Mike Brant, the Haifa boy who became the idol of the masses after 45, is immortalized in Haifa • Watch

After 45 years, the name of Mike Brant was immortalized in a new street in Haifa • Mike Brant Ave

In the videos before you, Mike's brother, Zvika, with Einat Kalish Rotem, the mayor of Haifa

An impressive ceremony

The ceremony was held in the shadow of the Corona crisis, with an audience of 50 people, including Zvika, Mike Brant's brother, and his cousins. Yes, a number of old fans were present at the ceremony, and in the capacity of the mayor of Haifa, Dr. Einat Kalish Rotem and Ms. Sigal Tzioni, a member of the city council and M.M., chairman of the Municipal Names Committee.

The Haifa boy who became the idol of the masses and ended his life at the age of 28 • The late Mike Brent, the man who became a legend in his lifetime and after his tragic death

In one day - everything is over

The "Hai Fe" news site, in an extensive and exclusive review, brings you a rare and exciting glimpse into the life and world of the one who was a Haifa boy who vibrated and melted the hearts of multitudes and thousands of girls, became overnight, a revered singer, and 45 years ago, at the height of his career and success, there End of his life, his voice died and he is only 28 years old.

The big secret remains

Even today, we are left with the great secret of his silent death, and with the longing for Mike Brant, which did not go away over the years, but only grew stronger.

Mike Brant Blvd

At the beginning of March 2020, the Municipal Naming Committee in Haifa decided to commemorate the singer Mike Brant by naming the street "Mike Brant Ave" after him. Indeed today (Wednesday 5/8/20) the street was inaugurated, a few meters near the ruins of the stadium in the Kiryat Eliezer neighborhood, and close to the house where Brent's parents lived, at 8 Partizanim Street in Haifa.

The longing remains

Indeed yes, even today, 45 years after the tragic death of Mike Brandt, he is still a man whom many in the world admire and his songs, and make sure to preserve his memory in every way.

A legend in his life and death

In order for us to understand what made the intriguing figure of Mike Brandt a legend in his life and death, we will reveal to you that Brandt was actually born with the name Moshe (Michael) Brandt on February 1, 2, in a detention camp for Jewish Holocaust survivors in Famagusta in Cyprus. Brand was born to poor Holocaust survivor parents from Poland, who fled Europe following the terror of the Nazi oppressor. When the family immigrated to Israel, the parents settled with their son in Haifa.

Initially, the Brand family lived on Kibbutz Galuyot Street in the lower city, from there the family moved to 10 Sarah Street, located in the Wadi Nissens neighborhood and later, moved to 8 Partizanim Street in the Kiryat Eliezer neighborhood in Haifa. Brant began his singing career in Israel, but was not very successful.

The first word - "ice"

Brandt's mother, the late Brunia (Barache) Rosenberg, survived Auschwitz. His father, Fishel Ephraim Brandt, escaped from the Soviet front.
The family, as mentioned, was poor and lived in a pinch. The father then worked at the Haifa municipality, working hard to support the family. His mother ran the household.

Until the age of 5 Moshe did not say a single word, they attributed this to an emotional problem. First he heard the ice seller on the street, and the first word the boy learned and said was "ice".

always loved to sing

Moshe grew up in Haifa and as a child always loved to sing. He used to sing at family events, relatives' weddings, bar mitzvahs and any casual event. The boy always sings and never stops.

As a little boy, Moshe's big dream was to become a famous singer, and already when he was 11 years old he performed in the choir of the school he attended - "Carmeli" in the lower city.

Only son among the girls

Moshe was the only boy in the choir among all the girls. As a teenager he was also a member of the Scouts movement. He didn't fit in that well at school, so, at the age of 13, he moved to work in Kibbutz "Gesher" located in the Jordan Valley near the Sea of ​​Galilee, where he stayed for about two years, after which he left and returned to Haifa, after claiming that life in the Kibbutz did not suit his character and he did not want to live like that.

Chocolate band

Moshe returned to his parents' house and worked in a variety of odd jobs, among other things, he was also a guard at the "Museum of Enlistment and the Navy" on Allenby Road in Haifa, and other odd jobs, where he worked for a living. When he reached the age of 17, he joined as a singer the band he founded together with his brother Zvika. The name of the band was "Chocolate". They played together at parties, on the streets, in cafes in Haifa and also in Tel Aviv. After that, Moshe started performing in the night clubs that were then in the round and well-known "Rondo" hall of the "Dan Carmel" hotel in Haifa, and in the club at the "Hilton" hotel in Tel Aviv.

Performances in Tehran

When he reached conscription age, Brand received an exemption following an ulcer surgery he underwent in his youth. He continued to perform with his brother Zvi and two of their friends, with the band "Chocolate" in many clubs throughout the country. At that time, and after the band had gained a large audience, he decided to change his name to the stage name "Mike". Yonatan Carmon, who was a dancer, choreographer and founder of the "Carmon" troupe, noticed Brant at one of his performances, recognized the tremendous potential and offered him to join his ranks.

After Mike returned to Israel from a concert tour in the USA and South Africa, he began working at the "Dan" hotel. At that time, he was represented by Noam Semel, who brought him together with a club owner in Tehran, who offered him to come and perform at his place.

He had everything

Mike had an exciting and unique voice, and in addition, he had an extraordinary appearance. He also had a kind of charm and charisma, boldness and an impressive stage performance, which was not seen on the stages in Israel at that time. It had "appeal sex" and phenomenal talent. All these unique features brought him to dizzying meteoric success, like a refinery that exploded in one day.

