Gidi Gov
Encyclopedia
Gidi Gov (born August 4, 1950), is an Israel
i singer, TV host, entertainer and actor
.
Gov is married to playwright
Anat Gov, with whom he has three children.
in 1950 to Daniel and Tzipora Gov. As a child Gov suffered from the asthma
. Gov's father died when he was very young, which made his mother move with him from place to place, including Tel Aviv
and Eilat.
Growing up Gov never dreamed of becoming a singer, only when he enlisted to the IDF
in 1969, Yair Rosenblum recommended that Gov would be auditioned for the Nahal
entertainment troupe. Gov passed the auditions and joined the Nahal
entertainment troupe. There Gov actually began his acting and singing career.
During the same year Gov established along with some of the former Nahal troupe members (Efraim Shamir, Danny Sanderson
and Alon Olearchik) and two others (Yoni Rechter
and Isaac Klepter) the band Kaveret
. The band became one of the most popular Israeli bands in the 1970s and is still considered today as one of the most successful Israeli bands in the history of popular music and entertainment in Israel. The band released three albums, represented Israel in the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest
with the song "Natati La Khayay
" and won the title "Band of the Year" four times in succession in the Israeli annual Hebrew song chart of Kol Yisrael
. The band was eventually disbanded in 1976.
After the breakup of Kaveret Gov joined the short-lived band "Parnasa Tova" , which included Yehudit Ravitz
and Shmulik Bilu. The band recorded several cover versions of old songs and produced an album.
In 1978 Gov put out his first solo album ("Taklit Rishon", or "first album").
In addition to his musical career, during the 1970s Gov also participated in the 1974 Israeli TV series "The Magic Door" (דלת הקסמים), and in the 1977 Israeli film "Masa Alonkot" (מסע אלונקות), and in Ram Loevy
's 1978 film "Khirbet Khize", the 1978 film "Ha-Lehaka" ("The Troupe") which described the life in an Israeli military band, and the 1979 film "Dizengoff 99
", and the 1979 film "Do not ask if I love" (אל תשאלי אם אני אוהב).
In 1979 Gov became a co-host in the successful Israeli entertainment show "Zehu Ze!
" ("That's it!"). Gov appeared intermittently in this show until it ended in 1993.
In 1979, Gov formed the successful Israeli pop-rock band "Gazoz" together with Danny Sanderson, which recorded and released the albums "Gazoz" (גזוז) and "second incarnation" (גלגול שני).
, which succeeded less than Kaveret and Gazoz.
During the early 1980s Gov participated in several Israeli children's music festivals.
In 1983 Gov released his second album, "40:06", named after the album's total length.
Later on Gov appeared in the 1983 Israeli film "The silver platter" (מגש הכסף).
In 1985 Gov released his third solo album, "Tnu Ligdol Besheket" ("Let Me Grow Up in Peace"), which included mostly children's songs.
From 1986 to 1992 Gov participated in almost all the Israeli children's music, and even hosted it 1986.
In 1987 Gov decided to release the rock oriented album "Derech Eretz" (דרך ארץ), produced by Louie Lahav. The majority of songs on the album were composed by Yehuda Poliker
. The album was a big success and sold more than 50,000 copies - the best selling album of the Gov until then.
In 1989 Gov participated in the play "The Gigolo from Congo" by Hanoch Levin
, and performed the title song "What do you know about love" (מה אתה בכלל יודע על אהבה) for the film "Ehad Mishelano".
In 1993 Gov released the compilation album "שירים שהתפזרו", which containing different original songs performed by Gov between 1973 to 1992 which did not appear in his previous solo albums.
In 1994 he left "Zehu Ze!
" to his own host musical/talk show, "Laila Gov" (a play on the phrase "laila tov", meaning "good night"), on Channel 2
, Israel's first commercial TV channel. The show which aired from 1994 to 1998 became very successful. During the show Gov used to regularly perform different songs along with different popular Israeli singers whom were guests on the show. Subsequently, in 1995 Gov released the double disc compilation album "שירים מלילה גוב", and in 1997 released the triple disc compilation album "שירים מלילה גוב 2" which both contained the songs Gov performed during the show with his guests.
