Mendy Portnoy

Mendy Portnoy (born 16 April 1992) is an English-born Israeli singer, pianist, and composer. He is best known as half of the folk rock duo the Portnoy Brothers with his older sibling Sruli. He has also released two albums as a solo artist.

Mendy Portnoy
Mendy Portnoy at Day to Praise in 2016
Background information
Born (1992-04-16) 16 April 1992
Manchester, England
OriginBeit Zayit, Israel
GenresJewish music, pop rock, folk rock
InstrumentsVocals, piano, keyboards
Years active2010–present
Associated actsPortnoy Brothers, Hamakor, Daniel Zamir, Yossi Green

Early life

Portnoy was born on 16 April 1992 in Manchester, England, one of nine children. His father is a rabbi and former orchestra conductor. He and five other siblings made aliyah to Israel as adults.[1]

He and his brother Sruli studied music from a young age and began playing together around age 14. He originally took guitar lessons, with Sruli taking piano, before the two switched.[1]

Career

In 2010, he performed at the Complete Unity Concert at Heichal Shlomo alongside Aharit Hayamim, Shtar, and JudaBlue.[2] He and Sruli participated in the music video "Waving Flags", performed by campers and volunteer staff at Camp Simcha.[3]

Mendy Portnoy was featured on composer Yossi Green's 2015 album Pianesque. That same year, he collaborated with singer and saxophonist Daniel Zamir on Esa Einai, an album of Shlomo Carlebach songs, and released a short online-only piano album entitled Holy Days.

He was the final keyboardist for the Jewish rock band Hamakor, performing on their 2014 single "Lift Me Up". [4]

Portnoy Brothers
Main article: Portnoy Brothers

Mendy and Sruli Portnoy began collaborating as the Portnoy Brothers in 2012 with their debut single "Kol Ha'olam". They received further attention in 2014 with their single and music video "Learn to Love".[1] An album of the same name was released in 2016.

Other activities

In addition to music, Portnoy is also a professional editor and photographer and was Ezra Kress's rotator at camp simcha special from 2010-2011.[1]

Discography

With Hamakor
  • "Lift Me Up" (single) (2014)

With Portnoy Brothers
Main article: Portnoy Brothers § Discography
  • Learn to Love (2016)

Solo albums
  • Esa Einai: Mendy Portnoy Plays Shlomo Carlebach (with Daniel Zamir) (15 February 2015)
  • Holy Days (7 September 2015)
  • “Introspection: Mendy Portnoy (with Avraham Balti) (September 2020)

Other credits
  • Yerachmiel, "Acheinu" (2014) – piano, arrangement
  • Sarah Dukes, "Raining Rockets" (2015) – piano

References
  1. Ariel Hendelman (Sep 15, 2015). "Sibling synchronicity". The Jerusalem Post.
  2. Staff (May 3, 2010). ""Complete Unity" Concert to Showcase Yeshiva Talent". Arutz Sheva.
  3. Yossi Zweig (July 23, 2010). "Children with Cancer Dance in Times Square – Official Video". The Jewish Insights.
  4. Collins, Yoni (May 3, 2014). "Hamakor rocks with Jewish pride". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
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