Arik Einstein (Hebrew: אריק איינשטיין‎, /ˈaʁik ˈaɪnʃteɪn/; 3 January 1939 – 26 November 2013) was an Israeli singer, songwriter and actor. He was a pioneer of Israeli rock music.

Einstein collaborated with many Israeli singers and songwriters, among them Shalom Hanoch, Miki Gabrielov, Itzhak Klepter, Shem Tov Levy and Yoni Rechter, and also wrote many of his own songs. Among his well-known songs are "Ani Veata" (Me and You), "Sa Le'at" (Drive Slowly), "Mekofef Habananot" ("The Banana Man") "Yoshev Al HaGader" (Sitting on the Fence), "Ima Sheli" (My Mother), and "Uf Gozal" (Fly, Little Nestling).

He was a vocalist with the Churchills, Batzal Yarok (Green Onion), Shlishiyat Gesher HaYarkon (Yarkon Bridge Trio) and HaHalonot HaGvohim (The High Windows).

Biography

Arieh (Arik) Einstein was born in Tel Aviv. </ref>http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/west-of-eden/.premium-1.560367</ref> His father, Yaakov Einstein, was an actor with the "Ohel" Theater. Einstein was Israel's junior high jump champion. His father urged him to audition for an army entertainment troupe, and he was accepted into the Nahal Brigade troupe. In 1963, Einstein married Alona Shochat in the hall of Habima Theater (where he then played on Irma La Douce). After four years of marriage, during which their daughter Shiri was born, the couple divorced. A year later, in 1968, they remarried. Their daughter Yasmin was born in 1971. This remarriage eventually ended in divorce a few years later. Alona Einstein died in 2006 from cancer.

Arik Einstein's second wife was Sima Eliyahu, whom he met shortly before filming the movie Metzitzim in 1972. They had a daughter and a son: Dina and Amir.

Einstein died on November 26, 2013 from a ruptured aortic aneurism at the age of 74. At 19:00 an ambulance was called to Einstein's house. He was revived and taken to the hospital, but did not survive surgery. He was buried in Trumpeldor Cemetery.

Music career

In 1959, after his release from the IDF, Einstein joined the Green Onion band and the Sambation theatre. In 1960, he released his first solo album. He sang in a band under the pseudonym "Ari Goren."

In the Yarkon Bridge Trio, he performed with Yehoram Gaon, Benny Amdursky and later Israel Gurion. In 1964, he played in the comedy film Sallah Shabbati, along with Chaim Topol, who was also from the Green Onion band.

In 1966, Einstein joined The High Windows with Shmulik Kraus and Josie Katz. Their first album went on sale in April 1967, six weeks before the Six-Day War, signaling a new direction in Israeli rock and pop. Einstein left the group after one year in the wake of a disagreement with Kraus.

Two years later, Einstein released the album Mazal Gdi (Capricorn), which was not very successful. He therefore looked for a new sound and went on to produce the album Puzi with the Churchills, considered the first Israeli rock album.

Einstein stopped performing live in the early 1980s. He said: "I performed from the age of 18 until I was 42...I wasn't exactly a stage animal. I was held back by the embarrassment, the bashfulness, and it became more evident as the years went by... By the way, when I say bashfulness, I'm not proud of it... I wish I could grab a microphone and sing like a Sinatra, but I don't have what it takes, and a person should adapt to his capabilities. On the other hand, in the studio, I blossom. That's my natural habitat, where I'm not bashful. The problem is that this profession has its field mines: success is accompanied by fame and a form of adoration, and I really don't get along with that. That's where I draw the line. It's pleasant to be loved, but not more."

In 2004, Einstein released Shtei Gitarot Bas Tupim (Two Guitars, Bass, Drums).

Einstein sang a duet with David D'Or on D'Or's CD, Kmo HaRuach ("Like the Wind") released on 27 March 2006.

In 2010, Einstein was the most played artist on radio stations in Israel, according to Israeli Musical artist organisation, ACUM (אקו"ם). 

In 2011, he released a new song in honor of the return of abducted IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. “You'll always be a hero,” Einstein sings. “You are allowed to cry. It’s not simple at all, to forgive fate.”

Acting career

Einstein was part of the early 1970s TV series Lool (Chicken Coop), a sketch-and-song show with an original format and cast. The show had an off-the-wall sense of humor not unlike Monty Python's Flying Circus. However, Lool also featured songs written by prominent poets performed by some of the best singers Israel has ever produced. In spite of the fact that it had only four parts, it remains a cult show to this day. Lool, as well as movies such as Shablool (Snail), showcased Einstein as both a top-of-the-line singer and comedian.

