yossi Piamenta also became one of the pioneers of the fusion of Israeli rock
Israeli rock
Israeli rock is rock music created by Israeli bands and singers.-The development of Israeli rock in the 1960s:Israel's initial attitude toward rock music was extremely negative. Israeli musicians of the time believed it was a trend that would soon pass...
with ethnic Middle Eastern music
Middle Eastern music
The music of Western Asia and North Africa spans across a vast region, from Morocco to Afghanistan, and its influences can be felt even further afield. Middle Eastern music influenced the music of India, as well as Central Asia, Spain, Southern Italy, the Caucasus and the Balkans, as in chalga...
.
In the years 1975-1978 Elharar was one of the presenters of the popular Israeli children TV show Telepele (טלפלא, Tele-wonder).
After releasing a string of singles, Elharar released his first full-length album in 1976.
In 1978 Elharar produced an album for the first time - Gidi Gov
Gidi Gov
Gidi Gov , is an Israeli singer, TV host, entertainer and actor.Gov is married to playwright Anat Gov, with whom he has three children.- Early life :...
's debut. Later he produced several successful albums by Yehudit Ravitz
Yehudit Ravitz
Yehudit Ravitz is an Israeli singer-songwriter. She was born in Be'er Sheva, in southern Israel. As of 2010, she had released 20 albums and has been performing for nearly 20 years, also musically producing several albums for other musicians.-Music career:...
, Yoni Rechter
Yoni Rechter
Yoni Rechter is an Israeli musician, composer, pianist, arranger and singer.-Biography:Yonatan Rechter was born in Tel Aviv, Israel. He was the son of Israeli architect Ya'akov Rechter and stepson of Israeli actress Hanna Meron. He attended Tichon Hadash high school...
, Tuned Tone and the hugely popular children album Ha-Keves Ha-Shisha-asar (הכבש השישה עשר, The Sixteenth Sheep) with lyrics by Yehonatan Geffen
Yehonatan Geffen
Yehonatan Geffen also known as Yonatan Gefen, is an Israeli author, poet, songwriter, journalist, and playwright.- Biography :...
.
While continuing his musical work, mostly as a producers, since the early 1980s Elharar was active in many social endeavors - volunteering for organization that help mentally ill people, prisoners, drug addicts and families who lost their loved ones in the Israeli wars.
Elharar also had a long and fruitful artistic relationship with the song writer Naomi Shemer
Naomi Shemer
Naomi Shemer was a leading Israeli songwriter hailed as the "first lady of Israeli song and poetry."-Biography:Naomi Sapir was born on Kvutzat Kinneret, a kibbutz her parents had helped found, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. In the 1950s she served in the Israeli Defense Force's Nahal...
. He produced many songs written by her and in 2000 he produced her comeback tour.
Since 1998 Elharar presented a weekly program on the Israel Defense Forces Radio. In the program he played old Israeli songs and openly presented his right-wing worldview
Right-wing politics
In politics, Right, right-wing and rightist generally refer to support for a hierarchical society justified on the basis of an appeal to natural law or tradition. To varying degrees, the Right rejects the egalitarian objectives of left-wing politics, claiming that the imposition of equality is...
, which is rather rare in the Israeli media. In 2008 he was fired from the station. Elharar blamed the station for promoting left-wing politics, but the station commander Yitzhak Tunik refuted the claims.