Erez Halevi, Israeli Singer Behind "As Nature Made You," Dies at 71

Israeli singer and songwriter Erez Halevi, who rose to fame in the 1980s with his album "HaLayla" (The Night), has died at the age of 71. Halevi, whose voice and songs became an integral part of Israeli music in the 1980s, is particularly remembered for his hits "Kach Bara Otach HaTeva" (As Nature Made You), "HaDayagim" (The Fishermen), "KsheNifgashnu Shnit" (When We Met Again), and "HaLayla." He is survived by three children.

Halevi first gained recognition with his debut album "HaLayla," released in 1984 and musically produced by Matti Caspi. The album received extensive radio play, and several of its songs continued to resonate in Israeli music for decades. Born in 1954 in Rehovot, Halevi began playing guitar at 15, influenced by artists like The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and James Taylor. He later studied Spanish and flamenco guitar and performed in clubs with covers and original compositions.

A turning point in his career came in the early 1980s when he participated in a young talent competition in Tel Aviv. Musician Matti Caspi was impressed and decided to produce Halevi's first album. This collaboration resulted in "HaLayla," an album blending soft rock and folk. Halevi wrote and composed all the songs, while Caspi handled production, arrangements, and played many instruments.

One of Halevi's most iconic songs, "Kach Bara Otach HaTeva," was later covered by artists such as Ivri Lider and Dudu Tassa. In a 2008 interview, Halevi explained the song was born from expectations placed upon him early in his career, particularly from those who questioned why a singer of Yemenite descent was creating Western-influenced music. The song, about the freedom to be oneself, has acquired deeper meanings for many listeners over the years.

Despite the success of his debut, Halevi did not pursue the typical path of a music star. He performed infrequently, started a family, and engaged in other pursuits, including managing a plant nursery and an art gallery. In the early 1990s, he returned to performing with a band called "Lechem" and released his second album, "Emtza" (Middle State), in 1994. Though it didn't match the success of his first, Halevi continued to create. He released the album "HaShe'ar Niftach" (The Gate Opens) in 2008 and later performed a show called "Yom Rodef Blues" (Day Chases Blues). In 2010, he sang on Eli Botner's album, and two years later, a project titled "Michtavim B'bakbuk" (Letters in a Bottle) featured various Israeli artists performing songs he had written.

Upon news of his passing, Halevi's sister-in-law shared a personal farewell, describing him as a "special, sensitive person" and an "inseparable part of our family" who left behind a "musical legacy and a great soul." She concluded, "Erez knew how to touch the deepest strings of the heart through his creations. Rest in peace, dear Erez."