Izhar Ashdot
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Izhar Ashdot | |
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Background information | |
Born | 1958 |
Origin | Jerusalem, Israel |
Genre(s) | Rock Pop |
Instrument(s) | Vocals Guitar |
Years active | 1973-Present |
Associated acts | T-Slam |
Website | Ashdot.co.il |
Izhar Ashdot (born 1958, Jerusalem) is an Israeli singer, composer, guitar player and record producer. He was a co-founding member of Israeli rock band T-Slam.
Contents |
[edit] 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 Army 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.
[edit] Musical career
T-Slam became famous with their single "Radio Hazak" (Loud Radio), and later with an album with the same name. In March 1981 their first tour began and was very successful. T-Slam won numerous Israeli awards, including "The Band of the Year", a Platinum Album, 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.
[edit] 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 Café) 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 collection 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.
[edit] Solo Discography
- Izhar Ashdot - 1992
- Izhar Ashdot II - 1994
- Live Show in Hard Rock Café - 1995
- Zman Kesem - 1999
- Lech Im HaLev - 2000
- BeMerhak Negi'a MiCan (A Touch Away) - 2005
- HaLeilot Shelanu (Our Nights) - 2007
[edit] Personnel
A few players played on Izhar's albums:
- Raviv Gazit (Keyboards and Arrangement)
- Tzuf Philiosof (Bass Guitar and Vocals)
- Eran Porat (Drums)
- Tal Bergman (Drums)
- Yossi Fine (Bass)
- Ran Efron (Keyboards and Guitar)
- Moshe Levy (Keyboards and Production)