Ehud Banai

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Ehud Banai (Hebrew: אהוד בנאי‎, b. March 31, 1953) is an Israeli singer and songwriter.

The music of Ehud Banai is considered by many to be the pure definition of "Israeli sound". Though born in 1953 in Jerusalem to a family of many talents (many of his cousins and uncles are musicians and actors), Banai's success didn't come easy. He tried to interest other musicians in his songs, but without much success. He tried out for Shlomo Bar's band, Habrera Hativit, but wasn't accepted. Only in 1986 Ehud and his band "Haplitim" ("the refugees") broke through, with the hit single "Ir Miklat" (city of refuge) and the rock-Opera "Mami".

His 1987 debut is considered by many to be one of the best and the most important albums of Israeli rock, with original mix of new-wave guitar rock with some oriental rhythms and sounds. Most of the album consisted of protest songs. The songs also included many Biblical subjects and allusions, such as the golden calf and cities of refuge. The follow-up, "Karov" ("closer", 1989) is maybe the album that distills more than any other an "Israeli sound", with influences raging from early childhood in Jerusalem, traveling in Europe, Bob Dylan, the Banai family's Afghan-Persian origins, to Jewish prayer and piyutim, among others. He also released Under the Jasmine Tree, an album of Persian folk tales as told by his father.

During the 1990's Banai released 3 albums ("The Third" was released in 1992, "In a Little While" was released in 1996, and "Tip Tipa" was released in 1998), which gained much success and established him as one of Israel's most influential and appreciated musicians. His latest studio album ("Ane' Li") was released in 2004. The song Blues Knaani (Canaanite blues) was written in memory of Meir Ariel and Hayom (today) was written for his wife. A triple live album, "Mamshich Linso'a" ("Keep Moving") was released in October 2006.