Esther Shamir Passes Away After a Long Battle with Cancer
Prominent Israeli singer, musician, and songwriter Esther Shamir has passed away at the age of 71. The cause of death was cancer, which Esther had been bravely battling recently. She spent her final hours at home, surrounded by her family and closest loved ones.
Born in Jerusalem in 1955, Esther Shamir went down in history as one of the brightest and boldest performers of the Israeli music scene in the seventies and eighties. She is rightfully considered the first woman to pave the way in Israeli rock music. Her transition from classical pop vocals to a deeper, more sincere, and emotional sound was a true breakthrough and radically influenced the development of the local music industry.
Esther began her creative path to widespread fame during her service in the Nahal military band. Later, she had an active and highly successful collaboration with her first husband, musician Ephraim Shamir. Her original compositions have permanently entered the golden fund of Israeli culture, including such cult hits as “עברתי רק כדי לראות” (I Just Stopped By to See) and “במקום הכי נמוך בתל אביב” (In the Lowest Place in Tel Aviv).
In addition to her brilliant musical career, Esther Shamir was known for her extensive activities off the stage. In the late eighties, she began to deeply study naturopathy and alternative medicine. The singer developed her own therapeutic method, “Voice of the Spirit,” which combined vocal work with spiritual practices, and devoted many years to teaching and helping people. Her passing is a tremendous loss for the entire Israeli society and musical arts.
