Singer Esther Shamir Dies at 71

In the world of culture: singer and songwriter Esther Shamir, regarded as one of the pioneers of female rock in Israel, died today, Thursday, at the age of 71 after a battle with cancer. Her partner, Ofer Weintraub, announced her death, saying, "Our beloved Estherchuk left us in calm and peace. Her daughter Uri played her 'I Did the Best I Could,' she blinked and took her last breath." Esther Shamir began her music career in the 1970s with the Nahal Ensemble, where she served as the band's commander. During the Yom Kippur War, the ensemble performed together with the band Kaveret, and there she met Ephraim Shamir, who became her artistic partner. The two married in 1975, but divorced after three years. Despite this, they continued to work together on musical projects even after the divorce. In October 1975, Shamir released her first song, "I Passed By Only to See," and her first solo album, "In the Lowest Place in Tel Aviv," was released in 1982. Other notable songs of hers include "Stronger Than the Wind," "Mid-September," "To the End of the Track," "Broken Picture" and "Forbidden Covenant." In 2023, Shamir won the ACUM Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to Israeli music and culture. The award citation said that "Esther is undoubtedly one of the most prominent and groundbreaking creators in Israeli music in general and in Israeli rock in particular, and many of her works have become classics."