Lehakat Pikud Merkaz
Central Command Band להקת פיקוד המרכז | |
|---|---|
The Central Command Band in 1969, performing their song "Charlie Chaplin" | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Central District, Israel. |
| Genres | Israeli folk, Israeli rock |
| Years active | 1953-1968, 1969-1975/1978, 1985-1989, 1990-present |
| Labels | Hed Arzi Music, NMC, Parlophone |
Lehakat Pikud Merkaz, also known as Lehakat Pikud HaMerkaz (Hebrew: להקת פיקוד המרכז, lit. 'Central Command Band'), is the military musical ensemble of the Central Command of the Israel Defense Forces.
The band was initially established in 1953 after the then Central Command Commander, Tzvi Ayalon, requested that a band be formed for his command. While the troupe enjoyed success throughout its existence, it was particularly successful during the late 1960s and early 1970s, following the Six-Day War.
The troupe went through several incarnations, having been disbanded multiple times throughout its history, mostly for behavioural issues. Its repertoire includes songs that have remained part of Israeli culture, and former members of the ensemble have gone on to careers in music, entertainment, acting, and songwriting.