Abi Ofarim (born Avraham Reichstadt; ; October 5, 1937 – May 4, 2018)[ Profile, Discogs.com; accessed 4 May 2018.]
Life and career
Early life
Abi Ofarim was born Avraham Reichstadt in
Safed,
Galilee, in what was then the British mandate of Palestine on October 5, 1937. Upon Israel's independence in 1948, he attended
ballet school and made his stage debut in
Haifa in 1952. By the age of 17, he was arranging his own choreography, and by 18 had his own dance studio.
[ Abi and Esther Ofarim profile, onlineweb.com; accessed 4 May 2018.] He was then recruited to serve in the Israeli army during the Suez crisis and the
Suez Crisis.
Esther & Abi Ofarim
In December 1958, Reichstadt married
Esther Ofarim.
He achieved international fame performing with her as a musical duo Esther & Abi Ofarim in the 1960s, playing the
guitar and singing
backing vocalist. The couple relocated to
Geneva, then eventually to Germany. In 1966, they had their first hit in Germany with "Noch einen Tanz". Their greatest success in Germany came the next year with "Morning of my Life", written by the
Bee Gees.
In 1968, "Cinderella Rockefella" hit the top of the
record chart in a number of countries including the
United Kingdom.
The duo played live concerts in New York City and London, and they toured Europe before separating in 1969.
[ Esther Ofarim website, esther-ofarim.de; accessed 4 May 2018.]
Solo career
Abi Ofarim continued performing and recording in Europe. He also worked as a
Talent manager,
composer, and
arranger. In 1970, Ofarim launched his own record production and music publishing company Prom Music. He also worked with
Liberty Records/United Artists Records in Munich.
In 1972, he released an album with British singer Tom Winter. In 1975, Ofarim left Prom, selling his interest to ex-partner Yehuda Zwick.
His book, Der Preis der wilden Jahre ("The Price of the Wild Years") was first published in 1982. That year, Ofarim released the album Much Too Much on RCA Records in Germany. He released an album, Too Much Of Something, in 2009.
Beginning in April 2014, Ofarim ran a "Jugendzentrum für Senioren" ("Youth Center for Elderly People") in Munich, a social project against poverty and solitude of the elderly, together with his organization "Kinder von Gestern e. V." ("Children of Yesterday").
Personal life
Relationships and children
Ofarim married Esther Ofarim (née Zaied) on December 11, 1958.
After their divorce in 1970, he accused her of "egotism and snobbery."
He dated German singer Susan Avilés and actress
Iris Berben,
before remarrying twice. His third marriage was to Sandra (Sandy) Reichstadt, who he divorced in 2004. Their sons,
Gil Ofarim and Tal Ofarim, are also musicians. Gil Ofarim is the
front man of the band Zoo Army.
Drug addiction and legal issues
After his
divorce from Esther Ofarim, Abi Ofarim developed a cocaine and
Alcoholism.
In 1979, he was arrested for possession of narcotics and
tax evasion. He spent a month in prison and a year on probation.
Health issues and death
In 2017, Abi Ofarim developed
pneumonia. He made a recovery and was able to return to his home in Munich to celebrate his 80th birthday in October 2017.
Ofarim died aged 80 in Munich after a long illness on May 4, 2018.
Discography
Albums
-
1972: Ofarim & Winter – Ofarim & Winter (CBS)
-
1982: Much Too Much (RCA Records)
-
2009: Too Much Of Something (Sony Music Germany)
Singles
-
1964: "Shake, Shake (Wenn Ich Dich Nicht Hätte)" (Philips)
-
1971: "Zeit Ist Geld" (Warner Bros. Records)
-
1973: Ofarim & Winter – "Slow Motion Man" (CBS)
-
1973: Ofarim And Winter – "Take Me Up To Heaven" (CBS)
-
1973: Ofarim & Winter – "Speak To Me" (CBS)
-
1973: Ofarim & Winter – "Why Red" (CBS)
-
1982: "Mama, O Mama" (RCA)
-
1982: "Heartaches" (RCA)
-
1989: Abi Ofarim & Sima – "In The Morning Of My Life" (Polydor Records)
-
2007: "Mama, Oh Mama" (White Records)
Esther & Abi Ofarim
External links
