Izhar Ashdot
Encyclopedia
Izhar Ashdot is an Israeli singer-songwriter
, guitarist
, and a record producer
. He is a co-founding member of the Israeli rock band T-Slam
.
In 1977 he was recruited to the Israel Defense Forces Radio as a music programming editor, while simultaneously he worked on his own music and recorded the song "Me'uma Lo Kara" (Nothing Happened) which eventually became T-slam's biggest hit, retitled "Lir'ot Ota Haiom" (See Her Today) . While working for the Army Radio he met Yair Nitzani
and Dani Bassan, and together they formed a Disco
company and played as DJs in parties. After a while they left the Disco style and started to play Rock
, founded the band T-Slam
, and were joined by Yoshi Sade, Tzuf Philosof and Sami Avzardel.
"Radio Hazak" (Loud Radio), and later with the releasing of its album with the same name, which was certified platinum. In March 1981 their first tour began and was very successful. T-Slam won numerous Israeli awards, including "The Band of the Year", and "The Song of the Year" with "See Her Today."
After recording 3 albums, T-Slam disbanded in 1983, and Ashdot decided to create and produce
music. In the 80s he worked with numerous artists, including Boaz Sharabi, Si Himan, Adam, Korin Al'al, Alon Ole'archik, Friends of Natasha (החברים של נטאשה) and Ofra Haza
. A year later, Nitzani announced that "Galbi", a Yemenite song performed by Ofra Haza, would be produced by Izhar. In 1987 Izhar produced another song for Haza, "Im Nin'Alu
". The single was a number 1 single in most European countries and became the 2nd best selling in Europe in 1988, topping the Eurochart and receiving heavy rotation on MTV
. Her album, "Shaday", produced by Ashdot, was also a great success.
The album "Hofa'a Haya BeHard Rock Cafe" (Live at the Hard Rock Cafe) that was released in 1995 included many of his songs in new live performances, and two new songs.
While producing albums for other artists, Ashdot continued to work on his own work and released his fourth album, "Zman Kesem" (Magic Time). In 2000, after the release of the first Israeli music downloads internet site, Izhar released a compilation album only through the internet, called "Lech Im HaLev" (Go With The Heart). The album included performances from live shows and previously unreleased recordings. Between 2003 and 2005 he recorded his 5th album, "BeMerhak Negi'a MiKan".
In 2007 Ashdot released another compilation album, "Our Nights". In addition to Izhar's greatest hits, the album included three new songs - Kvish LeKivun Ehad ("One Way Road"), which he composed to his and Filosof's lyrics; Le'an Paneinu Achshav (Free Translation: "Where Are We Headed Now") and Mata'ei HaDuvdevan Shel Ukraina (" The Cherry Orchards of Ukraine
"), in which he cooperated with Israeli singer and rapper Muki
.
In January 2008, Izhar expanded his band and went on a new tour, celebrating his love for Irish music.
On "Rikud Katan - The Irish Tour", Izhar invited multi instrumentalist Ehud Nathan, who front's the celtic-Irish instrumental band "Ktifa Sh'hora" (Black Velvet) and violinist Dina Lurie to join his band.
The successful tour yielded the live album Rikud Katan which included the eponymous hit song.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, and a record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
. He is a co-founding member of the Israeli rock band T-Slam
T-Slam
T-Slam was an influential Israeli rock band, founded in 1978 by Dani Bassan, Izhar Ashdot and Yair Nitzani. The band dissolved on October 23, 1983, but has reunited at least three times since then.-History:...
.
Start of his Career
When he was 11 Ashdot started to play the guitar, two years later he founded his first group, "The Red Dogs".In 1977 he was recruited to the Israel Defense Forces Radio as a music programming editor, while simultaneously he worked on his own music and recorded the song "Me'uma Lo Kara" (Nothing Happened) which eventually became T-slam's biggest hit, retitled "Lir'ot Ota Haiom" (See Her Today) . While working for the Army Radio he met Yair Nitzani
Yair Nitzani
-Biography:Yair Nitzani was born in Beersheba in 1958. After serving in the Israel Defense Forces as a broadcaster on Galei Zahal in the 1980s, he joined the rock group T-Slam as a keyboardist and vocalist...
and Dani Bassan, and together they formed a Disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
company and played as DJs in parties. After a while they left the Disco style and started to play Rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, founded the band T-Slam
T-Slam
T-Slam was an influential Israeli rock band, founded in 1978 by Dani Bassan, Izhar Ashdot and Yair Nitzani. The band dissolved on October 23, 1983, but has reunited at least three times since then.-History:...
, and were joined by Yoshi Sade, Tzuf Philosof and Sami Avzardel.
