Meir Banai: Israeli singer-songwriter (1961–2017)
Meir Banai (1961–2017) was an Israeli singer-songwriter who blended pop, rock and soul with Jewish liturgical themes across ten albums, best known for his 2007 record Shma Koli.
Meir Banai (Hebrew: מֵאִיר בַּנַאי; 5 July 1961 – 12 January 2017) was an Israeli singer, songwriter and musician. His work drew on several popular styles, including pop, rock and soul. Banai recorded ten albums over the course of his career, which began with his first release in 1984. He is widely remembered for the 2007 record Shma Koli, which sets traditional Jewish prayers and texts to new musical arrangements. He was born in Beersheba.
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Career
Banai emerged in the Israeli music scene in the mid-1980s and remained active as a performer and composer for several decades. His recordings combined contemporary popular idioms with melodic and lyrical elements drawn from religious and folk sources, a blend that attracted listeners across different audiences. Over his career he released a total of ten albums, with Shma Koli (2007) standing out for its use of liturgical material.
Selected discography
- Debut release: 1984
- Shma Koli (2007) — album featuring traditional prayers and texts
- Total studio albums: 10
Death
Banai died of cancer on 12 January 2017 in Ganot. He was 55 years old.
Related articles
Author
AlegsaOnline.com Meir Banai: Israeli singer-songwriter (1961–2017) Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/63582
Sources
- commons.wikimedia.org : Meir Banai
- rateyourmusic.com : "Albums by Meir Banai"
- jpost.com : "Singer Meir Banai dies at 55"