New York – World renowned Moroccan singer Jo Amar passed away in New York on Friday at age 79. Amar was an Israeli icon for the first decades of the state’s existence, a favorite of the newly arrived Sephardic immigrants in the country.
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Jo (Yosef) Amar was born in Morocco in 1930, and came to Israel in 1956. Considered the first singer to introduce Moroccan Jewish liturgical music in Israel, his hits include Yismah Moshe, Shalom LeVen Dodi, Barcelona, Song of the Drunkard, Ani Havatzelet HaSharon, and many more.
Amar, who immigrated to Israel in 1956, pioneered the fusion sound of Israeli eastern “mizrachi” music, merging classical Jewish Sephardic and Arabic tunes with Western musical sensibilities, along with lyrics that discussed the personal and social angst and joys of Middle Eastern immigrants who sought to find a place in Israeli society. He was also a highly-regarded cantor
In 1970, Amar settled in New York, performing in the USA and in Europe as a cantor, as well as a teacher in cantorial workshops. He also published an anthology of Moroccan Jewish liturgical music.
Amar’s more than 20 albums include two that he recorded with the Israeli Andalusian Orchestra in 2000. Jo Amar has residences in both Israel and Los Angeles, and has four children and ten grandchildren.
Amar’s body will arrive in Israel on Saturday night. His funeral will take place Sunday afternoon at Yad Rambam, the moshav that was his residence in Israel in recent years.
Amar singing at a wedding in 1990
Amar and Shlomoh Carlebach singing at a wedding in 1990
BD”E He was something else.. He is joining the great choier in Gan Eden with Shlomo Carlebach and all the other great.. Menagenim of Jewish History.
BD’E One of the Greatest!
How did he pass away?
Jo was the greatest, all music lovers will miss him greatly. He was blessed with a voice unique and other worldly. May he rest in peace
Growing up in London, I still remember the many concerts that he performed there. His concerts were always a sold out preformance as he was very popular in London especially with the large Morrocan/Sefardi community that live there. I remember one concert that a few of us including myself as young teenagers went onstage during a preformance and we started to crowd around the drummer David Dadia as we all knew him from shul and when Jo Amar saw all of us making a little baal ha-gan on stage while he was singing, he screamed on microphone – jokingly – ‘SHEKET'(quiet) and we all ran off stage and then he cracked some jokes mid-song as is his style, and so we knew he was joking…. What a great performer and what a special person he was. Yeehi Zichroi Boruch.
By coincidence once heard him for kabbolas shabbos at a random shul where he was visiting relatives. The sephardim had such nachas from him. You could see the joy on their faces. May his family know only simchas from here on.
Baruch Dayan HaEmes. An unbelievable Ba’al Menagen.
It is a sad day for all jewry but in particular for Morrocan Jewry. He was something special. He is singing with the melachim by the Kise Hakavod.
he was one of the best singers and read every letter clearly … no mumbeling
Baruch Dayan Emes. I grew up listening to Jo Amar from the time I was about 9 yrs old, he was my favorite Singer. His beautiful voice was Mekadesh shem Shamayim and the depth of it was unmatched by anyone. V’yirushalyam eerechaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah………..
I grew up listening to Jo Amar, Z’L. My Father A’H had his records and they actually resembled each other wearing the old tortoise shell eye glasses. I was fortunate to see Jo Amar in concert in Miami Beach back around 1996. I bought a tape of his greatest hits and listened to it over 1,000 times. His music was a brucha and brought me much simcha. May Jo Amar’s memory be a blessing for Am Yisrael and may HKBH bless him and forgive all his averos and place him in Gan Eden with all the great chazanim of Am Yisrael. BDE.
Aaa, mezamer B’lincoln center. Reb Yosef was mechazek me tremendously with his music.
May we merit to hear him sing in the beis hamikdosh b’mheioroh b’yomeinu
Boruch Dayan Ha’emes. One of the outstanding menagnim of the 20th century. Yehi zichro boruch.
One album of his is a collection of hasidik songs. Everyone can enjoy it.
He wasn’t too religious – I use to fight with my parents and hide his albums- but his great voice, please!
BDE, his singing was great.
His talent was immeasurable.
When Sheya Mendlowitz borught him on to the HASC stage for the first time it blew everyones mind out from excitement. Jo Amar was absoltely an amazing person and and an amazing singer.
And his music was PURE JEWISH MUSIC.
I also remember Jo Amar singing with MBD during the dog days of the hot August summers at Edward Murrow high schools football field.
Tune into Nachum Segal radio program on Monday morning to hear exclusive talk about Jo Amar.
just the best.what a voice!!!!!crystal clear…………
ill never forget you i loved you singing over all when you sang on HASC it was wonderfull wish you a lechtigen gan eden
jo amar a”h THE EPITOME OF A MENTCH A POLISHED GENTELEMAN. He exemplified the true meaning of the word EHRLICH. JO you will be sorely missed.May he be a malitz yosher & May his family know no more tzaar.Hamakom yenachem eschem bsoch shaar avaelei tzion beyerushalaim.
He arrive saturday night????
SHABOS
I am the sax player in those 2 videos ( see my Comments on YouTube)! It was a VERY MEMORABLE wedding! Jo Amar + Shlomo Carlebach together! Condolences…
Joe ob’m has a son David who is a Doctor in Memeorial Sloan Kettering. He is a real mentsch and really helps frumer yidden there. We had persanol expricence with him.
I think he is related to Benny Amat of kol zimra fame. They both have the same style glasses and voice.
I remember a wedding in LA which he sang at under the chuppah together in a semi-duet with an ashkenazi chazzan
.He was a true mentch as he was willing to share the spotliight with a lesser known performer.When he got to Barcelona, the entire place was rocking. Yehi zichro baruch.
Oy jo you were the best. Always with a smile. I will never forget the show you gave in my colony when I was little in bayit vagin
I was sitting together with my family when I announced that he passed away, we all together started to sing “Barcelona, Barcelona” he was a great, warm, singer! I loved him when I was young (then the style got changed…) Whatever, may he rest & I’m sure he’s Mehana up there.
Although from a completely ashkenazi family, my mother only played jo amar albums
from when I was a tiny tot. We bought every one of his albums and even had one
autographed. I had been wondering about him these last years and now feel utter
sadness at his petirah. May his albums continue to provide joy to future generations.
His voice and tremendous talent and persona were truly once in a lifetime.
Yehi zichro baruch!
Before MBD Av Fried and Dedi we had Carlebach and Jo Amar
A true giant of Jewish music yeha zichro baruch
Baruch Dayan Ha’Emet. A great Hazzan and singer, I listened to his first recording of
Yedidi Hashachachta back in 1955 in Morocco,
Prior to that he recorded in Moroccan Arabic. I also performed with him in 1989 in East Brunswick Jewish Center during a special Sepharadic Shabbat Service.
He was ill during the past 8 years , had two strokes , and suffered from Parkinson’s disease.
He will be sorely missed.
Rest in Peace dear Friend.