ג'ו עמר

Jo (Yosef) Amar (1930-2009), singer and cantor, born in Oujda, Morocco in 1930. He came to Israel in 1956, already an experienced singer, at the age of 26. His first hit was "Yismah Moshe", after which he performed and recorded many songs, still loved today by both listeners and young singers and musicians. Jo Amar is considered the first singer to introduce Moroccan Jewish liturgical music in Israel, as well as a pioneer in the social protest of Moroccan Jews against the Ashkenazi establishment in Israel. In 1970 he settled in New York, and performed in the USA and in Europe as a cantor, as well as a teacher in workshops for cantors. He also published an anthology of Moroccan Jewish liturgical music. His discography features more than 20 albums recorded over the course of a long international career including two that he recorded with the Israeli Andalusian Orchestra in 2000. Jo Amar resided both in Israel and Los Angeles, USA, and had 4 children and 10 grandchildren.