{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Use Australian English|date=August 2011}} {{BLP sources|date=December 2010}} {{Infobox musical artist | image = Israel Cruz, 2011.jpg | name = Israel Cruz | caption = Israel Cruz in April 2011 | background = solo_singer | birth_name = Israel Cruz | alias = | birth_date = | birth_place = Quezon City, Philippines | death_date = | origin = Sydney, Australia | instrument = Vocals | genre = Pop, dance, R&B | occupation = Singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer | years_active = 2003–present | label = Nufirm Records }}
'''Israel Cruz''' is an Australian singer-songwriter and record producer.<ref>{{cite web|last=Moran|first=Jonathan|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/insider/israel-cruz-pitches-in-to-help-aussie-artists/story-fn8dgana-1226108946181|title=Israel Cruz pitches in to help Aussie artists|work=The Daily Telegraph|publisher=News Limited|date=7 August 2011|access-date=18 August 2011}}</ref> Cruz was born in Quezon City, Philippines and at the age of 3 moved to Melbourne, Australia with his family. He lives in Sydney, Australia with friends and has written and performed with Australian singer Stan Walker.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.soapboxartists.com/profile/israel-cruz/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013050311/http://www.soapboxartists.com/profile/israel-cruz |archive-date=13 October 2011 |title=Soapbox Artists - DJ and Artist Bookings & Management}}</ref>
==Career== His single, "Party Up", was released as a digital download and an extended play.<ref name="download">{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/au/album/party-up-single/447023826|title=Party Up - Single - Israel Cruz|date=January 2011 |publisher=iTunes Store. Apple Inc.|access-date=19 June 2012}}</ref><ref name="remixes">{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/party-up-remixes/id456004424|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212113249/https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/party-up-remixes/id456004424|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 February 2015|title=Party Up (Remixes) - Israel Cruz|publisher=iTunes Store. Apple Inc.|access-date=19 June 2012}}</ref> It peaked at number 33 on the Australian Singles Chart, becoming Cruz's highest-charting single since 2004's "Old Skool Luv".<ref name="Australia">{{cite web|url=http://www.australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Israel+Cruz&titel=Party+Up&cat=s|title=Australian-charts.com – Israel Cruz – Party Up|publisher=ARIA Top 50 Singles. Hung Medien|access-date=19 June 2012}}</ref> "Party Up" was certified Gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for shipping 35,000 copies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupagesSINGLEaccreds2012.htm|title=ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2012 Singles|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=19 June 2012}}</ref> Regarding the song's reception, Cruz stated in an interview with Dominic Di Francesco of ''Rhyme and Reason'': "I feel like it’s been good. For me, it’s not about having a No.1 record. I focus on making good music that the people like. I’ve seen so many artists have so much more than me [with regards to] the deals that they get. But I haven’t needed a job since about 2004. I’ve learnt how to make money off music. I just love putting out records and I love the response "Party Up" has been getting. I feel like I'm always going to be the guy who makes these street anthems. One day, if it crosses over, thank God. But my thing is making music I like, putting it out and if the people love it – great!"<ref>{{cite web|last=Francesco |first=Dominic Di |url=http://www.rhymeandreason.com.au/blog/2011/10/20/exclusive-israel-cruz-interview/ |title=Exclusive: Israel Cruz Interview |publisher=Rhyme and Reason |date=20 October 2011 |access-date=19 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111126120434/http://www.rhymeandreason.com.au/blog/2011/10/20/exclusive-israel-cruz-interview/ |archive-date=26 November 2011 }}</ref>
On January 14, 2005, Cruz starred in a musical theatre-style show "Israel" at the National Theatre in Saint Kilda, Melbourne, Australia. The event featured Israel's original music as it told the story of his journey through the music industry. The show featured rappers KA$H and Vallerie, and dance crews Detour, Funkey Fresh, Platinum, Replay, Rewind and ViKiNGs <ref>{{Cite web |title=Past Events |url=https://lizhoney.com/calendar/default.html#:~:text=proudly%20supporting%20ViKiNGs-,ISRAEL,-Friday%2C%20January%2014 |access-date=30 April 2026 |website=Liz Honey Promotions}}</ref>.