In 2001 Gov participated in Danny Sanderson's album "תולדות המים - שירים לאחרים" in which Gov performed Sanderson's song "רק את".
In 2002 Gov returned to Channel with the show "Laila Gov 2", which was similar to his previous talk show, but failed to repeat its success and was eventually canceled after the first season.
In 2003, 12 years after his last solo studio album was released, Gov recorded the album "Rikud Yare'ach" ("Moon Dance").
In 2004 Gov recorded the album "At the end of the mountain" (בקצה ההר) which was mainly written and composed by Amir Benayon. The album was released in early 2005.
In 2006 Gov hosted the morning program on Channel 2.
In 2007 Gov participated in the Israeli reality show "Once in a lifetime" (פעם בחיים), in which he went to a spiritual commune in the jungles of Costa Rica
for two weeks together with the Israeli chef Gil Riva.
In 2008 Gov participated in satire show "גם להם מגיע " together with Lior Ashkenazi
and Anat Magen.
In 2009 the Israeli label Hed Artzi
released the triple disc compilation album "שלל שיריו" which contained Gov’s biggest hits through the years.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i singer, TV host, entertainer and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
Gov is married to playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
Anat Gov, with whom he has three children.
Early life
Gideon (Gidi) Gov was born in RehovotRehovot
Rehovot is a city in the Center District of Israel, about south of Tel Aviv. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics , at the end of 2009 the city had a total population of 112,700. Rehovot's official website estimates the population at 114,000.Rehovot was built on the site of Doron,...
in 1950 to Daniel and Tzipora Gov. As a child Gov suffered from the asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
. Gov's father died when he was very young, which made his mother move with him from place to place, including Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
and Eilat.
Growing up Gov never dreamed of becoming a singer, only when he enlisted to the IDF
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...
in 1969, Yair Rosenblum recommended that Gov would be auditioned for the Nahal
Nahal
Nahal is an Israel Defense Forces infantry brigade. Historically, it refers to a program that combines military service and establishment of new agricultural settlements, often in outlying areas...
entertainment troupe. Gov passed the auditions and joined the Nahal
Nahal
Nahal is an Israel Defense Forces infantry brigade. Historically, it refers to a program that combines military service and establishment of new agricultural settlements, often in outlying areas...
entertainment troupe. There Gov actually began his acting and singing career.
1970s
Gov's first major breakthrough occurred when Gov sang in the 1973 Israeli "Song and chorus Festival" (פסטיבל הזמר והפזמון) the song "Rise up and arrive" (יעלה ויבוא). The song reached only number eight, but become one of the songs most identified with the competition.During the same year Gov established along with some of the former Nahal troupe members (Efraim Shamir, Danny Sanderson
Danny Sanderson
Danny Sanderson is an Israeli musician, singer-songwriter and guitarist.-History:In 1972, after a short and unsuccessful bout in London, Sanderson returned to Israel and founded, along with friends Alon Oleartchik, Ephraim Shamir, Gidi Gov, Meir Feningstein and later on Yoni Rechter and Yizkhak...
and Alon Olearchik) and two others (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...
and Isaac Klepter) the band Kaveret
Kaveret
Kaveret , also known as Poogy , was an Israeli rock band in the mid-1970s that won much fame around the world for their often humorous songs and unique style of music. Their shows included many skits, among which are the Sipurey Poogy...
. The band became one of the most popular Israeli bands in the 1970s and is still considered today as one of the most successful Israeli bands in the history of popular music and entertainment in Israel. The band released three albums, represented Israel in the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1974
The Eurovision Song Contest 1974 was the 19th Eurovision Song Contest. It was held in the seaside resort of Brighton on the south coast of the United Kingdom...
with the song "Natati La Khayay
Natati La Khayay
"Natati La Khayay" was the Israeli entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1974, performed in Hebrew by Kaveret ....
