Shlomo Artzi Israeli folk-rock singer-songwriter and composer. Date of Birth: 26.11.1949 Country: Israel

Biography of Shlomo Artzi

Shlomo Artzi is an Israeli folk-rock singer-songwriter and composer. He was born in 1949 to parents who survived the Holocaust, and his father, Yitzhak Artzi, was a member of the Israeli Knesset. At the age of 8, his family moved to Tel Aviv, where Shlomo developed a strong passion for music. By the age of 12, he was already performing in a school ensemble, singing and playing the guitar. Although he initially dreamed of becoming an actor, he eventually started writing songs and music, diving deeper into the world of music. He had a fondness for Israeli songs and French chanson and was initially distant from rock music. However, he turned to rock in the late 1970s.

During his service in the artillery corps, Artzi continued pursuing his music, performing with 'Lehakat Kheil Hayam'. It was during this time that he won a national competition at a popular Israeli song festival. His song 'Pitom Achshav, Pitom Hayom' ('Suddenly Now, Suddenly Today'), also known as 'Ahavtiha' ('I loved her'), instantly became a national hit, and Artzi was awarded the title of 'Singer of the Year' in 1970. In the same year, he released his first album titled 'Shlomo Artzi', which achieved great success in Israel. After completing his military service and getting married, Artzi established a recording label with his friends.

In 1971, Artzi released his second album, and unlike the first one, he wrote all the music himself. In his subsequent albums, Artzi focused on Israeli poetry, with many of his songs being famous poems set to music. In 1975, Artzi represented Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest, performing the song 'At Va'Ani' ('You and Me') written by renowned songwriter Ehud Manor. Although he did not win the international contest, Artzi remained incredibly popular in his homeland. He performed with numerous leading Israeli musicians, appeared on significant music compilations, and continued releasing his own albums and singles. In total, Artzi has released over 20 music albums, primarily targeted at the Israeli market. Some of his notable albums include 'Yareach' ('Moon'), 'Ahavtihem' ('I Have Loved Them'), 'Tzima'on' ('Thirst'), 'Shfuim' ('Sane'), and 'Ha'amiti' ('The Real').

Throughout his career, Artzi has sold over 1.5 million records, making him the most successful singer in the Israeli music scene. In the late 1970s, Artzi, feeling somewhat disillusioned with the music industry, decided to retire from music and even released a farewell album. However, the album had an unexpected effect, as Artzi discovered a new rock sound that opened up new musical horizons for him. Nevertheless, it is Artzi's live performances that Israelis love the most, with his concerts filled with lyricism, audience interaction, storytelling, and improvisations.

Since 1980, Artzi has hosted his own weekly radio show called 'Od Lo Shabbat' ('Not Yet Saturday'). In his personal life, Artzi is married for the second time and has three children from his first marriage. Today, he resides in Tel Aviv. It is also known that Artzi is a avid fan of the football team 'Maccabi Netanya' for which he wrote a song in 1971.