Israel’s “Living Legend,” Shahar Even Tzur, in collaboration with the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, produced the first Hebrew zoological album for the whole family, called the Living Legend project, "Agada Haya" in Hebrew.
By Felicia Scheiner
The collection is dedicated to various wildlife and city animals in the Land of Israel, introducing “that in Israeli nature (and nature in general) there is a very wide variety of animals.” Each song and animal was carefully selected by a team of researchers, while Tzur studied, and perfected their individual styles, composing 10 songs in the first album and another 9 songs for the second album, which shines a light on city animals (A Living Legend in the City).
The Trail to the Israeli Natural History Museum
Born in Tel Aviv, Shahar Even Tzur was deeply influenced by his father, Shimon Even Tzur, a professional drummer—a legacy that would shape his own path in music. In 1993, he began the Israeli rock band Monica Sex with his friends, taking on the dual role of drummer and lead vocalist. After the band relocated to New York, Even Tzur remained in the U.S. to form the alternative rock group 527. He returned to Israel in 2000 and reunited with Monica Sex, continuing to contribute to the band’s evolving sound.
In 2003, he launched his solo career with the critically and commercially acclaimed album “Aromim” (Naked), which he wrote and composed in full. Since then, he has released several solo records, each reflecting his dynamic musical growth. His collaboration with Israel’s National Natural History Museum began unexpectedly—with a whimsical song he wrote about cats for his child’s kindergarten, eventually sparking the educational and family-friendly project Agada Haya (Living Legend).
More than the music!
The first illustrations were brought to life by artist Yaniv Azoulay, who created vivid and engaging depictions of each animal, highlighting their natural habitats and unique biological features. As part of the project, a special book was designed and produced by Inbal Reuven.
