Jo Amar

Who was Jo Amar?

Yosef "Jo" Amar was a noted Moroccan-born Israeli singer and hazzan.

Amar began his singing career in the late 1940s in Morocco. In 1956, Amar emigrated from Morocco to Israel where he lived on Moshav Yad Rambam.

He was a pioneer in the introduction of Moroccan Jewish liturgical music to Israel. He became associated with mizrahi music, mixing the melodies of traditional Sephardic Jewish music with Arabic music and Western music.

Amar tried to introduce Mizrahi music originating in Middle Eastern or North African countries to mainstream Israeli culture. He then moved to New York City in 1970, where he performed music and became noted for his work as a Jewish cantor. Within twenty years, he moved back to Israel.

He published an anthology of liturgical music from Morocco and recorded more than 20 albums, including two with the Israeli Andalusian Orchestra. His hits include "Yismah Moshe", "Shalom LeVen Dodi", "Barcelona", "Song of the Drunkard", "Ani Havatzelet HaSharon", and many more.

In 2008, a musical evening of tribute was held in his honor in Jerusalem. Mayor Uri Lupoliansky presented Amar with a certificate of appreciation, and selections from a movie on his life, beginning with his childhood in Morocco, were screened.