Danny Robas


Danny Robas is an Israeli pop-rock singer and songwriter.
Daniel Robas was born in 1957 in a Kibutz named Shoval, and grew up in Rehovot. He completed his military service in the artillery corps at the rank of a lieutenant.
Robas began his musical career as a guitarist, working with singers such as Arik Sinai, Matti Caspi, and Shlomo Artzi. Initially, he wrote songs for other artists – Arik Sinai, Ilanit, Nurit Galron, the musical band Sexta, Vardina Cohen, Harela Ber, Ofira Yosefi, Esti Katz, Pnina Rosenblum and others.
Misgarot, Robas' debut album in 1983, was arranged and produced by Matti Caspi. All the songs on the album were written and composed by Robas. The Album sold poorly at first, but reached Gold Record after 25 years, following the success of Robas' next Albums. The successful songs of this album are Ani Ba Habaita MeHaLayla and Davar Lo Kara.
During the 1980s, Robas took part in the radio program Ma Yesh? by Erez Tal and Avri Gilad, playing the part of Jimmy Ohana – a singer singing humorous parodies on well-known Israeli songs, as well as in the Israeli Educational TV programs Zehu Ze and Roim 6/6 ).
Also during the 1980s his younger brother, Yoav, died of cancer during the Lebanon War, while a soldier, and was the subject of Robas' songs Makhar Hu Yakhazor and Mikhtav Katan. Initially it was difficult for Robas to sing these songs himself, and they were performed by a military band.
Robas' second album, Panim VeShemot, was released in 1987, during the time he toured as a guitarist with Shlomo Artzi. The album was arranged and produced by Nathan Cohen, and was much more successful, reaching platinum. The popular songs of this album are Panim VeShemot, Lo Nirdemet Tel-Aviv, Ze Lo Ani, and Makhar Hu Yakhazor. Following this album, Robas went on tour with his "band" – Keyboardist Dovi Engler.
His third album, Baderekh el HaOsher was released in 1989, and was even more successful. The popular songs of this album are Baderekh el HaOsher and Eikh Hu Shar – which many assumed to be written on Zohar Argov, but as Robas told, was written about successful singers falling into drug abuse in general, such as Janis Joplin on Jim Morrison. Robas won the "Singer of the Year" title, and went on tour – this time with a full band which included in addition to Engler a bassist, a drummer, and a backup singer. The show was a great success, and Robas also performed with it outside Israel.
Robas' fourth album, BeGuf Rishon, released in 1991, did not succeed like the previous two did. The popular songs of this album were Ze Lo Kal Le'ehov Otakh and Rakavot 68/80/88 – a song dealing with the singer John Lennon and his death.
In 1993 Robas released another album, Broshim VeKhamaniot, and went on another musical tour. The album's popular songs were Gar'inim, Broshim VeKhamaniot, HaBen Shel HaKosem, and a cover version of a song he wrote for Esti Katz, Ani Midbar. Robas' version recorded with different lyrics.
In 1994 Robas released a collection of his best hits called Asor O SheAni Yoreh. The album included a recording of the song Lo Nirdemet Tel-Aviv from a live performance, and a first performance of the song Hatzaga, which he wrote originally for a military band.
In 1996 Robas released a sixth album, Kakha Ani Ohev. The song "Mikhtav Katan" from this album, a duet with Ofira Yosefi, became popular in memorial ceremonies.
In 2007 Robas started hosting the radio program Tziporei Layla. In the first hour of the show, he played songs he liked and told the stories behind them, and the second hour was dedicated to a whole album of an artist he liked, which he played in full and commented on. The show lasted till April 2010.
In February 2008, Robas released his 7th album, Mashehu Khadash Matkhil, produced by Uri Zakh.
In 2009 Robas hosted the TV program Duet Israeli, together with Aya Korem. In each show, they hosted an Israeli musician, talking with him about his sources of inspiration and the process of creating, and singing and playing some of the artist's songs.
For many years he was married to Dina, with whom he has 3 daughters. His second daughter, Roni, sometimes participates in his concerts as a backup singer. In 2007 his first grandson was born. In June 2009, he married the singer Ilil Tamir, daughter of Yehuda Tamir from the musical band "Khalav Udvash", and in 2011 their daughter was born.
Robas is also known for his love of the Beatles, whose music he has been performing for many years alongside his regular concerts. In 1993–1994, he ran a show called SheYihye, dedicated to the Beatles' songs, with the keyboardist Dovi Engler, and the guitarist Amit Jurgenson. In the last decade, he sometimes still does this show, with his wife and daughter as backup singers.