MICKEY GALIPOLY is of Greek/Turkish Orthodox and Spanish/Christian descent. The correct spelling of his name, KALLIPOLIS, comes from the Greek word meaning "GOOD CITY." In Turkish, it is referred to as GELIBOLU/GALLIPOLI, a city on the Gallipoli Peninsula named by ancient Greek colonizers. Mickey was born in the divided Old City of Jerusalem, which was held by both Israel and Jordan, to Ms. Esther Luna, a Spanish native, and Mr. Gallipoli Marco, who is of Greek/Turkish heritage. They followed Esther's decision to immigrate to the Holy Land, a place tied to her ancestors who had relocated to Spain. She planned for Mickey to be born there, having moved while pregnant. After completing elementary school amidst the Israeli occupation of Jerusalem and the West Bank, which continues to this day, I asked my parents why they chose to settle here rather than immigrate to the USA and reunite with our family in New York State. I expressed my discomfort living in a country divided by religious extremism, where Jews and Arabs often harbor mutual disdain. My parents disagreed with my views and were upset when I announced my intention to pursue a career as a professional musician and leave the Holy Land. Eventually, my parents left Jerusalem years later, having experienced similar challenges that I faced. I relocated to Tel Aviv to attend the American International High School for Music, Dance, and Film, sponsored by the American Embassy. I shared an apartment with a classmate and began taking bass lessons and music theory classes while completing my high school diploma. After graduation, I started playing and jamming with musicians in rock clubs around the city, until I met an extraordinary guitarist and a dynamic drummer, both sons of immigrant parents who, like mine, believed in the power of music. Our chemistry was undeniable, and we decided to form a trio called "THE GARDEN OF EDEN." We moved into a house donated by a friend in a coastal town and began daily rehearsals, playing rock and blues covers as well as original compositions while gaining financial support from dedicated fans.
THAT BELIEVE IN OUR TALENTS 🎵🎼🪕🎸💿
We secured a booking agent who arranged gigs at rock festivals and underground clubs throughout the Holy Land and Europe. Soon, we became recognized as the premier rock power trio in the region, attracting a diverse audience from various cultural backgrounds.
We collaborated with Israeli-born artists who performed primarily in English and Arabic, showcasing the rich tapestry of our musical heritage.
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We gained a manager who believed in our music and suggested we find a lead vocalist. After some deliberation, we welcomed a talented Turkish-born singer who auditioned with a remarkable rendition of a Led Zeppelin song. He became our fourth member, and together we began writing songs and instrumental compositions with plans to release a record featuring unconventional arrangements. After winning first place in a band competition, an indie record label produced our first album. While it may not have achieved commercial success, it gained national and international recognition and was played on pirate radio stations, despite restrictions from Israeli media that discriminated against artists singing in English or performing instrumental compositions.
THEY DISCRIMINATED AGAINST ISRAELI-BORN ARTISTS WHO PROTESTED THROUGH THEIR MUSIC AGAINST INEQUITY, INJUSTICE, AND RACISM .