Eyal Golan

Eyal Golan אייל גולן
Eyal Golan in 2011
Background information
Birth name	Eyal Biton
Born	(1971-04-12)12 April 1971
Origin	Rehovot, Israel
Genres	Mizrahi
Occupation	Musician
Instrument	Vocals
Years active	1989–present
Website	www.eyal-golan.co.il

Eyal Golan (Hebrew: אייל גולן; born Eyal Biton on 12 April 1971) is an Israeli singer who sings in the Mizrahi style and considered one of the most successful singers of this genre in Israel. Eyal Golan reported the highest income of all singers in Israel in 2011.

Early life

Eyal Biton was born in Rehovot, Israel to a family of Yemenite-Jewish and Moroccan-Jewish descent.

Music career

Golan started performing in nightclubs at the age of 20. His first album, Lehisha ba'Laila (in Hebrew לחישה בלילה meaning Whisper in the Night) was released in 1995. In 1996, he put out another album, called BeHofa'a Haya (in Hebrew בהופעה חיה, "live show") being a live concert which included songs from famous Israeli singers such as Shlomo Artzi.

In 1996, Zeav Nechama and Tamir Kliski, members of the "Ethnix", were searching for a Mizrahi singer for producing a music album. The two saw Golan in a concert in the "Chava Club" in Petah Tikva, and decided to feature Golan's vocals the album. Their collaboration lasted until 2000 resulting in three hugely successful albums: Bila'adayikh (in Hebrew בלעדייך meaning Without You) in 1997, Chayal shel Ahavah (in Hebrew חייל של אהבה meaning Soldier of Love) in 1998 and Histakli Eilay (in Hebrew הסתכלי אלי meaning Look at me) in 1999 before they parted in 2000.

Meanwhile Eyal Golan continued solo with ever-increasing success. He was managed for a long time by record producer Ishai Ben Zur, who was responsible for the success of many of Eyal's albums. However, because of financial disputes, they stopped working together.

In 2008, Golan put out the album Hoze Otah Muli (in Hebrew הוזה אותך מולי meaning Imagining you facing me) and in two months sold over 145,000 albums. Based on the immense success of the album he toured in Israel including important shows at the Caesarea Amphitheater in 2008 and 2009. He also toured internationally, remaining very popular in all countries of the Jewish Diaspora and with world music enthusiasts. Except for his debut album, all of Golan's studio albums have become platinum albums.

On 9 July 2018, singing competition, Aviv or Eyal, aired on Keshet 12. Golan, along with Aviv Geffen choose or reject competitors. If the competitor is chosen by both Geffen and Golan, the competitor chooses which famous singer will be his/her mentor.

Sports career

Born in the neighborhood of Kfar Marmorek in Rehovot, at 10, he enrolled in the youth program of the neighborhood football (soccer) club Hapoel Marmorek where he played in the youth program from 1981 to 1988.

In 1988, he moved to the senior side of the club playing until 2005. In his last year of athletic sports life, he played for Maccabi Sha'arayim for one season (2005–06).

In June 2014 he became the owner of Hapoel Marmorek.

Television: Eyal Golan Is Calling You

Eyal Golan Is Calling You (אייל גולן קורא לך)
Genre	Talent show
Created by	Eyal Golan
Judges	Eyal Golan Yosi Gispan Adi Leon Yaron Elan
Country of origin	Israel
Original language	Hebrew
No. of seasons	2
Original release
Network	Music 24, Israel
Release	20 February 2011

On 20 February 2011, Eyal Golan introduced a new reality show on Israeli Music 24 called Eyal Golan Is Calling You (in Hebrew אייל גולן קורא לך) where he is searching for the next Mizrahi music singer together with Yosi Gispan, Adi Leon and Yaron Elan.

On 12 April 2011, and in the first season finale in Haoman 17 club, Moran Mazor won the contest.

The show was renewed for a second season, and the winner in the finale broadcast on 25 March 2012, was the Arab-Israeli singer Nasreen Qadri.

Awards

In 1997, he was awarded the "Performer of the Year" award by Israeli Channel 2.

Personal life

Eyal Golan was born on 12 April 1971, to Daniel (Dani) Biton and Ronit Jamil and grew up in the neighborhood of Kfar Marmorek in Rehovot. He lived in Rehovot until 2010 before moving to Tel Aviv. When he was 4 his parents divorced and Eyal lived with his mother's family.

He is good friends with Dutch-Greek singer Nikos Vertis, doing duets in Greek and Hebrew.

