Erez Halevi, Israeli Musician Behind Iconic Songs, Dies at 71

By נועם כהן

Translated & summarized from N12 by baba

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Israeli musician and creator Erez Halevi, known for hits like "Thus Nature Created You" and "The Fishermen," died Friday at age 71. Halevi, who began his career in the 1980s, released his debut album "Tonight" in 1984 with producer Matti Caspi. His song "Thus Nature Created You" became an anthem for self-acceptance and was later embraced by the LGBTQ+ community. Halevi is survived by three children.

The story in 6 lines · by baba

Musician Erez Halevi, known for hits like "Thus Nature Created You," died Friday at 71.
His 1984 debut album "Tonight" was produced by Matti Caspi and featured his most famous songs.
"Thus Nature Created You" became an anthem for self-acceptance and was adopted by the LGBTQ+ community.
Halevi was influenced by artists like The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and James Taylor.
He released a second album in 1994 and returned with "The Gate Opened" in 2008.
Halevi is survived by three children.

Erez Halevi, Israeli Musician Behind Iconic Songs, Dies at 71 — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Israeli musician and creator Erez Halevi, known for his unique voice in the Israeli music scene of the 1980s, passed away on Friday at the age of 71. Halevi was the writer and composer behind several well-known songs, including "Thus Nature Created You," "The Fishermen," and "Tonight," which became integral parts of Israel's musical landscape.

His sister-in-law described him as a "great artist who touched the hearts of so many with his wonderful and unforgettable songs." She added that Halevi was a "special, sensitive person" who left behind a "great musical legacy and soul," noting his ability to "touch the deepest strings of the heart through his works."

Halevi, born in 1954 in Rehovot, began playing guitar at 15, influenced by The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and James Taylor. He started his career performing in pubs, initially covering other artists before introducing his original compositions. In the early 1980s, he participated in a young talent competition in Tel Aviv alongside Meir Banai, where his talent impressed producer Matti Caspi, who then produced Halevi's debut album.

Released in 1984, the album "Tonight" featured all songs written and composed by Halevi, with Caspi handling production, arrangements, and instrumentation. The album, blending soft rock, folk, and Eastern influences, received significant radio play and produced some of his most recognized hits.

One of his most iconic songs, "Thus Nature Created You," became an anthem for self-acceptance and authenticity. Halevi explained in a 2008 interview that he wrote it in response to early criticism from those who questioned why a singer of Yemenite descent was performing Western music instead of Mizrahi music. The song was later covered by Ivri Lider, featured in a film by Tomer Heyman, and became associated with the LGBTQ+ community.

Despite the success of his first album, Halevi did not achieve another major breakthrough. His second album, "Intermediate State," released in 1994, was not as successful, and Halevi expressed dissatisfaction with its production, even requesting the record label shelve it. He returned in 2008 with the album "The Gate Opened," and in 2012 initiated a tribute project to his songs featuring artists like Ehud Banai, Kobi Oz, and Ariel Zilber. Halevi is survived by his three children.