Shoshana Damari
Encyclopedia
Shoshana Damari (born 1923 – died February 14, 2006) was a Yemenite
-Israel
i singer known as the "Queen of Hebrew Music."
, Yemen
. The family immigrated to Mandate Palestine
in 1924 in the wake of growing persecution against the Jews, and settled in Rishon LeZion.
At a young age, Damari played drums and sang accompaniment for her mother, who performed at family celebrations and gatherings of the Yemenite community in Palestine. At 14, her first songs were broadcast on the radio. She studied singing and acting at the Shulamit Studio in Tel Aviv
, where she met Shlomo Bosmi, the studio manager who became her personal manager. They wed in 1939, when she was only 16.
Damari became known for her distinctive husky voice and Yemenite pronunciation. Her first record was released in 1948 and her best-known song Kalaniyot
(Anemones), by Moshe Vilenski
, dates from that period. She was especially popular among Israeli soldiers, for whom she frequently performed.
In the mid-1980s, Damari teamed up with Boaz Sharabi
for a duet that brought her back into the limelight. She was awarded the Israel Prize
in 1988 for Hebrew song and a Life Achievement Award by the Israeli Composers and Publishers Association (ACUM) in 1995.
In 2005, aged 82, she recorded two tracks for the Mimaamakim album by Idan Raichel's Project
and participated in some of their live performances. The two had been slated to begin another joint project.
That year, she was voted the 78th-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.
She died in Tel Aviv after a brief bout of pneumonia
. She breathed her last breath whilst Kalaniyot was sung by her family and friends who had been sitting in vigil during her final few days.
Yemenite
Yemenite may refer to:*Yemenite, a person from Yemen*Yemeni Arabic, dialect of the Arabic language*Yemenite step, an Israeli folk dance step originating from Yemen*Yemenite Jews...
-Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i singer known as the "Queen of Hebrew Music."
Biography
Shoshana Damari was born in DhamarDhamar, Yemen
Dhamar is a city in southwestern Yemen. It is located at , at an elevation of around 2400 metres.-Overview:Dhamar is situated 100 km to the south of Sana'a, north of Ibb, and west of Al-Beidha, 2700 m above sea level. Its name “Dhamar” goes back to the king of Sheba and Dou-Reddan at 15-35 AD...
, Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
. The family immigrated to Mandate Palestine
Mandate Palestine
Mandate Palestine existed while the British Mandate for Palestine, which formally began in September 1923 and terminated in May 1948, was in effect...
in 1924 in the wake of growing persecution against the Jews, and settled in Rishon LeZion.
At a young age, Damari played drums and sang accompaniment for her mother, who performed at family celebrations and gatherings of the Yemenite community in Palestine. At 14, her first songs were broadcast on the radio. She studied singing and acting at the Shulamit Studio in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
, where she met Shlomo Bosmi, the studio manager who became her personal manager. They wed in 1939, when she was only 16.
Musical career
In 1945, Damari joined Li-La-Lo, a revue theater established by impresario Moshe Wallin. The group performed light entertainment and satire as a counterweight to the serious theater of the time.Damari became known for her distinctive husky voice and Yemenite pronunciation. Her first record was released in 1948 and her best-known song Kalaniyot
Kalaniyot
Kalaniyot is an Israeli song that became popular in the days leading up to the establishment of the State of Israel and has remained an Israeli classic....
(Anemones), by Moshe Vilenski
Moshe Vilenski
Moshe Vilenski was an Israeli composer, lyricist, and pianist. He is considered a "pioneer of Israeli song", and one of Israel's leading composers, and was a winner of the Israel Prize, the state's highest honor.-Early life:...
, dates from that period. She was especially popular among Israeli soldiers, for whom she frequently performed.
In the mid-1980s, Damari teamed up with Boaz Sharabi
Boaz Sharabi
Boaz Sharabi is an Israeli singer-songwriter, composer, guitarist, crooner, pianist, actor, tenor, chazan and lyricist, well-known for such integral Israeli classics as Latet, Halevai, At Li Laila, Pamela, Lashir Itach, Kol Od, Mi Yada Shekach Yihiyeh, K'Shetavo , Im At Adain Ohevet Oti and Etzli...
for a duet that brought her back into the limelight. She was awarded the Israel Prize
Israel Prize
The Israel Prize is an award handed out by the State of Israel and is largely regarded as the state's highest honor. It is presented annually, on Israeli Independence Day, in a state ceremony in Jerusalem, in the presence of the President, the Prime Minister, the Knesset chairperson, and the...
in 1988 for Hebrew song and a Life Achievement Award by the Israeli Composers and Publishers Association (ACUM) in 1995.
In 2005, aged 82, she recorded two tracks for the Mimaamakim album by Idan Raichel's Project
Idan Raichel
Idan Raichel is an Israeli singer-songwriter and a musician, known for his Idan Raichel Project , distinctive for its fusion of electronics, traditional Hebrew texts, Middle Eastern and Ethiopian music. Prior to the Project, Raichel was a keyboardist, collaborating with artists such as Ivri Lider...
and participated in some of their live performances. The two had been slated to begin another joint project.
That year, she was voted the 78th-greatest Israeli of all time, in a poll by the Israeli news website Ynet
Ynet
Ynet is the most popular Israeli news and general content website. It is owned by the same conglomerate that operates Yediot Ahronot, the country's secondleading daily newspaper...
to determine whom the general public considered the 200 Greatest Israelis.
She died in Tel Aviv after a brief bout of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
. She breathed her last breath whilst Kalaniyot was sung by her family and friends who had been sitting in vigil during her final few days.