Born and raised in Detroit, Michael HarPaz, son of immigrant parents, emigrated to Israel in 1995 with only a few bucks in his pocket, his guitar on his back and high ambitions.
Within a year, he became a founding member of HiFive, the biggest band in Israeli history. As the lead singer in HiFive, Michael spent the next four years performing to sold out arena shows in front of hundreds of thousands of adoring fans. As a cultural icon, Michael was the pulse of everything pop in the country. Setting trends both musically and socially, Michael managed to change Israeli entertainment history forever.
He and his group set the bar against which all other success was measured. With four gold albums to his name and countless other awards and honors, Michaels fame rose to new heights. He could not walk the streets of Tel-Aviv without a steady entourage or bodyguards and security.
Michael’s music took him to New York and word traveled fast. He performed for Mayor Bloomberg at Gracie Mansion and singing on the stage of Town Hall. Michael became part of the songwriting team for producer John Eaton writing for such artists as P. Diddy, Usher, and The Roots. During this time, Michael also flew to LA to write and perform on the best selling CD, MAXAZRIA BCBG Live.
Soon Michael was in the studio with 7 Aurelius (Jennifer Lopez, Ashanti, Ja Rule) and renowned music mogul, Damon Dash, to work on some collaborative projects. While working on a song for Paris Hilton, Michael was asked to come to Israel to help write some songs for Israeli singer Maya Buskila.
In Israel, Michael’s music was overheard by Oscar nominated film maker Menahem Golan and asked if he would stay in Israel to write and produce an original score for his new motion picture, “A Dangerous Dance”. Humbled by this offer, Michael began writing the rough demos for the movie. The producers and director fell in love with the voice on the rough tracks and soon enough was singing more tracks on the album than not. Michaels knack for vocal impersonations and wide range allowed him to write, produce and sing every track for the film. Currently, Michael is in Tel Aviv finishing the score for Golan’s film, with the first single, “My Champion” about to hit the airwaves.
Michael participated in the “Voices for Israel” project, and though not a ‘religious’ performer, wrote a new Havdallah suite for the Conservative movement. He has participated in many concerts to support Israel Defense Forces and benefits for victims of terror, including those in Sderot and in the bomb shelters during the Second Lebanon War.
Havdallah
Kshe HaLev
So Clearly I Remember
Westport Boy
Since helping to create the Israeli hip-hop scene with his 2000 debut album, Jerusalem’s Sagol 59 has earned a considerable reputation as an honest, clever, articulate and highly original MC.
Ahavat Haaretz is the creation of Roi and Osnat Levy. A founding member of the Israeli supergroup Shotei HaNevuah (The Fools of Prophecy), Roi’s songwriting skills are most evident in this ensemble. Mostly accoustic arrangements set lyrics describing Israeli society from many angles and viewpoints provide the listener with a uniquely current perspective of being Israeli.
From the depths of the Jewish “Nigunim” melodies out of the jewish tradition of kabbalah, “A groyse Metsie” skillfuly combines touching acoustic solo pieces, breakbeat and funky grooves, trip hop ambience and rock and roll power with the soulful fire of klezmer jewish music. A Groyse Metsie brings the new into the old, a group of hyper talented-super diverse musicians who make a point of expressing a highly spiritual message in a very groovy and fun lovin way. Based in Israel, where Klezmer music is rarely appreciated, this band has turned the idea on its head, embracing a traditional form with modern, cross-cultural flourishes.
RebbeSoul performs melodies from throughout the Jewish world, from Sephardic romanceros in Ladino to Lubavitch niggunim to tunes from Ashkenazi nusach. Carlebach melodies and Mizrahi piyyutim collide with a World beat rhythms- its the sound of the Jewish Diaspora coming home. And in after a Rebbesoul show, everyone will go home humming something new!
Yoni Ben-Yehuda, also known as Sneakas, was born in Tel-Aviv, Israel in 1981. After moving to Manhattan at age 11, Sneakas quickly became involved and fascinated by Hip-Hop culture. Using his extensive musical background, which includes classical training in both bass guitar and drums, Sneakas started writing rhymes and producing his own music. After years of honing his skills in the underground circuit of New York City, Sneakas was signed in 2001 to the production company, Nu Media whose credits include the Notorious B.I.G., LL Cool J, Brian McKnight, Babyface, TLC, The Fugees, Mary J. Blige and Prince. In the summer of 2003, Sneakas began a one-year tour in the Middle East performing in hundreds of clubs, festivals, fundraisers and venues. Since Sneakas return to New York in 2004 he continues to carve a niche for himself in the New York City Hip-Hop scene with performances at B.B Kings, Nuyorican Poets Café, Pussycat Lounge, Bowery Poetry Club, M1-5, The Groove, and The Bitter End.
A new music is arising from a band stemming from hilly plains of central Israel. Just as its name indicates haMAKOR (”the source”) is the originator of a unique blend of bluegrass, funk and rock and roll combined with a root like Jewish message. Through the combined voice of this group, soulful, inspiring, and complex music is put forth. Each song is lyrically appealing, and melodically charged, leaving the listener feeling energized and exposed. Messages such as finding your own path, and the trials and tribulations of life, give the onslaught of aggressive resonance meaning. This real life expression met with the sweet melodies of the guitar is what makes haMAKOR a rare experience both in sound, and performance.
ESTA is a multi-ethnic band with innovative compositions and imaginative arrangements - deeply rooted in Israel’s diverse traditions. Founded in 1979 by Shlomo Deshet and Ori Beanstock, Esta has created a distinctive new sound, incorporating Jewish, Balkan, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, African and Celtic genres into its own pan-global sound, propelled by Rock’s energy and Jazz’s musicianship.
Avraham Rosenblum moved to Jerusalem in the early ‘70’s, found his Jewish roots and started a band that changed the course of modern Jewish music. The Diaspora Yeshiva Band performed for crowds from all over the world at their Saturday night “Melave Malka” concerts at King David’s Tomb on Mt. Zion. Their blend of folk rock and ancient Hebrew lyrics made them a premier act on the international circuit for decades. Today, Avraham Rosenblum continues the tradition with music that speaks to Jews of all stripes.