Meir Banai
Encyclopedia
Meir Banai is a well known and respected Israeli musician, singer, and songwriter, who has been called a "veteran star" and "one of the perennial big guns of Israeli music".
and Eviatar Banai
, the cousin of Ehud Banai
and Yuval Banai
, and the nephew of Yossi Banai
.
In 1999 he and Arkadi Duchin
collaborated on a very successful recording. Tal Sondak
, who represented Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest
in 2001, says that Banai is one of his musical influences. In March 2004, Banai made his U.S. debut at Makor in New York City to a packed room.
Shma Koli ("Hear My Voice") in 2007 was a CD packed with traditional Jewish texts and prayers. The arrangements are based on traditional tunes but have been given a modern infusion. The single, "Lech Elay" became a hit as soon as it was released. Haaretz
wrote that Banai, in composing some of the songs on his "excellent 'Jewish' album", created an upswing in the melody at key points in songs, in which the speaker/narrator lifts up his eyes to the heavens and calls upon God. As of February 2008, Shma Koli had sold more than 15,000 copies, according to NMC
figures). At the 51st annual ACUM Awards on March 29, 2009, to honor Israel's composers, songwriters, poets, and authors, Banai won for composer for Shma Koli. In February 2008, the Israeli lottery, Mifal HaPayis, announced that Banai was a winner of the Landau Award for Stage Arts, an award for excellence in the Arts. After not appearing together on stage for a decade, Arkadi Duchin
and Banai performed together in April 2009.
Banai has released ten albums.
Biography
Banai was born in Jerusalem to a traditional Jewish family. He comes from a famous clan of actors and singers. He is the brother of Orna BanaiOrna Banai
Orna Banai is an Israeli actress, comedian and entertainer.Banai was born in Beersheba, Israel. Her father was a local judge, and her mother was an education executive for the City of Beer Sheva. Many of her relatives are successful Israeli actors and singers. The next generation of the Banai...
and Eviatar Banai
Eviatar Banai
Eviatar Banai is an Israeli musician, singer and songwriter.-Biography:Banai was born in 1973 in Beer Sheva...
, the cousin of Ehud Banai
Ehud Banai
-Early life:Banai, of Persian Jewish and Afghan Jewish descent, was born in Jerusalem to the actor Yaakov Banai, the eldest of the Banai siblings, and moved to Givataim at the age of four.-Music career:...
and Yuval Banai
Yuval Banai
Yuval Banay is an Israeli musician, best known as the lead singer of the influential Israeli pop rock band Mashina.-Personal life:Yuval was born on June 9, 1962 in Tel-Aviv to Yossi and Ilana Banai...
, and the nephew of Yossi Banai
Yossi Banai
Yossi Banai was an Israeli performer, singer, actor, and dramatist.-Biography:Banai was born in Jerusalem, and grew up in the neighborhood of the Mahane Yehuda market...
.
In 1999 he and Arkadi Duchin
Arkadi Duchin
Arkadi Duchin is an Israeli singer-songwriter and musical producer.-Early life:Duchin was born in Babruysk, Belarus. He immigrated to Israel at the age of 15.-Music career:...
collaborated on a very successful recording. Tal Sondak
Tal Sondak
Tal Sondak is an Israeli singer.His musical career started at the age of ten as a member of a boys choir. He received several first prizes at children's song festivals, most recently as a 15-year-old, where he won with a song that he had written himself.He has represented Israel at several music...
, who represented Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
in 2001, says that Banai is one of his musical influences. In March 2004, Banai made his U.S. debut at Makor in New York City to a packed room.
Shma Koli ("Hear My Voice") in 2007 was a CD packed with traditional Jewish texts and prayers. The arrangements are based on traditional tunes but have been given a modern infusion. The single, "Lech Elay" became a hit as soon as it was released. Haaretz
Haaretz
Haaretz is Israel's oldest daily newspaper. It was founded in 1918 and is now published in both Hebrew and English in Berliner format. The English edition is published and sold together with the International Herald Tribune. Both Hebrew and English editions can be read on the Internet...
wrote that Banai, in composing some of the songs on his "excellent 'Jewish' album", created an upswing in the melody at key points in songs, in which the speaker/narrator lifts up his eyes to the heavens and calls upon God. As of February 2008, Shma Koli had sold more than 15,000 copies, according to NMC
NMC
NMC may refer to:* NMC Records, an Israeli record label and music company.* NMC Recordings, a record label and music company in the United Kingdom* National Meteorological Center, now the National Centers for Environmental Prediction...
figures). At the 51st annual ACUM Awards on March 29, 2009, to honor Israel's composers, songwriters, poets, and authors, Banai won for composer for Shma Koli. In February 2008, the Israeli lottery, Mifal HaPayis, announced that Banai was a winner of the Landau Award for Stage Arts, an award for excellence in the Arts. After not appearing together on stage for a decade, Arkadi Duchin
Arkadi Duchin
Arkadi Duchin is an Israeli singer-songwriter and musical producer.-Early life:Duchin was born in Babruysk, Belarus. He immigrated to Israel at the age of 15.-Music career:...
and Banai performed together in April 2009.
Banai has released ten albums.
Discography
Albums- The First Album (1984)
- Rain (1987)
- Impressions Live (1988)
- The Colors Change/Changing Colors (1990)
- Including/In Between (1992)
- The Wandering Tune (1996)
- Heart Cracked/Fractured Heart (2001)
- How Much Love (2002)
- Shma Koli (2007)
- Collections