Shmuel "Shmulik" Kraus (Hebrew: שמוליק ×§×¨× ×•×¡â€Ž; July 1,
1935 â€" February 17, 2013) was an Israeli pop-rock singer, composer,
and actor. Kraus, one of the pioneers of Israeli music, underwent
various personal crises in the course of his career. He appeared in
several films, including Rocking Horse and Hole in the Moon, and
composed songs for other performers, such as Shalom Hanoch. He was
also known for his music for children based on the lyrics of Miriam
Yalan-Shteklis.Kraus was born in the Nahalat Ahim quarter of
Jerusalem. He was one of four brothers. His mother, Rosa, was a
housewife, and his father, Musa, was a driver. Kraus began his career
in the arts by teaching tap dance in Haifa. After serving in the
Israeli Navy, he worked as a merchant seaman. Kraus married Josie
Katz, who eventually divorced him and left the country in the early
1980s to develop an independent career. In March 1971, Kraus was
arrested for illegal gun possession after threatening Israeli soldiers
sent to evict him from a building he had constructed on a plot near
Nebi Samuel, which he said he had inherited from his father. According
to the authorities, the Ottoman deed he held was not valid. On
February 17, 2013, Kraus died of swine influenza.Kraus began to sing
at the end of the 1950s along with Abraham Reichstadt (known as Avi
Ofarim, before inclusion of Esther Ofarim). He composed and performed
the "prairie house", a song written in memory of his father, who was
active in the establishment of Kibbutz Beit HaArava.In the early
1960s, he met Josie Katz, later his wife, who came to Israel from the
United States to volunteer at a kibbutz. He became her partner and
produced her as a club singer in Eilat and Tel Aviv. In 1966, he, Katz
and Arik Einstein established The High Windows band. Kraus composed
all the group's songs, pop songs and rock that were innovative for
their time.
1935 â€" February 17, 2013) was an Israeli pop-rock singer, composer,
and actor. Kraus, one of the pioneers of Israeli music, underwent
various personal crises in the course of his career. He appeared in
several films, including Rocking Horse and Hole in the Moon, and
composed songs for other performers, such as Shalom Hanoch. He was
also known for his music for children based on the lyrics of Miriam
Yalan-Shteklis.Kraus was born in the Nahalat Ahim quarter of
Jerusalem. He was one of four brothers. His mother, Rosa, was a
housewife, and his father, Musa, was a driver. Kraus began his career
in the arts by teaching tap dance in Haifa. After serving in the
Israeli Navy, he worked as a merchant seaman. Kraus married Josie
Katz, who eventually divorced him and left the country in the early
1980s to develop an independent career. In March 1971, Kraus was
arrested for illegal gun possession after threatening Israeli soldiers
sent to evict him from a building he had constructed on a plot near
Nebi Samuel, which he said he had inherited from his father. According
to the authorities, the Ottoman deed he held was not valid. On
February 17, 2013, Kraus died of swine influenza.Kraus began to sing
at the end of the 1950s along with Abraham Reichstadt (known as Avi
Ofarim, before inclusion of Esther Ofarim). He composed and performed
the "prairie house", a song written in memory of his father, who was
active in the establishment of Kibbutz Beit HaArava.In the early
1960s, he met Josie Katz, later his wife, who came to Israel from the
United States to volunteer at a kibbutz. He became her partner and
produced her as a club singer in Eilat and Tel Aviv. In 1966, he, Katz
and Arik Einstein established The High Windows band. Kraus composed
all the group's songs, pop songs and rock that were innovative for
their time.
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