Zohar Argov

Zohar Argov (* July 16, 1955 in Rishon Lezion as Sohar Orkabi; † 6 November 1987) was an Israeli singer who was active in the years 1977-1987. He is one of the most important representatives of the Mizrahi music in Israel.

In Argovs songs reflected the struggle of immigrants from North Africa and the Arab countries Jews who were forced to live in cramped conditions in the slums of the city in general, to political and social equality derived with the preferred from the West Ashkenazi establishment.

Life

Argov was born in Rishon LeZion, one of the many residential areas for Jewish immigrants from North Africa and the Middle East. He was the eldest son ( of eight children ) of Ovadja and Jonah Orkabi from Yemen. At the age of 15, he learned Bracha Zuberi, whom he married two years later. Their son Gil Argov is also a singer.

In 1977, his first record was released with two songs, then he changed his name to Argov. He was accused and acquitted of rape, but sat still for a year in prison for libel in court. Then, the couple separated. After settling his prison sentence, he began a career on the stage together with the Yemeni singer Jacky Mekaiten († 2012). Your music, initially distributed on audio cassettes, quickly became popular. His first record " Elinor " was released in 1980 and after the song Ha - Perah Begani ( " The flower in my garden " ) ( 1982) was assured of his career. The plate "today" was more than 350000 copies. Argov in 1983 made ​​a tour in the United States. In 1985, he underwent because of his drug use a Entwöhnungskur and was always less on public view on the stage. On November 6, 1987, he hanged himself in a jail cell in Rishon LeZion.