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Shuki Levy
Shuki Levy (Hebrew: שוקי לוי; born June 3, 1947) is an Israeli-American music composer and television producer. Levy created soundtrack compositions for children's television programs of the 1980s, such as The Real Ghostbusters, Inspector Gadget, The Mysterious Cities of Gold, M.A.S.K., Dinosaucers, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, She-Ra: Princess of Power, and Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors. In the 1990s, he worked on the Power Rangers franchise, Digimon: Digital Monsters, Masked Rider, VR Troopers, and Big Bad Beetleborgs. He has also written and directed episodes for some these television shows, and directed a few films, such as Perfect Victims (1988) and Blind Vision (1991). He was also part of the musical duo Shuky & Aviva (alternatively Shuki & Aviva), with his partner Aviva Paz. Life and careerBeginningsLevy was born in Jaffa, British Mandate of Palestine. His father was an Ashkenazi Jew originally from Russia, and his mother of Sephardi Jewish origin.[1] His career began as a singer and music performer, playing in various clubs around Tel Aviv. He also appeared in the musical Hair.[citation needed] Shuky & AvivaDuring the 1970s, Levy performed in France and Germany with Aviva Paz as the duo "Shuki & Aviva" or "Shuky and Aviva". His duo partner was also born in Israel, and four years older than him. Together they scored a hit single throughout Europe called "Signorina - Concertina" which sold two million copies.[citation needed] He also appeared with her on several other releases and music videos. In 1975, Shuki & Aviva sung "You and Me and Two Dreams", which competed as one of the possible German entries during the preliminary rounds of the 1975 Eurovision Song Contest.[2] Levy later composed "Halayla", the Israeli entry to the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest.[citation needed] Saban EntertainmentWhile living in Paris, he met businessman and musician Haim Saban, with the two becoming friends and collaborators. In an interview, Levy recalled "Haim said, 'We'll be co-composer. You do the composing, I'll do the deals.' I figured, 'Great. Brothers.' That was the last business conversation we had for many years. We were partners. We never had a written agreement. It was all verbal."[3] They eventually moved to Los Angeles and founded Saban Entertainment, a production company responsible for animated shows and Japanese adaptions, such as Digimon, X-Men, Spider-Man and Power Rangers. The company was sold to The Walt Disney Company by the end of 2001.[citation needed] During the 1980s and 1990s, he composed television music; according to BMI's music publishing database, he has written a combined total of 4,210 themes, background scores and songs.[4] In a 1998 investigation by The Hollywood Reporter, it was alleged that many of these compositions were ghostwritten by other composers, in order for Levy and Haim Saban to gain control of all publishing rights and music royalty revenue.[5] Post-Saban Entertainment projectsThe first project Levy worked on following the dissolution of Saban Entertainment was Itty Bitty HeartBeats, a 2003 animated children's DVD. In 2009, he also directed and composed music for the live action film Aussie and Ted's Great Adventure. The film was co-written with his wife Tori Avey, and featured his daughter Jordan in one of the roles.[6] Personal lifeIn 1977, Levy was married to Miss USA 1970 and actress Deborah Shelton (Dallas), with whom he has a daughter.[7] Shelton went on to appear in the 1982 horror film Blood Tide, which was one of the first film and television projects Levy composed for.[8] He was also in a relationship with television actress Sarah Brown (General Hospital), with whom he has a second daughter.[9] When they started dating in 1994, Brown was only 19 years old and 27 years younger than Levy. At that point, he was also secretly engaged to another actress named Shell Danielson, and still married to Shelton.[10] Levy remained in a secret relationship with Danielson even after Brown moved in with him, and also remained married to Shelton until early 2000, nearly two years after Brown's daughter was born.[10] Brown and Levy split in 2000, with Brown accusing him of spying on her over the next few years.[10] Levy is currently married to food blogger Tori Avey, who he met in the early 2000s.[1] Levy has owned properties in both California and Miami.[10] Musical compositionsShuki Levy is credited[11] as a composer on the following works: Musicals
TV series
TV
Videos
Films
Screenwriting creditsTelevision
Film
DirectorTelevision
Film
Discography(As part of duo Shuky & Aviva) Albums
Singles
Albums with Haim Saban
References
External links
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