" and won the title "Band of the Year" four times in succession in the Israeli annual Hebrew song chart of Kol Yisrael
Kol Yisrael
Kol Yisrael is Israel's public domestic and international radio service, operated as a division of the Israel Broadcasting Authority.-History:...
. The band was eventually disbanded in 1976.
After the breakup of Kaveret Gov joined the short-lived band "Parnasa Tova" , which included 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:...
and Shmulik Bilu. The band recorded several cover versions of old songs and produced an album.
In 1978 Gov put out his first solo album ("Taklit Rishon", or "first album").
In addition to his musical career, during the 1970s Gov also participated in the 1974 Israeli TV series "The Magic Door" (דלת הקסמים), and in the 1977 Israeli film "Masa Alonkot" (מסע אלונקות), and in Ram Loevy
Ram Loevy
Ram Loevy is an award-winning Israeli television director and screenwriter since the medium first began broadcasting in the country in 1968...
's 1978 film "Khirbet Khize", the 1978 film "Ha-Lehaka" ("The Troupe") which described the life in an Israeli military band, and the 1979 film "Dizengoff 99
Dizengoff 99
Dizengoff 99 is a 1979 Israeli film starring Gali Atari, Gidi Gov, Meir Suissa, and Anat Atzmon. The film, considered a cult classic, describes the way of life around Dizengoff Street and how it changed over the years...
", and the 1979 film "Do not ask if I love" (אל תשאלי אם אני אוהב).
In 1979 Gov became a co-host in the successful Israeli entertainment show "Zehu Ze!
Zehu Ze!
Zehu Ze! was a long running Israeli entertainment television program produced by Israeli Educational Television and broadcast on the Israeli Channel 1 and Channel 2 on which the IETV has special broadcasting hours. The program ran regularly between the years 1978–1998.The program was first...
" ("That's it!"). Gov appeared intermittently in this show until it ended in 1993.
In 1979, Gov formed the successful Israeli pop-rock band "Gazoz" together with Danny Sanderson, which recorded and released the albums "Gazoz" (גזוז) and "second incarnation" (גלגול שני).
1980s
In 1980 Gov and Sanderson formed their third band DodaDoda
Doda is a town and a notified area committee in Doda district in Jammu & Kashmir of India.-Geography:Doda is located at . It has an average elevation of 1107 metres .-Demographics:...
, which succeeded less than Kaveret and Gazoz.
During the early 1980s Gov participated in several Israeli children's music festivals.
In 1983 Gov released his second album, "40:06", named after the album's total length.
Later on Gov appeared in the 1983 Israeli film "The silver platter" (מגש הכסף).
In 1985 Gov released his third solo album, "Tnu Ligdol Besheket" ("Let Me Grow Up in Peace"), which included mostly children's songs.
From 1986 to 1992 Gov participated in almost all the Israeli children's music, and even hosted it 1986.
In 1987 Gov decided to release the rock oriented album "Derech Eretz" (דרך ארץ), produced by Louie Lahav. The majority of songs on the album were composed by Yehuda Poliker
Yehuda Poliker
Yehuda Poliker is an Israeli singer, songwriter, musician, and painter.-Early life:Poliker was born in Kiryat Haim, a suburb of Haifa, Israel to a Greek Jewish family. Poliker is the son of Holocaust survivors deported to Auschwitz from Salonika, Greece.-Music career:Poliker's music combines rock...
. The album was a big success and sold more than 50,000 copies - the best selling album of the Gov until then.
In 1989 Gov participated in the play "The Gigolo from Congo" by Hanoch Levin
Hanoch Levin
Hanoch Levin , was a prominent Israeli dramatist. He was also a theater director, an author and a poet, but he is best known for his plays.- Early life :...
, and performed the title song "What do you know about love" (מה אתה בכלל יודע על אהבה) for the film "Ehad Mishelano".