His songs, which put his private hope and dream at the center, made him a source of personal identification and a role model for masses of fans throughout European countries and the entire world. The first moment when his musical talent was discovered was precisely at the "Bakra" night club in the "Hilton" hotel in Tehran, Iran, by the French singer Sylvie Vartan. Brent managed to magnetize her to him, and in a short time also magnetized hundreds of thousands of fans, mainly in France, but also in other European countries.

The move to France

Mike decided to move to France and there he began to become famous at a dizzying pace. Although at the beginning of his journey, Moshe did not know a single word of the French language, but only read French words that were written to him on a page in Hebrew letters, Brent achieved tremendous success and became the most successful Israeli singer abroad. Many say that his famous song, which he also published and brought His great fame was "Laisse Moi T'aimer" ("Let me love you").

Hysterical admiration

His records were sold in millions of copies, films were made about him, musical plays, in which his well-known hits were combined, were put on the stage. During his many performances, thousands of screaming girls and women jumped on Brant, and there were also many who fainted. Even if he was surrounded by a number of tortured bodyguards, it should be noted that even after the performances, hysterical female fans would surround his vehicle, trying their luck to pull his clothes or take his hair, but they always did so without success.

The last time, for sure…

Many do not know that on 22/11/1974, when Brant was staying at a hotel in the city of Geneva in Switzerland, he jumped from a room on the fifth floor of the hotel, but his fall, which was very strong, was blocked by the balcony on the third floor and he broke his leg. Brant then said: "I thank God for saving my life." He then said in a first radio interview, from the hospital where he was hospitalized, "It was complete nonsense. I think it was the last time. I hope. Yes, it was the last time. For sure."

While he was recovering from the suicide attempt, he recorded another song that became a hit and a huge hit - "Dis Lui" ("Tell her"). 5 months after his suicide attempt on April 25.4.1975, 28, the disaster happened, when he was only 6 years old, where Brent ended his life by jumping from the balcony of his home on the sixth floor at 16 Erlanger Street in the 7.5.1975th arrondissement of Paris, France. Mike Brant was laid to rest on May XNUMX, XNUMX at the Carmel Beach Cemetery in Haifa, the funeral was attended by thousands of people. Meanwhile, it should be noted that until this very day, on the anniversary of his memory, his grave has become a pilgrimage site for many fans from Israel and the world.

Fans in Israel and the world, still

Mike Brent was associated with the city of Haifa and his family continued to live in Haifa even after he became successful and became a well-known and well-known singer all over the world. For some reason, the city of Haifa, which was supposed to commemorate one of its sons who succeeded and carried her name in the world, has not done so until now. But today, it finally happens (Wednesday, 5/8/20) on Tu Bab, is Valentine's Day, 45 years later.

Mike Brant ended his life 45 years ago and he is still considered the Israeli singer who has ever had the greatest success overseas.

During the preparation of the investigative report conducted by the "Hai Fe" news reporter, he discovered that in Israel, even today, even after so many years, there is a large fan community and so it is abroad, especially in France, Belgium and Canada. These fans come every year to his grave in Haifa.

Marcel's private collection

One of Mike Brandt's oldest and best-known fans is Marcel Yitzhak-Ohion, 64 years old, who lives in the Carmel Castle. For decades she also managed the fan community club and the "Mike Brandt Forum" in Israel, even today on social networks.

We were able to locate her, and in an emotional interview with the "Hai Pa" news reporter, Mrs. Ohion-Yitzhaki said:
"I was a little girl of 13 at the time, you can say that I have been living and breathing Mike Brandt for over 50 years. My personal archive is full and my memories of Mike Brandt are packed and full at home. I have hundreds of photos, articles and many newspaper clippings that I have kept from that nostalgic time and of course Also dozens of Mike's original records and CDs from that time, including various collections released in France in the last year as well. I was at many of his shows when he appeared in Israel.

For years we fought to perpetuate him

"For many years we fought for the commemoration of Mike Brant in Israel," says Marcel, "and it's nice that the city of Haifa finally picked up the gauntlet, even though it's been 45 years. Even today, the commemoration is beautiful and perfect, and I thank the city of Haifa for doing this."

Mike should not have been discovered

When she presents her entire private collection, Marcel Ohion-Yitzhak added and said in her moving words: "Many claim to have discovered the singer Mike Brant, but in truth, Mike did not have to be discovered. He was simply born a singer. Brant was the most famous representative of the state Israel and was the best ambassador of the State of Israel and of course also of the city of Haifa where he grew up. Fans meet at the cemetery to this day on the annual memorial day in his memory, and more than that."

A single sign

While preparing the article, we found that the only sign that mentions and commemorates, even to a small extent, the singer Mike Brant, is on Partizanim Street 8 in the Kiryat Eliezer neighborhood in Haifa, in the house that was his parents' home and where he grew up. The sign today is neglected, faded and almost completely erased.

The sign reads below: "Mike Brandt, the most successful Israeli singer abroad ever". ): the inauguration of the street named after him in the Kiryat Eliezer neighborhood in Haifa.

28 years old when he died

Mike Brant, the Haifa boy who became the idol of the masses ended his life there and he is only 28 years old, Mike Brant was indeed a legend in his life and in his death even after 45 years.
May the memory of Mike Brant be blessed!