Winning the 1979 Eurovision Song Contest in Jerusalem provided the international breakthrough for Gali Atari, who performed the anthem Hallelujah alongside the group Milk and Honey. Born in 1953 in Rehovot, Israel, to a family of Yemeni descent, Atari emerged as a fixture in the Israeli music industry, balancing a career as both a vocalist and a film actor.
Early Career and Eurovision Success
Atari began her musical career at 15 after an audition for musician David Kribushe. Her initial recording work in 1970 included songs in both English and Hebrew, such as the hit Im yesh lecha shemesh. Following several years of contest participation, including the Hassidic Song Festival and the Festival Hazemer Ha'ivri, she achieved national and global prominence when Milk and Honey won the Eurovision Song Contest on March 31, 1979.
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Following a legal dispute with manager Shlomo Tasch regarding unpaid performances, Atari departed Milk and Honey in 1980. The 14-year litigation eventually resulted in a payout of 800,000 Shekels for the artist. During the 1980s, she established herself as a solo performer with producer Yeroslav Yahakivovitch. Her 1986 album Emtza September sold over 30,000 copies, featuring the song Ein Li Eretz Echeret, which became a widely recognized patriotic anthem in Israel.
Diversification and Later Projects
Atari continued releasing records throughout the 1990s and 2000s, including 1998's Glida and 2003's Chabeck Oti Léat. Her 2008 release, Bein Haésh Levein Hamayim, served as a tribute to her late sister, Shosh Atari. In 2019, she declined an invitation to reunite with her former Milk and Honey bandmates, choosing instead to perform Hallelujah as a solo act during the Eurovision festivities.
Fast facts
- Born: 29 December 1953, Rehovot
- Primary Occupations: Singer, Film Actor
- Eurovision Win: 1979, Jerusalem
- Citizenship: Israel
- Languages: Hebrew, English
- Notable Song: Ein Li Eretz Echeret
Questions readers ask
Did Gali Atari remain with Milk and Honey long after their Eurovision win?
No, she left the group in 1980 following a legal dispute with her manager.
What is the status of Atari's work with musician Amir Benayun?
While she began releasing singles from a collaborative project in 2011, the full album remains unreleased as of her 2014 comments.
