Dani Litani

Dani Litani was born in 1943 in Haifa

Dani Litani was born in Haifa on 30 June 1943 as Daniel Litovsky. His mother was born in the Soviet Union and his father in Poland. After his parents divorced, he moved with his mother to Jerusalem and later grew up on the kibbutzim Ein HaShofet and Sha'ar HaAmakim.

He started playing piano at age 6 and later learned accordion and guitar. At 17 he returned to Haifa, discovered American blues and soul, and formed the band HaKrishim with friends. He tried out for a military band but chose to serve in the Artillery Corps.

After the army he founded the band HaRavakim, which became professional after the Six-Day War. In 1970 he began a solo career, and Bob Dylan shaped his style. His solo albums include Yahas Ham in 1978, Tkufat HaHayitz in 1992 and a double album in 1996 of blues versions of Israeli songs.

He also acted at the Haifa Theatre and appeared in the 1993 films Life According to Agfa and Dummy in a Circle. He voiced Disney characters in Hebrew, starting with Baloo in The Jungle Book. He is married with 4 children and has had a hearing impairment since the early 2010s.