Teev:Danny, Gidi and Friends

GIDI GOV

Gidi Gov is considered one of the foremost artists in Israel, with many albums, motion pictures, theater performances, and TV shows credited to his name. Many of his talents and works are a major part of contemporary Israeli culture.

Born in Tel Aviv on August 4, 1950, Gidi moved with his family to Eilat at the age of seven, following his father's death. Gidi started his performing career in 1970, when he joined the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and was recruited to the "Nachal Entertainment Troupe (Lahakat Hanachal)". There, he met Alon Olearchik, Meir Fenigstein, Danny Sanderson and Efraim Shamir, and the Nachal 'veterans' formed together with Yoni Rechter the legendary group "Kaveret/Poogy" in 1973 with Gidi as the lead singer. In 1974, Kaveret represented Israel in the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, and won great acclaims throughout Israel. Since the band split up, it has reunited five times: in 1978, 1984, 1990, 1998 and 1999 (US Reunion) to lead hugely successful tours drawing hundreds of thousands of enraptured fans.

After "Kaveret" first split up in 1976, Gov joined Yehudit Ravitz and Shmulik Bilu to form the band "Parnasa Tova". In 1978 he released his first solo album, aptly titled "First Album". Gov then joined Yoni Rechter, Yehudit Ravitz, Jonathan Geffen and David Broza for the making of the most acclaimed children's song album "The 16th Lamb", which produced hit songs that have become forever ingrained as part of the foundation of children's songs in modern Israel. In 1979 he joined the band "Gazoz" with Danny Sanderson and Mazi Cohen, releasing two albums, and in 1980 he and Danny formed another band, "Doda", and released one album. Gidi released the solo albums "40:06" in 1983, "Tnu Ligdol Besheket (Let Me Grow Quietly)" in 1986, and "Manners" in 1987. In 1991, Gidi released his most successful album, "Not a Day Left", and following the great success of his TV variety show "Laila Gov", released two double-CD compilations in the mid-1990's. Throughout the last two decades, Gidi Gov has been voted "Singer of the Year" several times.

Gov participated and starred in leading roles in the motion pictures "The Band" (1976), "Stretchers Voyage" (Masa Alunkot) (1976), "Paratroopers" (1977), "Dizengoff 99" (1978), and "Where Eagles Fly" (1990), all of which were box office successes and key milestones in Israeli filmmaking.

Gidi's theatre career features works such as the musical "Hatash" and Hanoch Levin's cabaret "The Gigolo from Congo". Also in Gov's background are many children's festival performances in which he had set new norms in children's rock with songs that became a part of the Israeli repertory.

In 1978 Gov joined the unforgettable TV comic show "Zehu Ze" (That's It) where he remained for 15 years, creating some of Israel's best satire. In 1991 Gidi went on to star in the sitcom "Yes, What?" which was created by his wife. In November of 1993 he turned to host his own talk/variety show, "Laila Gov" on Channel 2 (the commercial channel), featuring Gov as an interviewer, a witty comedian and above all a brilliant performer. The prime time show became such a huge success that in 1997 an official Website was launched for the show on the Internet, and two double-CD compilations were released of the many live duets he performed with other famous artists on the air. "Laila Gov" ran for five successful seasons when Gidi announced his desire to stop the show at the height of its popularity. Gidi hosted the 1997 Israeli Oscar Awards Ceremony.