Itzik Kala

Itzik Kala was born in 1953 in Jerusalem

Itzik Kala was born in Jerusalem on May 3, 1953, to a family of Kurdish origin. He lost his father as a young child. In 1963 the paytan Rachamim Amar noticed his musical talent and taught him to play mandolin, guitar, oud and bouzouki.

In 1971 he became the lead singer of the band Or Chaim, whose songs were played on the radio. He later left the band and performed with his own musicians at events and clubs. His first album, of Kurdish songs, came out in 1978.

Through the 1980s he released a series of albums, including the 1985 song "Mami Mami" and the 1988 album "Adam Ve'olamo", mostly of original songs. He worked with writers such as Uzi Hitman, Ehud Manor, Avihu Medina and Shlomo Kishor. He sings in Aramaic, Kurdish and Hebrew.

His 1991 album "Kol Od Na'amin" had limited success. About a year later the single "Bi Nishbati" returned him to wide popularity. He is married to Ziona Kala, who was badly injured by stone throwers in late 2012.