Jo Amar
Encyclopedia
Yosef "Jo" Amar (born 1 June 1930, Settat
, Morocco
- died 26 June 2009, Woodmere, New York
) was a noted Moroccan
-born Israeli singer and hazzan
.
Amar began his singing career in the late 1940s in Morocco. In 1956, Amar emigrated from Morocco to Israel
where he lived on Moshav
Yad Rambam.
He was a pioneer in the introduction of Moroccan Jewish liturgical music
to Israel. He became associated with mizrahi music
, mixing the melodies of traditional Sephardic Jewish music with Arab
ic music and Western music.
Amar tried to introduce Mizrahi music
originating in Middle Eastern or North African countries to mainstream Israeli culture. He then moved to New York City
in 1970, where he performed music and became noted for his work as a Jewish cantor. Within twenty years, he moved back to Israel.
He published an anthology of liturgical music from Morocco and recorded more than 20 albums, including two with the Israeli Andalusian Orchestra
(התזמורת האנדלוסית הישראלית). His hits include "Yismah Moshe", "Shalom LeVen Dodi", "Barcelona", "Song of the Drunkard", "Ani Havatzelet HaSharon", and many more.
In 2008, a musical evening of tribute was held in his honor in Jerusalem. Mayor Uri Lupoliansky presented Amar with a certificate of appreciation, and selections from a movie on his life, beginning with his childhood in Morocco, were screened.
Jo Amar died at age 79, at the home of his son. He had been suffering from Parkinson's Disease
. He was buried at Moshav Yad Rambam, in central Israel.
Settat
Settat is a city in Morocco between the national capital Rabat and Marrakech. Settat is located at the heart of the country, south of Casablanca. Settat is the capital of the prefecture of Chaouia-Ouardigha and Settat Province, the oldest and largest city in the province, in both size and population...
, Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
- died 26 June 2009, Woodmere, New York
Woodmere, New York
Woodmere is a hamlet in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 17,121 at the 2010 census.Woodmere is one of the Long Island communities known as the Five Towns, which is usually said to comprise the villages of Lawrence and Cedarhurst, the hamlets of Woodmere and Inwood, and...
) was a noted Moroccan
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
-born Israeli singer and hazzan
Hazzan
A hazzan or chazzan is a Jewish cantor, a musician trained in the vocal arts who helps lead the congregation in songful prayer.There are many rules relating to how a cantor should lead services, but the idea of a cantor as a paid professional does not exist in classical rabbinic sources...
.
Amar began his singing career in the late 1940s in Morocco. In 1956, Amar emigrated from Morocco to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
where he lived on Moshav
Moshav
Moshav is a type of Israeli town or settlement, in particular a type of cooperative agricultural community of individual farms pioneered by the Labour Zionists during the second aliyah...
Yad Rambam.
He was a pioneer in the introduction of Moroccan Jewish liturgical music
Liturgical music
Liturgical music originated as a part of religious ceremony, and includes a number of traditions, both ancient and modern. Liturgical music is well known as a part of Catholic Mass, the Anglican Holy Communion service , the Lutheran Divine Service, the Orthodox liturgy and other Christian services...
to Israel. He became associated with mizrahi music
Mizrahi music
Mizrahi music refers to the music integration that combines elements from Europe, the West, and Middle Eastern/North African countries transported to Israel by migrating Jews. It is usually sung in Hebrew, literary Hebrew and Arabic slang...
, mixing the melodies of traditional Sephardic Jewish music with Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
ic music and Western music.
Amar tried to introduce Mizrahi music
Mizrahi music
Mizrahi music refers to the music integration that combines elements from Europe, the West, and Middle Eastern/North African countries transported to Israel by migrating Jews. It is usually sung in Hebrew, literary Hebrew and Arabic slang...
originating in Middle Eastern or North African countries to mainstream Israeli culture. He then moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1970, where he performed music and became noted for his work as a Jewish cantor. Within twenty years, he moved back to Israel.
He published an anthology of liturgical music from Morocco and recorded more than 20 albums, including two with the Israeli Andalusian Orchestra
Israeli Andalusian Orchestra
The Israeli Andalusian Orchestra or Mediterranean Orchestra is an award-winning Israeli orchestra based in Ashdod, Israel founded in 1994. The orchestra is composed of around 50 musicians and lyricists mainly of Moroccon and Russian origin and features traditionel Sephardic Jewish-Arab and...
(התזמורת האנדלוסית הישראלית). His hits include "Yismah Moshe", "Shalom LeVen Dodi", "Barcelona", "Song of the Drunkard", "Ani Havatzelet HaSharon", and many more.
In 2008, a musical evening of tribute was held in his honor in Jerusalem. Mayor Uri Lupoliansky presented Amar with a certificate of appreciation, and selections from a movie on his life, beginning with his childhood in Morocco, were screened.
Jo Amar died at age 79, at the home of his son. He had been suffering from Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
. He was buried at Moshav Yad Rambam, in central Israel.