==Discography== ===Albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" !align="center" width="230"|Title !align="center" width="230"|Details |- !scope="row"|''Chapter One'' | *Released: 2 September 2005{{citation needed|date=August 2011}} *Formats: CD |- !scope="row"|''The Legacy'' | *Released: 3 July 2009<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/au/album/the-legacy/321348318|title=The Legacy by Israel – Album|date=3 July 2009 |publisher=iTunes Store (Australia). Apple Inc|access-date=18 August 2011}}</ref> *Formats: CD, digital download *Label: Nufirm |}
===Singles=== {| class="wikitable" !align="center" rowspan=2|Year !align="center" width="250" rowspan=2|Title !align="center" colspan=1|Peak chart<br/>positions !align="center" rowspan=2 width="120"| Certifications !align="center" rowspan=2 width="150"|Album |- !align="center"|<small>AUS<br /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Israel|title=Discography Israel|work=Australian Charts Portal|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=18 August 2011}}</ref></small><ref name="ARIA">{{cite Ryan|page=139}}</ref> |- |align="center" rowspan=1|2004 |"Wake Up With You" |align="center"|44 | |align="center" rowspan=4|''Chapter One'' |- |align="center" rowspan=3|2005 |"Old Skool Luv" {{small|(featuring Valerii & Kg)}} |align="center"|18 | |- |"Work Da Middle Pt. 2" {{small|(featuring Thara)}} |align="center"|59 | |- |"My Girl" |align="center"|— | |- |align="center" rowspan=2|2007 |"Do It Again" |align="center"|— | |align="center" rowspan=3|''The Legacy'' |- |"Gemini" {{small|featuring Fabolous}} |align="center"|— | |- |align="center"|2009 |"Freak Tonight" |align="center"|68 | |- |align="center"|2011 |"Party Up"<ref name="apple">{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/au/album/party-up-single/447023826|title=Party Up - Single by Israel Cruz on Apple Music|date=January 2011 |publisher=iTunes|access-date=24 July 2016}}</ref> |align="center"|33 | *ARIA: Gold<ref name="ARIA"/> |align="center" rowspan=3|TBA |- |align="center" rowspan=2|2012 |"Save My Life"<ref name="apple2">{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/au/album/save-my-life-feat-elen-levon/491804228|title=Save My Life (feat. Elen Levon) [Radio Edit] - Single by Israel Cruz on Apple Music|date=January 2011 |publisher=iTunes|access-date=24 July 2016}}</ref> {{small|(featuring Elen Levon)}} | align="center"|— | |- |"Body"<ref name="apple3">{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/body-remixes-feat.-twins-ep/id524651870|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120806072150/http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/body-remixes-feat.-twins-ep/id524651870|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 August 2012|title=Body (Remixes) [feat. The Twins] - EP by Israel Cruz on Apple Music|publisher=iTunes|access-date=24 July 2016}}</ref> {{small|(featuring The Twins)}} | align="center"|— | |- |colspan=15 align="center"|"—" denotes releases that failed to chart. |}
=== Featured singles === {| class="wikitable" !align="center"|Year !align="center" width="250"|Title !align="center" width="150"|Album |- |align="center" rowspan=1|2011 |"Naughty"<ref name="apple4">{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/au/album/naughty-feat-israel-cruz/461432669|title=Naughty (feat. Israel Cruz) - Single by Elen Levon on Apple Music|date=January 2011 |publisher=iTunes|access-date=24 July 2016}}</ref> {{small|(Elen Levon featuring Israel Cruz)}} |align="center"| Non-album single |- |align="center" rowspan=2|2012 |"Hey Girl"<ref name="apple5">{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/au/album/hey-girl-feat-israel-cruz/507037257|title=Hey Girl (feat. Israel Cruz) - Single by Dean Cassidy on Apple Music|date=January 2012 |publisher=iTunes|access-date=24 July 2016}}</ref> {{small|(Dean Cassidy featuring Israel Cruz)}} |align="center"| Non-album single |- |}
== Songwriting credits == *Elen Levon **"Naughty" (produced, featured)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://idolator.com/5970142/elen-levon-naughty-video-preview|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709104147/http://idolator.com/5970142/elen-levon-naughty-video-preview|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 July 2012|title=Australia's Newest Pop Star Elen Levon – Preview Her "Naughty" Video!|work=Idolator|publisher=Buzz Media|date=9 August 2011|access-date=18 August 2011}}</ref> *Jessica Mauboy **"Been Waiting" (co-wrote, produced)<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Been Waiting|others=Jessica Mauboy |date=2008 |type=CD liner |publisher=Sony Music Australia }}</ref> **"What Happened to Us" (co-wrote, co-produced)<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Get 'Em Girls|others=Jessica Mauboy |date=2010 |type=CD liner |publisher=Sony Music Australia }}</ref> *Ricki-Lee Coulter **"Wiggle It" (co-wrote, produced)<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Ricki-Lee: The Singles|others=Ricki-Lee Coulter |date=2008 |type=CD liner |publisher=Shock Records }}</ref> *Stan Walker **"All I Need" (co-wrote, produced)<ref name="ftio">{{cite AV media notes |title=From the Inside Out|others=Stan Walker|date=2010 |type=CD liner |publisher=Sony Music Australia }}</ref> **"One Thing" (co-wrote, produced)<ref name="ftio"/> *Scarlett Belle **"Lover Boy" (also produced)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300&mode=results&searchstr=882162551&search_in=i&search_type=exact&search_det=t,s,w,p,b,v&results_pp=25&start=1|title=Work ID: 882162551: Lover Boy (Scarlette Belle)|publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers|access-date=18 August 2011}}</ref> *Tinchy Stryder **"Famous" (also produced)<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Third Strike (album)|others=Tinchy Stryder|date=2010 |type=CD liner |publisher=Island Records }}</ref>
==Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable" |- !Award !Category !About !Result |- ! colspan=5 | 2006 |- |Urban Music Awards Australia and New Zealand 2006 |Best R&B Single – Work Da Middle |Himself |Nominated |- |Urban Music Awards Australia and New Zealand 2006 |Best R&B Album – Chapter One |Himself |Nominated |- |Urban Music Awards Australia and New Zealand 2006 |Best Video Clip – Work Da Middle |Himself |Nominated |- |APRA Music Awards 2006 |Best Urban Music Songwriter |Himself |Nominated |- ! colspan=5 | 2007 |- |Urban Music Awards Australia and New Zealand 2007 |Best R&B Single |Himself |'''Winner''' |- |Urban Music Awards Australia and New Zealand 2007 |Best Male Artist |Himself |Nominated |- |APRA Music Awards 2007 |Best Urban Music Songwriter |Himself |Nominated |- |}
==References== {{commons category|Israel Cruz}} {{Reflist}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cruz, Israel}} Category:1983 births Category:Living people Category:Filipino emigrants to Australia Category:Australian contemporary R&B singers Category:Australian people of Filipino descent Category:Australian male dancers Category:Australian hip-hop musicians Category:Australian record producers Category:Musicians from Sydney Category:Singers from Quezon City Category:21st-century Australian singers Category:21st-century Australian male singers Category:Rappers from Sydney