Shmulik Kraus

The High Windows; Kraus stands in the middle.

Shmulik Kraus (Hebrew: שמוליק קראוס, born 1 July 1935, died 17 February 2013) was an Israeli actor and Pop-Rock singer and composer. Kraus published solo albums, as well as participating in Rock groups (e.g. The High Windows) and actor groups (e.g. Loul group). He participted in some movies (e.g. Rocking Horse, Hole in the Moon).

He composed many songs for other performers (e.g. Shalom Hanoch) and many of his songs got cover versions by a verity of musicians (e.g. Etti Ankri). Kraus was also known for composing Rock music to children poet lyrics (e.g. to the lyrics of Miriam Yalan-Shteklis).

Biography

He was born in Jerusalem, the eldest of four brothers. His mother Rosa was a housewife, and his father Musa, was a driver. In his youth he made a living performing and teaching tap dance in Haifa. After his military service in the Navy he worked as a merchant seaman. He first discovered his love for music, at sailors pub "anchor" in Haifa, when a friend asked him to hold his guitar for a moment.

Kraus began to sing at the end of the 50s of the 20th century along with Abraham Reichstadt (known as Avi Ofarim, before inclusion of Esther Ofarim). He composed and performed the "prairie house", a song written in memory of his father, who was active in the establishment of Kibbutz Beit Ha'Arava.

In the early 60s he met Josie Katz, who came to Israel from the United States to volunteer in a kibbutz, became her partner and produced her as a club singer in Eilat and Tel Aviv. Later they were married. Kraus founded in 1966, along with Katz and Arik Einstein "The High Windows" band. Kraus composed all the group's songs, pop songs and rock that were innovative for their time.

In the early 70s, Kraus participated in recording albums of Arik Einstein. He composed songs to Einstein ("When you cry, you're not pretty"), Arik Lavie ("It Happens"), to Katz band ("Ballad for a Kibbutz deserter") and the "Good, the Bad and the Girl" group ("Days of Cinema").

Kraus was imprisoned in 1971 due to threat of using a weapon, and during his imprisonment he wrote songs came out six years later his album "The State of Israel vs. Kreuz Samuel".

In 1975, Kraus and Katz made a children's song show "alone, together, and all alone" and also recorded an album with the same name. The couple did not get along, Katz began to develop an independent career, and the early '80s she left Israel with their children and the couple divorced.

Kraus was one of the senior members of the Israeli musicians, and greatly contributed to the revolution of rock and pop in the 60s and the 70s. At the same time he suffered various crises and was arrested several times, and was hospitalized several times in the mental hospital "Abarbanel" due to violence and offenses.

Kraus was awarded by the education minister. This decision was controversial because of his personal history.