Eyal Golan is a legendary Israeli singer, songwriter, and recording artist in the Mizrahi style (a trans-regional meld of European, North African, and Arab world folk styles). He is also producer and star of the nationally popular music competition television show Eyal Golan Is Calling You. He owns the soccer team Hapoel Ironi Marmorek Rehovot F.C., based in his hometown of Rehovot. Golan's first love was football. He played in grade school, high school, and professionally until 2006.nnHis musical life ran concurrently with his athletic one. He sang with several groups as a teenager and became a solo and nightclub performer in his late teens. His 1995 debut album, Lehisha ba'Laila, was comprised of classic tunes by Israeli songwriters. It attracted the ears of Zeav Nechama and Tamir Kliski, founding members of the Israeli pop legends Ethnix. They caught his show at a nightclub and asked him to collaborate. Golan worked with Ethnix on three albums, Bila'adayikh (1997), Chayal Shel Ahavah (1998), and Histakli Eilay (1999). After dissolving the collaboration, the singer resumed his solo career with 2001's Tzlil Meytar. His next 19 album -- studio and live -- landed in the Top 50 on the Israeli charts. His 2012 single, "Kashat Ito," was the most played song of the year; edging out even Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know" for the top spot. 2016's Rahak Mikan set reached number three. Now living in Tel Aviv, Golan is widely considered a national treasure. ~ Thom Jurek