Offering a unique mixture of Middle Eastern classical music and crisp pop production, Amir Benayoun has been a standout in the Israeli music scene since his debut in 1999. His passionate voice and agile delivery have grabbed the attention of countless Israeli fans, while his smart arrangements consolidated his status as a pop star. He remained a major presence on Israeli airwaves throughout the next decade. Benayoun, whose father is Algerian, made headlines again in 2011 by releasing an Arabic album in support of the Syrian uprising.