Gil Ofarim - Biography

Gil Doron Reichstadt Ofarim (born 13 August 1982 in Munich, Bavaria) is a German singer, songwriter and occasional actor, currently also known as the lead singer of the bands Zoo Army & Acht.

Music career

Gil's showbiz career took-off in May 1997 when he was spotted in a Munich underground station by a talent scout for Bravo magazine and was asked to do a pictorial story spread. The article generated thousands of letters from fans and he landed a recording contract with BMG. His first single "Round 'N' Round (It Goes)" was released in November 1997 and became a Top 40 smash in Germany. His album Here I Am was released to international success in May 1998.

After several other successful singles, Gil became disenchanted with being a teen idol. His 2003 release On My Own showcased his move in a different musical direction. Starting in 2005, Gil was the lead singer of Zoo Army. Zoo Army consisted of Gil, Tal (his brother), Roland Söns and Dominik Scholz. They released their first single "I'm Alive" and album 507 in the first half of 2006.

In 2010, Gil formed another band,"Acht" which focuses on a driving hard rock sound. Acht's debut album, "Stell dir vor," is entirely in German, reflecting a new domestic-marketing approach.

Acting career

He is also active as an actor and played the part of Christoph in the Pro7-Production Endlich Sex! (Finally Sex!) in 2004 and Stefan Döbbelin in the TV two-part Sturmflut, Die (The Storm Tide) in 2006. His latest role is Max in the psycho-thriller Strip Mind which opened in Germany on January 3, 2007.

Personal life

His Israeli father, Abi Ofarim, was a star in his own right, a folk artist, who had a group with his first wife Esther Ofarim. Gil's mother, Sandy, is Abi's third wife. Gil speaks German, Hebrew, and English. He sings in English and German.

Although Gil is virtually unknown in mainstream United States, he has an impressive underground fan following.

Discography

Albums

• Here I Am (1998)

1. Intro-Welcom
2. See It In Your Eyes
3. If You Only Knew (feat. the Moffats)
4. Bang, Bang, Bang
5. I Am So In Love
6. Am I Crazy
7. Come on, Come on
8. For Heaven's Sake
9. Charline
11. I Need You
12. Bandstarter
13. Never Giving Up Now
14. Goodbye

• Children Of The World (1998)
• The Album (2000)

1. Say What You Want
2. Stop
3. U & I
4. Never on My Mind
5. It's Your Love
6. Right Now
7. Emotions
8. Everytime
9. Only One
10. Truth in Your Eyes
11. On & On
12. Sometimes I . . .
13. Close 2 Perfect
14. Walking Down the Line
15. If You Only New
16. Round N Round
17. Never Giving Up Now
18. Talk to You

• The Best Of Gil ... So Far (2001)
• On My Own (2003)
• 507 (Zoo Army) (2006)
• 507 Limited Edition (Zoo Army) (2006)
• Stell dir vor (Acht) (2010)

Singles

• "Round'n'Round (It Goes)" (1997)
• "Never Giving Up Now" (1998)
• "If You Only Knew" (featuring The Moffats) (1998)
• "Here I Am" (1998)
• "Let The Music Heal Your Soul" (featuring Various Artists) (1998)
• "Talk To You" (1998)
• "Walking Down The Line" (1999)
• "Out Of My Bed (Still in My Head)" (1999)
• "The Reason" (2003)
• "She" (2003 - not released)
• "In Your Eyes" (2004)
• "I'm Alive" (Zoo Army) (2006)
• "Still" (Acht) (2010)

External links

• Official website
• Official Zoo Army website
• Official Acht website