Critical acclaim

In 2005, he was voted the 22nd-greatest Israeli of all time, in a poll by the Israeli news website Ynet to determine whom the general public considered the 200 Greatest Israelis.

In 2009, Haaretz columnist Ariel Hirschfeld wrote: "Arik Einstein's well-known reclusiveness, his ordinariness, his averseness to pomposity and grandiosity, his modest way of belonging to this place – these should not hide from those living here the fact that he is a very great and profound artist, with an acute artistic conscience, perfect and totally unique."

On 26 November 2013, Einstein died at the age of 74 after suffering an aneurism. At the news of Einstein's death, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement describing his songs as the "soundtrack of Israel." President Shimon Peres stated that he was beloved for his voice that "came from the depths" and his songs would "continue playing life and hope" long after him

Discography

• 1966 – Shar bishvileh (Singing for you)
• 1968 – Yashan vegamHadash" (Old and also New)
• 1968 – Mazal Gdi (Capricorn)
• 1969 – Puzi
• 1970 – Shablul (Snail)
• 1970 – Plastelina (Plasticine)
• 1971 – Shirey Yeladim (Kids' Songs)
• 1971 – Badeshe etzel Avigdor (At Avigdor's on the Grass)
• 1972 – Yasmin (Jasmine)
• 1973 – Hashanim Harishonot (The First Years)
• 1973 – Eretz Yisrael Hayeshana veHatova (Good Old Land of Israel)
• 1974 – Sa leat (Drive slowly)
• 1975 – Shirim (Songs)
• 1976 – Eretz Yisrael Hayeshana veHatova bet (Good Old Land of Israel part 2)
• 1976 – Yeladim (Kids)
• 1976 – Haahava panim rabot la (Love Has Many Faces)
• 1977 – Eretz Yisrael Hayeshana veHatova Gimel (Good Old Land of Israel part 3)
• 1978 – Leket (Medley)
• 1978 – Yeladudes (Kiddos)
• 1980 – Eretz Yisrael Hayeshana veHatova-Meshirey Sasha Argov (Good Old Land of Israel-Sasha Argov's Songs)
• 1980 – Hamush Bemishkafaim (Armed With Glasses)
• 1981 – Leket Leyladim (Collection for Kids)
• 1982 – Yoshev Al Hagader (Sitting on the Fence)
• 1983 – Shavir (Fragile)
• 1984 – Pesek Zman (Time Out)
• 1984 – Nostalgia-Eretz Yisrael Hayeshana veHatova (Nostalgia-Good Old Land of Israel)
• 1985 – Totzeret Haaretz (Made in Israel)
• 1986 – Ohev Lihiyot Babait (Love Being Home)
• 1987 – Al Gvul Haor (On the Boundary of Light)
• 1988 – Meshirey Avraham Halfi (Avraham Halfi's Songs)
• 1989 – Hashanim Harishonot (The First Years)
• 1989 – Haiti Paam Yeled (I was a Boy Once)
• 1992 – Nostalgia-Eretz Yisrael Hayeshana veHatova (Nostalgia-Good Old Land of Israel)
• 1992 – Haarye, Hayona, veTarnegolet Kchula (The Lion, The Dove, and a Blue Chicken)
• 1995 – Yesh bi Ahava (Got Love in Me)
• 1996 – Ktzat lakahat Hazara (Take Back a Little)
• 1997 – Lean Parchu Haparparim (Where Have the Butterflies Gone)
• 1999 – Muscat
• 2002 – Yashan vegam Hadash-remastered (Old and also New)
• 2002 – Shemesh Retuva (Wet Sun)
• 2004 – Shablool-remastered (Snail)
• 2004 – Shtei Gitarot, Bass, Tupim (Two Guitars, Bass, Drums)
• 2006 – Rega'im (Moments)
• 2007 – Kol Ha Tov Shebaolam (All the Good Things in the World)

With the High Windows:

• 1966 – Hahalonot hagvohim (The High Windows)

Songbooks

• 1981 – Arik Einstein: Songbook (edited by Arik Einstein and Michael Tapuach)
• 1989 – Lool (edited by Arik Einstein and Zvi Shisel)
• 1991 – Arik Einstein: Second Songbook (edited by Arik Einstein and Michael Tapuach; music editor: Bart Berman)
• 2006 – Arik Enstein: Zo Ota Ha-ahava (edited by Ali Mohar)