Avi Belleli

Avi Belleli was born in 1963 in Givatayim

Avi Belleli was born in Givatayim in 1963. His father, Moshe, came from a family of Italian Jews who had moved to Egypt and worked at the Amcor company in Israel. His mother, Luna Akunis, was born in Thessaloniki and spoke Ladino as her first language.

As a child he studied classical guitar briefly and formed his first band with school friends. In 1978 his band Hurricane began backing the reggae singer Tony Ray. He left high school and later played with Zvika Pick and, from 1981, with Ariel Zilber, who taught him to read music.

During his army service he also played in the band Modus Vivendi in Tel Aviv clubs. After his release he lived for several months in London, Vienna and West Berlin. He returned in 1986 and recorded a first EP with Uri Dushi under the name Akan.

In 1988 he became the singer and bass player of Nikmat Hatraktor, which made 7 albums. He composed music for the Batsheva Dance Company and Haifa Theatre and scores for Broken Wings, Betipul and Shtisel. He received the Ophir Award for Best Original Music.

He married the Batsheva dancer Melanie in 1995, and they were married until 2009. They have a daughter, born in 1996, and a son, born in 2001.