David "Dudu" Tassa is one of Israel's most prominent rock musicians, singer, songwriter, composer, and record producer of Iraqi descent. Besides having had a successful solo career in Israel, Tassa has been the leader of the internationally acclaimed band Dudu Tassa and the Kuwaitis which plays new renditions of old Iraqi songs written and composed by Tassa's late grandfather and great-uncle, Daoud and Salih Al-Kuwaity.
Life and musical career
Tassa was born and raised in Hatikva Quarter in Tel Aviv, Israel, to a Mizrahi Jewish family from Iraq. He was active in the localcommunity center during his childhood. He studied in the theater program at Ironi Alef High School, and at the age of 15 he released his debut album, "Ohev et Ha'Shirim", produced by Yishai Ben Tzur. In 2000, after finishing his military service, Tassa released the albumYoter Barur, which was critically acclaimed despite slim sales. in 2002 he joined the band of Israeli satirist Eli Yatzpan’s late night show as lead guitarist. In 2003 he released his third album, Mitokh Behira, gaining larger exposure than its antecedents. The album also included Tassa's version of "Fog el Nakhal", a famous Iraqi folk song that was also performed by his grandfather Daoud El Kuwaiti. Tassa recorded the song for the film Turn Left at the End of the World, released a year following the album's release. In 2004 Tassa's released his fourth album, Bediyuk Bazman, was released, and in 2006 his fifth album, “Lola”. In 2009 Tassa's sixth album, “Basof Mitraglim Le’Hakol” was released. The album featured Radiohead’s lead guitarist, Jonny Greenwood. In the same year Tassa participated in Samuel Maoz’s film Lebanon, playing the role of a Syrian prisoner of war. He later participated in other Israeli films. In 2010 Tassa released a live album named “Akharei Layla Shel Ra’ash”, and participated in Benny Torati's film "Balada La’Aviv Haboche". Two years later, in 2014, he released the album “Ir u’Vehalot” for which Tassa was awarded the ACUM prize as composer of the year. In 2016, Tassa released the album “Hagoleh” most of the lyrics in which he wrote with he wrote in collaboration with Gilad Kahana. In 2017 a second live album was released under the name "Dudu Tassa Be'Hofaa", a double album recorded a year earlier in Hanger 11, a famous concert venue in Tel Aviv. In 2018 Tassa collaborated with Israeli poet Eli Eliahu in the production of the album "Igeret el Ha'Yeladim" which included eight compositions by Tassa to Eliahu's original poems.
Dudu Tassa and the Kuwaitis
In 2011 Tassa released the album "Dudu Tassa and the Kuwaitis" was released giving the name to Tassa's new band. The album was based entirely on Iraqi classics from the first half of the 20th century, composed by Tassa's grandfather and great-uncle, Daoud and Salih Al-Kuwaity. Tassa began working on the album about a decade before his release, when he was asked to record the Iraqi classical folk song "Fog el Nakhal" for the soundtrack of "Turn Left at the End of the World". Following this initial experience, Tassa began collecting songs composed by the Al-Kuwaity Brothers and arranging them for an album combining their music with modern music. The album included original recordings of the Al-Kuwaity Brothers and their Iraqi orchestra. The album was very successful, selling thousands of copies in Israel and Tassa was awarded the prestigious ACUM Prize for the production of the album. The album featured Berry Sakharof, Yehudit Ravitz and Carmela Tassa, Dudu's mother and the daughter of Daoud Al-Kuwaity, who contributed her voice in some Arabic language songs. The single "Wen Ya Galub" from this album was the first song in Arabic to be play-listed on Israel's leading radio stations. The recording of the first album was documented in the film "Iraq n' Roll" that tells the story of collecting and reviving the music of the Al-Kuwaity Brothers. The film was screened in many international festivals and won critical praise. In 2015, Tassa's band's second album, "Ala Shawati", was released, featuring Ninet Tayeb in the single “Dhub Utfatar". Dudu Tassa and the Kuwaitis toured in the US. and Europe and participated in many rock festivals, such as Coachella Festival and SXSW showcase in Austin, TX, the Sziget Festival in Hungary, and WOMEX. In 2017 the band were chosen by Radiohead as its supporting act for its 2017 USA tour and its concert in Israel. In October 2018 the band's new album "El Hajar" was released.
Personal life
Tassa married Noa Kram on 30 September 2014. They had a daughter and a son.
