Suki Lahav
Encyclopedia
Tzruya "Suki" Lahav is an Israeli violin
ist, vocalist, actress, lyricist
, screenwriter
, and novelist. Lahav was a member of Bruce Springsteen
's E Street Band
from September 1974 to March 1975, then returned to Israel and found success there.
Ayelet HaShahar
in the Upper Galilee
in Israel
, where she played kibbutz harvest music as well as classical music, growing up.
Following her service in the Israeli military
, she arrived in the United States
in 1971 with her husband Louis Lahav, a recording engineer who in 1972 began working with Springsteen, who in turn was looking for a violinist. On record with Springsteen, most of Suki Lahav's parts did not make it to released form, but she sang the choir-like vocals on "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)
" from the album The Wild, The Innocent and The E Street Shuffle
and played violin on the epic "Jungleland
" from the Born to Run
album. In concert, Lahav's violin and vocals — as well as her willowy pale presence in flowing white dresses — were a focal point of slow songs during Springsteen's shows of this time, such as in the rendition of "Incident on 57th Street", performed February 5, 1975, at the Main Point in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
.
During their time in the US, a daughter, Tal was born. She was killed in a road accident at the age of three and a half. They returned to Israel in the spring of 1975. The split coincided with the shift from Mike Appel
to Jon Landau
as Springsteen's manager and producer, ending her role in the E Street Band.
The couple divorced in 1977. Lahav, now known by her Hebrew name, Tzruya (or sometimes transliterated as Tsruya) established a family with Moshe Albalek in Jerusalem. By 1985 she had two children and little involvement in the music industry. But she began working as a violinist and violist, appearing with the Israeli Kibbutz Orchestra, and as an actress.
She became a successful lyricist, writing for prominent musicians and singers in Israel; "Shara Barkhovot
" ("Singing in the Streets"), the Israeli entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1990
performed by Rita
, featured her words, and some of her songs are considered icons of Israeli music
. She also recast existing song lyrics from other languages into Hebrew, such as the Leonard Cohen
song "Famous Blue Raincoat
" in 1993. In 1999, she wrote the lyrics for the multi-ethnic collaborative, Glykeria
's recording "Tfilat Ha'imahot" ("Mother's Prayer"), which also featured Amal Murkus
and Yehudit Tamir
. In 2003, the album No Longer the Sea: A Collection Of Tzruya Lahav's Songs was released, featuring performances by Rita
, Yehudit Ravitz
, Meir Banai
, Yehuda Poliker
, and others. Her songs have also been performed by Israeli artists Gidi Gov
, Rami Kleinstein
, and Ricky Gal. In 2004, a show of her songs was produced in Tel Aviv
.
Lahav authored screenplays, including the 1996 Israeli crime film Kesher Dam, and two novels: Andre’s Wooden Clogs (Kinneret, 2002), based on the true-life story of a boy's survival of The Holocaust
in Holland (in Hebrew, also translated to Dutch, Italian and English), and The Swamp Queen Does The Tango (Am Oved
, 2004), an adult fairy tale (in Hebrew). Both books won numerous awards and prizes for literature, including the Yad Vashem Prize and the Minister of Culture's prize for first work. She also teaches creative writing
in Jerusalem, where she lives in the German Colony neighborhood.
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist, vocalist, actress, lyricist
Lyricist
A lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:...
, screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, and novelist. Lahav was a member of Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
's E Street Band
E Street Band
The E Street Band has been rock musician Bruce Springsteen's primary backing band since 1972.The band has also recorded with a wide range of other artists including Bob Dylan, Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler, Air Supply, Dire Straits, David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Stevie Nicks, Tom Morello, Sting, Ian...
from September 1974 to March 1975, then returned to Israel and found success there.
Biography
Tzruya Lahav was born and raised in KibbutzKibbutz
A kibbutz is a collective community in Israel that was traditionally based on agriculture. Today, farming has been partly supplanted by other economic branches, including industrial plants and high-tech enterprises. Kibbutzim began as utopian communities, a combination of socialism and Zionism...
Ayelet HaShahar
Ayelet HaShahar
-External links:* * article written by Ellis Shuman, June 16, 2004, mentions the vote by members of Kibbutz Ayelet Hashahar to transform their cooperative into a moshav.**...
in the Upper Galilee
Upper Galilee
The Upper Galilee is a geographical-political term in use since the end of the Second Temple period, originally referring to a mountainous area overlapping the present northern Israel and southern Lebanon, its borders being the Litani river in the north, the Mediterranean Sea in the west, the Beit...
in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, where she played kibbutz harvest music as well as classical music, growing up.