1990s
In 1991 Gov released one of his most successful solo albums - Ein Od Yom ("No Other Day"). The album sold more than 70,000 copies.In 1993 Gov released the compilation album "שירים שהתפזרו", which containing different original songs performed by Gov between 1973 to 1992 which did not appear in his previous solo albums.
In 1994 he left "Zehu Ze!
Zehu Ze!
Zehu Ze! was a long running Israeli entertainment television program produced by Israeli Educational Television and broadcast on the Israeli Channel 1 and Channel 2 on which the IETV has special broadcasting hours. The program ran regularly between the years 1978–1998.The program was first...
" to his own host musical/talk show, "Laila Gov" (a play on the phrase "laila tov", meaning "good night"), on Channel 2
Channel 2 (Israel)
Channel 2 is an Israeli commercial television channel.- History :In 1990, after 13 years of deliberations, the Knesset passed a law that paved the way for the establishment of commercial television in Israel. The goal was to enhance pluralism and create competition. Channel 2 began broadcasting on...
, Israel's first commercial TV channel. The show which aired from 1994 to 1998 became very successful. During the show Gov used to regularly perform different songs along with different popular Israeli singers whom were guests on the show. Subsequently, in 1995 Gov released the double disc compilation album "שירים מלילה גוב", and in 1997 released the triple disc compilation album "שירים מלילה גוב 2" which both contained the songs Gov performed during the show with his guests.
2000s–present
In 2000 Gov began hosting a dining TV show on the Israeli Channel 8 called "Gidi Gov goes to eat" (גידי גוב הולך לאכול) and appeared in a one time special Kaveret reunion concert designed to raise money for an urgent surgery of the band member Isaac Klepter. This year also instructed the Tammuz Awards Israeli music, held for the first time was broadcast on Channel 2. Gov off the ceremony again the following year, until it was decided to stop at the end of 2002 to comply.In 2001 Gov participated in Danny Sanderson's album "תולדות המים - שירים לאחרים" in which Gov performed Sanderson's song "רק את".
In 2002 Gov returned to Channel with the show "Laila Gov 2", which was similar to his previous talk show, but failed to repeat its success and was eventually canceled after the first season.
In 2003, 12 years after his last solo studio album was released, Gov recorded the album "Rikud Yare'ach" ("Moon Dance").
In 2004 Gov recorded the album "At the end of the mountain" (בקצה ההר) which was mainly written and composed by Amir Benayon. The album was released in early 2005.
In 2006 Gov hosted the morning program on Channel 2.
In 2007 Gov participated in the Israeli reality show "Once in a lifetime" (פעם בחיים), in which he went to a spiritual commune in the jungles of Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
for two weeks together with the Israeli chef Gil Riva.
In 2008 Gov participated in satire show "גם להם מגיע " together with Lior Ashkenazi
Lior Ashkenazi
Lior Ashkenazi , is an award-winning Israeli screen and stage actor.- Biography :Lior Ashkenazi was born to Sephardi Jewish immigrants from Turkey who moved to Israel in 1964. He grew up in the Neveh Yehoshua neighborhood in Ramat Gan. His father, Shmuel, worked as a printer. His mother, Victoria,...
and Anat Magen.
In 2009 the Israeli label Hed Artzi
Hed Artzi
Hed Arzi Music , is an Israeli music company that is involved with producing music, importing albums from abroad, and distributing Israeli and international music...
released the triple disc compilation album "שלל שיריו" which contained Gov’s biggest hits through the years.
Solo discography
- (1978) Gidi Gov - Taklit Rishon ("First Album")
- (1983) 40:06
- (1985) Tnu Ligdol Besheket ("Let Me Grow Up in Peace")
- (1987) Derech Eretz ("The Path of the Land")
- (1991) Ein Od Yom ("No Other Day")
- (2003) Rikud Yare'ach ("Moon Dance")
- (2005) Biktze Ha'har ("At the Mountain's Edge")