developing· Culture· Updated
Erez Halevi, Israeli Pop Innovator Behind 'Nature Made You This Way,' Dies at 71
Israeli singer-songwriter Erez Halevi passed away on Saturday at the age of 71. Born in Rehovot in 1954, Halevi began playing guitar at age 15 and started his musical career performing in pubs. He rose to prominence in the early 1980s after being discovered by producer Matti Caspi, who helped him secure a recording contract and produced his highly successful 1984 debut album, "The Night."
5 newsrooms · 2 languages · since
What happened
- 01Israeli singer-songwriter Erez Halevi, known for his unique 1980s pop and folk music, died on Saturday at the age of 71.
- 02Halevi's 1984 debut album, "The Night," was produced by Matti Caspi and featured major radio hits like "The Fishermen."
- 03His iconic song "As Nature Made You" became a prominent anthem for self-acceptance and LGBTQ+ rights.
- 04Halevi wrote "As Nature Made You" to protest societal expectations and pressure to create Mizrahi music due to his Yemenite descent.
- 05After largely withdrawing from the public eye, Halevi worked as a plant nursery owner and operated an art gallery.
- 06He released a second album titled "Intermediate State" in 1994, which did not achieve the success of his debut.
- 07Halevi's musical contributions were celebrated with a tribute album in 2012, and his songs were covered by artists like Ivri Lider.
- 08Born in Rehovot in 1954, Halevi is survived by his three children.
Halevi wrote and composed the tracks on his debut album, which blended soft rock, folk, and Eastern influences. The album produced several major radio hits, including "The Fishermen" and "As Nature Made You." The latter song became a celebrated anthem for self-acceptance and was embraced by the LGBTQ+ community. Halevi explained that he wrote the song to protest societal expectations and the pressure he faced as an artist of Yemenite descent to produce Mizrahi music.
Despite his early success, Halevi largely avoided the spotlight and performed infrequently. He married, raised three children, and worked as a plant nursery owner and art gallery operator. He released a second album, "Intermediate State," in 1994, which did not match the success of his debut. His musical legacy was later honored with a tribute album in 2012, and his famous anthem was kept alive through covers by artists such as Ivri Lider and Dudu Tassa.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated
Latest report: Hamal. Read Hamal’s originalThe coverage
5 newsrooms on this story
Who covered it
- LeftNone
- Centre5
- RightNone
- HarediNone
- ArabNone
Not in the Right press