Following her service in the Israeli military
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
, she arrived in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1971 with her husband Louis Lahav, a recording engineer who in 1972 began working with Springsteen, who in turn was looking for a violinist. On record with Springsteen, most of Suki Lahav's parts did not make it to released form, but she sang the choir-like vocals on "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)
4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)
"4th of July, Asbury Park ", often known just as "Sandy", is a 1973 song by Bruce Springsteen, originally appearing as the second song on his album The Wild, The Innocent and The E Street Shuffle....
" from the album The Wild, The Innocent and The E Street Shuffle
The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle
The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle is the second album by Bruce Springsteen and the as-yet-unnamed E Street Band, and is described by Allmusic as "one of the greatest albums in the history of rock & roll." It was released in 1973...
and played violin on the epic "Jungleland
Jungleland
"Jungleland" is an almost ten-minute long closing song on Bruce Springsteen's 1975 album Born to Run, and tells a tale of love amid a backdrop of gang violence. It contains one of E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons' most recognizable solos...
" from the Born to Run
Born to Run
The album's release was accompanied by a $250,000 promotional campaign by Columbia directed at both consumers and the music industry, making good use of Landau's "I saw rock 'n' roll's future—and its name is Bruce Springsteen" quote. With much publicity, Born to Run vaulted into the top 10 in its...
album. In concert, Lahav's violin and vocals — as well as her willowy pale presence in flowing white dresses — were a focal point of slow songs during Springsteen's shows of this time, such as in the rendition of "Incident on 57th Street", performed February 5, 1975, at the Main Point in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Bryn Mawr from Welsh for "big hill") is a census-designated place in Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, just west of Philadelphia along Lancaster Avenue and the border with Delaware County...
.
During their time in the US, a daughter, Tal was born. She was killed in a road accident at the age of three and a half. They returned to Israel in the spring of 1975. The split coincided with the shift from Mike Appel
Mike Appel
Mike Appel is an American music industry manager and record producer, most known for his role in both capacities early in the career of Bruce Springsteen....
to Jon Landau
Jon Landau
Jon Landau is an American music critic, manager and record producer, most known for his association in all three capacities with Bruce Springsteen.He is currently the head of the nominating committee for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame....
as Springsteen's manager and producer, ending her role in the E Street Band.
The couple divorced in 1977. Lahav, now known by her Hebrew name, Tzruya (or sometimes transliterated as Tsruya) established a family with Moshe Albalek in Jerusalem. By 1985 she had two children and little involvement in the music industry. But she began working as a violinist and violist, appearing with the Israeli Kibbutz Orchestra, and as an actress.
She became a successful lyricist, writing for prominent musicians and singers in Israel; "Shara Barkhovot
Shara Barkhovot
"Shara Barkhovot" was the Israeli entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1990, performed in Hebrew by Rita....
" ("Singing in the Streets"), the Israeli entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1990
Eurovision Song Contest 1990
The Eurovision Song Contest 1990, the 35th in the series, was held in Zagreb, Yugoslavia on 5 May 1990. The presenters were Helga Vlahović Brnobić and Oliver Mlakar. Toto Cutugno was the winner of this contest with the song "Insieme: 1992"...
performed by Rita
Rita Kleinstein
Rita Yahan-Farouz is an Iranian-born Israeli pop singer and actress.-Early life:Rita Yahan-Farouz was born in Tehran, Iran. Her family emigrated to Israel in 1970.-Musical and acting career:-1980s:...
, featured her words, and some of her songs are considered icons of Israeli music
Music of Israel
The music of Israel is a combination of Jewish and non-Jewish music traditions that have come together over the course of a century to create a distinctive musical culture. For more than 100 years, musicians have sought original stylistic elements that would define the emerging national spirit...
. She also recast existing song lyrics from other languages into Hebrew, such as the Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
song "Famous Blue Raincoat
Famous Blue Raincoat
"Famous Blue Raincoat" is a song by Leonard Cohen. It is the sixth track on his third album, Songs of Love and Hate, released in 1971.-Summary:...
" in 1993. In 1999, she wrote the lyrics for the multi-ethnic collaborative, Glykeria
Glykeria
Glykeria is a Greek singer active in Greece and Cyprus, while also gaining fame in Israel, France, Turkey and England. Her career has spanned over 30 years and is marked by several multi-platinum releases...
