Idan Raichel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Idan Raichel עידן רייכל‎
Raichel performing in 2021
Background information
Born	(1977-09-12) 12 September 1977 (age 47)
Origin	Kfar Saba, Israel
Genres	Pop folk world music
Occupation(s)	Musician producer composer
Instruments	Vocals piano accordion
Labels	Helicon Records

Idan Raichel (born September 12, 1977) is an Israeli singer, songwriter, and musician. He is famous for his group, the "Idan Raichel Project." The group is known for mixing electronic music, traditional Hebrew texts, and music from all over the world. Before starting the project, Raichel was a keyboard player for other artists like Ivri Lider.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Idan Raichel was born in Kfar Saba, Israel. He started playing the accordion when he was nine years old. He loved gypsy music and tango, and he also studied jazz piano in high school.

When he was 18, Raichel joined the Israel Defense Forces army band. He performed pop songs for soldiers at military bases. As the band's musical director, he learned how to arrange music and produce live shows.

After his army service, Raichel worked as a counselor at a boarding school for immigrants. There, he met young Ethiopian Jews who introduced him to the folk and pop music of Ethiopia. This new music greatly influenced him.

The Idan Raichel Project

Idan Raichel performing at the Central Park SummerStage, June 2007

The Idan Raichel Project in concert in Tel Aviv, January 2011

The Idan Raichel Project in concert in Warsaw, September 2011

After working as a backup musician for famous Israeli singers, Raichel decided to create his own music. He started recording in his hometown and invited many different musicians to join him. He wanted to create a new sound by mixing different styles.

First Albums and Global Success

The Idan Raichel Project's first album was released in Israel in 2002. It was a huge hit. The album featured collaborations with artists from many backgrounds, including Ethiopian Jews, Arabs, and Yemenite singers. The song "Bo'ee" ("Come with Me") became very popular and made the group famous.

The project's goal was to bring together diverse voices. It helped launch the careers of singers like Cabra Casay, an Ethiopian Jew, and Ravid Kahalani of the band Yemen Blues. In 2005, the group released its second album, Mi'Ma'amakim (Out of the Depths).

The group's music became popular worldwide. Their first album was released internationally in 2006 and was nominated for a BBC Radio 3 world music award.

International Collaborations

The Idan Raichel Project released its second international album, Within My Walls, in 2008. Raichel recorded many of the songs while on tour. He met and worked with musicians from all over the world, including Colombian singer Marta Gómez and Cape Verdean singer Mayra Andrade.

Raichel also worked with the American Grammy-winning singer India.Arie. They performed together for President Barack Obama at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. They also performed at the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize event.

Quarter to Six and Growing Fame

In 2013, the project released the album Reva LaShesh (Quarter to Six). It featured guest artists from Portugal, Germany, and other countries. The album was very successful in Israel, selling over 116,000 copies.

That same year, the Project performed for President Barack Obama during his visit to Israel. Pop star Alicia Keys also invited Raichel to perform a duet with her in Tel Aviv. For his work, Raichel was named "Man of the Year" by an Israeli magazine and "Musician of the Year" by a popular radio station.

In 2014, Alicia Keys invited Raichel to perform with her again at the Global Citizen Festival in New York's Central Park.

Special Projects and Solo Work

Raichel at Galei Tzahal radio Station, 2016
Left to right: Yaron Deckel, Idan Raichel, Miri Regev, Yoaz Hendel, Asael Lubotzky

The Touré-Raichel Collective

In 2008, Raichel met Vieux Farka Touré, a musician from Mali. They decided to work together and formed The Touré-Raichel Collective. Their first album, The Tel Aviv Session, was a number one hit on the iTunes World Music charts. They released a second album, The Paris Session, in 2014 and toured North America together.

Solo Career and Recent Music

In 2016, Raichel released his first solo album, At the Edge of the Beginning. He then started a tour of solo piano concerts, which was very successful. In 2017, he released a live album from these shows called Raichel – Piano – Songs.

In 2019, Raichel released his second solo album, And If You Will Come to Me. The title song became a huge hit in Israel. The album featured guest artists from around the world, including Japan, Cuba, and India.

On May 18, 2019, the Idan Raichel Project performed at the Grand Final of the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest. In 2020, Raichel co-wrote the song "Feker Libi", which was chosen to represent Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020. The event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Musical Style

Raichel's music is a mix of many influences. It has sounds from the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa. Most of his songs are in Hebrew, but some are in Arabic or include parts in Amharic (a language from Ethiopia). His lyrics are often about love and are sometimes based on traditional Jewish texts like the Song of Songs.

Awards and Recognition

Idan Raichel has won many awards for his music.

• 2013: Composer of the Year from ACUM (Society of Authors, Composers and Music Publishers in Israel).
• 2014: MTV Role Model Award, presented by Alicia Keys.
• 2016: "Unsung Hero Award" from the Drum Major Institute, presented by Martin Luther King III.
• 2016: Honorary fellowship from the Israel Museum for connecting cultures through music.
• 2020: Chosen to light a torch at Israel's Independence Day ceremony.
• 2021: Awarded an honorary doctorate from Bar-Ilan University.

Discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums

Live albums

See also

In Spanish: Idan Raichel para niños

• Music in Israel