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Susan and Fran
The unusual story here is that these two female performers, who made history in Israel, are both Canadian.

Two young women with two guitars back in the 1970s began singing together at a night-club in Tel-Aviv. This duo with a magic spark and exquisite harmonies quickly rose to stardom. Though they eventually returned to Canada and carried on separate singing careers, over the years Susan & Fran were never forgotten in Israel.

Their songs are heard daily on Israeli radio, favorites like "Leylot Lilac", "Derech Yishana" and "Lo Dibarnu Od". Their acclaimed "Tzipor Shniya" has achieved a unique place of honor, loved by all, and heard everywhere, notably at Israeli Prime Minister Rabin’s funeral. Susan & Fran have collaborated with artists like Matti Caspi, Ehud Manor, Chava Alberstein, Misha Segal, The Dudaim, and others, and their recordings have appeared on many compilations.

In 1986, Susan & Fran performed throughout Israel including a concert at the Canadian Embassy, at the first Israeli Women’s Music Festival in Beer Sheva, at Tzavta theatre, and on prime-time television. The early TV show "The Whistling Gypsy" featuring Susan & Fran is currently being re-aired on Israeli television.

In 2002 the Warner Hed-Arzi label released a double-boxed set of Susan & Fran classics prior to their 2003 Reunion Concert Tour.

Their CD "Shoshanim, Hebrew love songs" includes select new compositions in a fine collection of well loved Israeli favorites sung by Susan & Fran at their lyrical best.

"With breathtaking harmonies Susan and Fran instill a new beat in traditional Israeli songs such as Kol Dodi whose origins go back to the Song of Songs"...Ladyslipper

"Exciting vocal dynamic, drawing from a multitude of musical wells from the familiar to the exotic"...the Jerusalem Post

UPDATE 2005: Their latest CD The Merciful Moon (B'chemlat Hal'vana) is an album of songs of peace and celebration, "full of rhythms that lift your feet and your heart simultaneously". These eleven contemporary pieces to sing, dance, move and be moved by, take us through an exciting emotional journey, of love and loss, joy and sorrow, and ultimately refresh our spirits.

'Yisrael Shema' is an ardent plea for peace, 'Not by Might' an exciting middle eastern mantra-dance and 'Gesher Tsar' connects us in ever-expanding harmony. This recording is a not-to-be missed labour of love by two Canadian/Israeli songbirds who are a fusion of a female Simon and Garfunkle and Hebrew Indigo Girls.

"In a perfect weaving and blending of voices every song becomes the unexpected unfolding of an infinite number of counterpoint rhythms and harmony."Yisrael Shema" is powerful and evocative, in a sweeping melody that evokes and illuminates the entire past and present of the Jewish people and makes one long for peace." ...Cantor Linda Hirschhorn, 'Vocolot' director

"Spine-chillingly beautiful harmonies"...The Jerusalem Post

"The songbirds return!"...Maya Bahir -'Anashim' (People) Jerusalem

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Susan and Fran The Merciful Moon

available in English and Hebrew

The Merciful Moon (B'chemlat Hal'vana) is an album of Hebrew songs of peace and celebration, "full of rhythms that lift your feet and your heart simultaneously"

These eleven contemporary pieces to sing, dance, move and be moved by, take us through an exciting emotional journey, of love and loss, joy and sorrow, and ultimately refresh our spirits.

'Yisrael Shema' is an ardent plea for peace, 'Not by Might' an exciting middle eastern mantra-dance and 'Gesher Tsar' connects us in ever-expanding harmony.

This recording is a not-to-be missed labour of love by two Canadian/Israeli songbirds who are a fusion of a female Simon and Garfunkle and Hebrew Indigo Girls.

"In a perfect weaving and blending of voices every song becomes the unexpected unfolding of an infinite number of counterpoint rhythms and harmony."Yisrael Shema" is powerful and evocative, in a sweeping melody that evokes and illuminates the entire past and present of the Jewish people and makes one long for peace...." -Cantor Linda Hirschhorn, 'Vocolot' director

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Susan and Fran Shoshanim

A note from Susan & Fran

We are so pleased to finally present "Shoshanim" (Roses) to you and hope you enjoy them. Most of "Shoshanim" was originally recorded in Montreal for our Israeli tour 1986. We added a new version of "The Second Bird" recorded in California 1998 for Fran's CD "Israel World Beat". The original version was composed and arranged for us by Misha Segal, and was recorded in Israel in 1972 with the Galei Zahal orchestra for The Festival of Poets in Song. That same year "Emesh" our first album was released on the Hed Arzi label. Some of the songs on Emesh like Matti Caspi's "Lo Deebarnu Od" have been covered by other Israeli singers over time.

"The Second Bird" flew on to become one of Israel's most beloved songs. It is still played weekly on Israeli radio and at state events such as Prime minister Rabin's funeral. After "Emesh" we recorded with the famous Israeli duo The Dudaim - (Erev Shel Shoshanim). The album and touring show "Rainbow in the Sky", was a collection of British Isle & North American songs translated into Hebrew.

The new CD of "Shoshanim" was released this summer in Toronto at Temple Sinai and at the Free Times Cafe. In concert we offer Hebrew and English songs we love drawing from "Shoshanim", "Emesh", our solo CDs, Susan's "Mayim" (North American release at Chutzpah 2001), Fran's "Israel World Beat, and more.

We have both been singing and recording together for 30 some years (with big breaks for our solo careers).