On 12 September 2002, Golan married the Miss Israel of 2001 Ilanit Levi. The couple's eldest son Liam was born in 2003, and their youngest daughter Alin was born in 2006. In October 2008 the couple divorced.

In 2012, Golan began dating Israeli model Ruslana Rodina, with who he didn't have a marriage. The couple gave birth to a son, Yan, in 2014. Eyal and Ruslana broke up in April 2017.

In December 2018, Golan started dating Israeli model and Big Brother Israel participant Daniel Greenberg. In March 2020 the couple announced that they are expecting a baby, forth child for Eyal and first for Daniel . Their wedding was set for 12 March 2020, but one day before, because of the announced limit for gatherings of over 100 people by the Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the wedding was cancelled and scheduled an event for only 100 people.

Statutory rape allegations

In November 2013, Golan was arrested as part of a group of men suspected of having sex with underage girls. Golan denied the charges, but admitted that his father, Danny Biton, had brought girls to his home to have sex with him. Although the charges against Golan were later dropped for lack of evidence, the allegations caused Golan's songs to receive less radio airplay and for performances to be cancelled.

In December 2018, Golan was recognized by the Knesset, but many MKs and women's groups expressed anger that he would be honored. Protesters interrupted the event, but were removed by security before Golan performed a duet with MK Nava Boker, the chairwoman of the Knesset Caucus for Hebrew Music.

Tax Evasion

In 2014 Golan plead guilty of evading 2.5 million NIS worth of taxes. He was sentenced to 4 months of community service, a fine of 75,000 NIS.

Discography

Studio albums

• 1995 – Lechisha Ba'Layla – לחישה בלילה (A Whisper in the Night)
• 1997 – Biladaich – בלעדייך (Without You)
• 1998 – Chayal Shel Ahavah – חייל של אהבה (Soldier of Love)
• 1999 – Histakli Elay – הסתכלי אלי (Look at Me)
• 2001 – Tzlil Meytar – צליל מיתר (String sound)
• 2002 – v'Ani Kore Lach – ואני קורא לך (And I Call You)
• 2003 – Chalomot – חלומות – (Dreams)
• 2005 – Metziut Acheret – מציאות אחרת (A Different Reality)
• 2007 – Bishvilech Notzarti – בשבילך נוצרתי (I Was Made For You)
• 2008 – Hoze Otach Muli – הוזה אותך מולי (Imagining You Facing Me)
• 2009 – Ze Ani – זה אני (That's Me)
• 2010 – Derech LaChayim – דרך לחיים (A Way of Life)
• 2011 – Chelek Michayay – חלק מחיי (Part of My Life)
• 2012 – Nagaat Li Balev – נגעת לי בלב (You touched my heart)
• 2013 – Halev Al Hashulchan – הלב על השולחן (The heart is on the table)
• 2014 – Yamim Yagidu – ימים יגידו (Time will tell)
• 2015 – Besof Kol Yom – בסוף כל יום (At the End of Every Day)
• 2016 – Rachok Mikan – רחוק מכאן (Far away from here)
• 2017 – Lo Pashut Lihiot Pashut – לא פשוט להיות פשוט (It is not simple to be simple)
• 2017 – Osef Meshulash – אוסף משולש (Triple Collection)
• 2018 – Nakhon Letamid – נכון לתמיד (Right forever)
• 2019 – Hafokh Mehayekum – הפוך מהיקום (Upside down from the universe)
• 2020 - Mikan v'Ad Hanetsach - מכאן ועד הנצח (From here to eternity)

Live albums

• 1996 – BeHofa'a Haya – בהופעה חיה (Live in Concert)
• 2000 – haMofa'a haMeshoutaf: Ethnix v'Eyal Golan – המופע המשותף עם אתניקס (The Duet Concert of Ethnix and Eyal Golan)
• 2008 – Eyal Golan Baheichal Hatarbut – אייל גולן בהיכל התרבות (Eyal Golan Live at Heichal Hatarbut (also on DVD)
• 2009 – Eyal Golan Caesarea (2009)
• 2010 – Eyal Golan at Nokia Arena (2011)
• 2011 – Eyal Golan part of my life Live the Sultan's Pool (2012)
• 2012 – Eyal Golan Caesarea (You touched my heart)
• 2013 – Eyal Golan Caesarea (The heart is on the table)
• 2016 – Eyal Golan With Ma Kasur Live In Caesarea (2016)

See also

• Mizrahi Music

External links

• Official website