Musical career
T-Slam became famous with their singleSingle (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Radio Hazak" (Loud Radio), and later with the releasing of its album with the same name, which was certified platinum. In March 1981 their first tour began and was very successful. T-Slam won numerous Israeli awards, including "The Band of the Year", and "The Song of the Year" with "See Her Today."
After recording 3 albums, T-Slam disbanded in 1983, and Ashdot decided to create and produce
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
music. In the 80s he worked with numerous artists, including Boaz Sharabi, Si Himan, Adam, Korin Al'al, Alon Ole'archik, Friends of Natasha (החברים של נטאשה) and Ofra Haza
Ofra Haza
Ofra Haza was an Israeli singer of Yemeni origin, an actress and international recording artist....
. A year later, Nitzani announced that "Galbi", a Yemenite song performed by Ofra Haza, would be produced by Izhar. In 1987 Izhar produced another song for Haza, "Im Nin'Alu
Im Nin'Alu
"Im Nin'alu" is a Hebrew poem by 17th-century Rabbi Shalom Shabazi that has been set to music and sung by Israeli singer Ofra Haza and others...
". The single was a number 1 single in most European countries and became the 2nd best selling in Europe in 1988, topping the Eurochart and receiving heavy rotation on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
. Her album, "Shaday", produced by Ashdot, was also a great success.
Solo career
After the successful T-Slam reunion shows in 1990, Ashdot started to work on his first solo album, released in 1992 and eventually reaching "gold" status. The album included "Ish HaShokolad" (Chocolate Man), "HaLelilot Shelanu" (Our Nights), "Ma Tomri" (What Will You Say) and "No'a Shel HaYam" (The Sea's No'a). Two years later he recorded his second album, which included "Hiroshima Sheli" (My Hiroshima) and "Tzilo Shel Yom Kaitz" (Summer Day's Shadow).The album "Hofa'a Haya BeHard Rock Cafe" (Live at the Hard Rock Cafe) that was released in 1995 included many of his songs in new live performances, and two new songs.
While producing albums for other artists, Ashdot continued to work on his own work and released his fourth album, "Zman Kesem" (Magic Time). In 2000, after the release of the first Israeli music downloads internet site, Izhar released a compilation album only through the internet, called "Lech Im HaLev" (Go With The Heart). The album included performances from live shows and previously unreleased recordings. Between 2003 and 2005 he recorded his 5th album, "BeMerhak Negi'a MiKan".
In 2007 Ashdot released another compilation album, "Our Nights". In addition to Izhar's greatest hits, the album included three new songs - Kvish LeKivun Ehad ("One Way Road"), which he composed to his and Filosof's lyrics; Le'an Paneinu Achshav (Free Translation: "Where Are We Headed Now") and Mata'ei HaDuvdevan Shel Ukraina (" The Cherry Orchards of Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
"), in which he cooperated with Israeli singer and rapper Muki
Muki (singer)
Daniel Niv , better known as Mooke is an Israeli singer and rapper, best known as the frontman for successful Israeli hip hop/punk act Shabak Samech between 1992 and 2000, and again since 2007. He is also a successful solo artist...
.
In January 2008, Izhar expanded his band and went on a new tour, celebrating his love for Irish music.
On "Rikud Katan - The Irish Tour", Izhar invited multi instrumentalist Ehud Nathan, who front's the celtic-Irish instrumental band "Ktifa Sh'hora" (Black Velvet) and violinist Dina Lurie to join his band.
The successful tour yielded the live album Rikud Katan which included the eponymous hit song.
Solo Discography
- Izhar Ashdot - 1992
- Izhar Ashdot II - 1994
- Live at the Hard Rock CafeLive at the Hard Rock CafeLive at the Hard Rock Cafe is the second live DVD released by UK singer Melanie C. Filmed October 9th 2008 at Hard Rock Cafe Manchester, it features Melanie performing a selection of songs from her four albums. Fans from all over the world came not only to see Melanie perform, but also to help...
- 1995 - Zman Kesem - 1999
- Lech Im HaLev - 2000
- BeMerhak Negi'a MiCan (A Touch Away) - 2005
- HaLeilot Shelanu (Our Nights) - 2007
- Live! - Rikud Katan - Hasivuv Ha'iri (Live - The "Irish" Tour) - 2008
Personnel
A few players played on Izhar's albums:- Raviv Gazit (Keyboards and Arrangement)
- Tzuf Philiosof (Bass Guitar and Vocals) 1980 -
- Eran Porat (Drums) 1992-2004
- Shay Baruch (Drums) 2004 -
- Tal Bergman (Drums) - Studio
- Yossi Fine (Bass) - Studio
- Ran Efron (Keyboards and Guitar) 1994 -
- Moshe Levy (Keyboards and Production)
- Ehud Nathan (Buzuki, Mandolin, Whistle, Bohron) - "Irish" Tour 2008-2010
- Dinah Luria (Violin) - "Irish" Tour 2008-2010