Arieh "Arik" Einstein (Hebrew: אריק איינשטיין, pronounced [ˈaʁik ˈaɪnʃteɪn]; 3 January 1939 – 26 November 2013) was an Israeli singer, songwriter and actor.[1] He was a pioneer of Israeli rock music.[2]
Einstein collaborated with many Israeli singers and songwriters, among them Shalom Hanoch, Miki Gabrielov,[3] 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), "Yoshev Al HaGader" (Sitting on the Fence), "Ima Sheli" (My Mother), and "Uf Gozal" (Fly, Little Nestling). He was described many times as "an Israeli symbol" and "the greatest singer of Israel".
He was a vocalist with the Churchills, Batzal Yarok (Green Onion), Shlishiyat Gesher HaYarkon (Yarkon Bridge Trio) and HaHalonot HaGvohim (The High Windows).
Arieh (Arik) Einstein was born in Tel Aviv.[4] His father, Yaakov Einstein, was an actor with the "Ohel" Theater. Einstein was Israel's junior high jump and shot put champion.[5] 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).[6] 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.[7] This remarriage eventually ended in divorce in 1972. 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.
Despite a successful career of acting and singing, Einstein was the shy type and a homebody. In one of his songs he sang that his greatest pleasure was staying home with a cup of lemon tea and his books, and in this he was sincere.[8] In a candid interview that was shown on TV, he said that performing in front of big crowds was difficult for him (without the help of a few glugs of cognac beforehand). For this reason he ceased to perform public concerts from the year of 1981 and on, despite many attractive offers.[9] In 1982 he was hurt in a major car accident. His wife was also hurt, and another friend lost her life. Following the accident Einstein's eyesight, which was already myopic, got worse and he spent less and less time in public.
Einstein died on 26 November 2013 from a ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm 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.[10] He was buried in Trumpeldor Cemetery.
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)