's recording "Tfilat Ha'imahot" ("Mother's Prayer"), which also featured Amal Murkus
Amal Murkus
Amal Murkus is a Palestinian Christian singer living in Israel. Her post-modern music style has a variety of Mediterranean influences. Her first album, Amal, was released in 1998, and her second, Shauq, in 2004...
and Yehudit Tamir
Yehudit Tamir
Yehudit Tamir is a well-known Israeli singer. She was first heard singing with Yehuda Poliker in the concerts of "Enayim Sheli". Her first solo album, Yehudit Tamir, was released in 1991. Tamir performed with the Israeli singer Ehud Banai on his album Karov .Her second solo album, Red Flowers, was...
. In 2003, the album No Longer the Sea: A Collection Of Tzruya Lahav's Songs was released, featuring performances by Rita
Rita
Rita is a common female first name, often a name in its own right, but mostly a shortened version of either Rachel or Margaret. The name may refer to:-Given name:* Rita of Armenia , Empress of Byzantium...
, Yehudit Ravitz
Yehudit Ravitz
Yehudit Ravitz is an Israeli singer-songwriter. She was born in Be'er Sheva, in southern Israel. As of 2010, she had released 20 albums and has been performing for nearly 20 years, also musically producing several albums for other musicians.-Music career:...
, Meir Banai
Meir Banai
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".- Biography :...
, Yehuda Poliker
Yehuda Poliker
Yehuda Poliker is an Israeli singer, songwriter, musician, and painter.-Early life:Poliker was born in Kiryat Haim, a suburb of Haifa, Israel to a Greek Jewish family. Poliker is the son of Holocaust survivors deported to Auschwitz from Salonika, Greece.-Music career:Poliker's music combines rock...
, and others. Her songs have also been performed by Israeli artists Gidi Gov
Gidi Gov
Gidi Gov , is an Israeli singer, TV host, entertainer and actor.Gov is married to playwright Anat Gov, with whom he has three children.- Early life :...
, Rami Kleinstein
Rami Kleinstein
-Biography:Rami Kleinstein was born in New York. He moved to Israel with his family in 1970. As a child, he studied piano and classical music. In 1988, he married the Israeli singer Rita, with whom he performed as a duo during their military service in the early 1980s. Kleinstein subsequently...
, and Ricky Gal. In 2004, a show of her songs was produced in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
.
Lahav authored screenplays, including the 1996 Israeli crime film Kesher Dam, and two novels: Andre’s Wooden Clogs (Kinneret, 2002), based on the true-life story of a boy's survival of The Holocaust
The Holocaust
The Holocaust , also known as the Shoah , was the genocide of approximately six million European Jews and millions of others during World War II, a programme of systematic state-sponsored murder by Nazi...
in Holland (in Hebrew, also translated to Dutch, Italian and English), and The Swamp Queen Does The Tango (Am Oved
Am Oved
-History:Am Oved was founded in 1942 by Berl Katznelson, who was its first Editor in Chief.It was created as an organ of the Histadrut, Israel's federation of Labor, with a goal of publishing books that would "meet the spiritual needs of the working public." Its most well-known series is "Sifriyah...
, 2004), an adult fairy tale (in Hebrew). Both books won numerous awards and prizes for literature, including the Yad Vashem Prize and the Minister of Culture's prize for first work. She also teaches creative writing
Creative writing
Creative writing is considered to be any writing, fiction, poetry, or non-fiction, that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic, and technical forms of literature. Works which fall into this category include novels, epics, short stories, and poems...
in Jerusalem, where she lives in the German Colony neighborhood.
Sources
- Steven Allan, Interview with Suki Lahav. Backstreets magazine, December 1985.
- Cross, Charles R.Charles R. CrossCharles R. Cross is a journalist and author of seven books based in Seattle. He was the Editor of The Rocket Magazine in Seattle for fifteen years during the height of the Seattle music mania. He is also the founder of Backstreets Magazine, a periodical for fans of Bruce Springsteen, and editor of...
Backstreets: Springsteen - The Man and His Music. Harmony BooksHarmony BooksHarmony Books is an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, itself part of publisher Random House. It focusses on topics such as religion, the occult, the paranormal and other pseudoscientific material...
, 1989/1992. ISBN 0-517-58929-X. - Graff, Gary. The Ties That Bind: Bruce Springsteen A to E to Z. Visible Ink Press, 2005. ISBN 0-57859-157-0.