Shimi Tavori

Shimi Tavori was born in 1953 in Ness Ziona

Tavori was born Shimshon Tawili in Ness Ziona, the youngest of 7 children in a family of Yemenite Jewish origin. As a teenager he sang at events and later in nightclubs in Ramla. A friend, Amos Romano, gave him the stage name Shimi Tavori.

He tried out for the Southern Command entertainment troupe but did not pass, and served in the Artillery Corps. After his service he recorded the single Helena, which later became a hit.

Songwriter David Halfon introduced him to Uzi Hitman, and their work produced his debut album in 1976. He won the Mizrahi Song Festival in 1977 and 1980 and placed second in 1978. He later worked with Avihu Medina and competed in the Eurovision selection.

In 2000 he released a triple album in French, Oriental Tempo. In 2009 he finished second on VIP Big Brother, and in 2021 he took part in The X Factor Israel. He has been married several times, and several of his children work in music, including Ben El Tavori.