22 Facts About Zohar Argov

Zohar Orkabi, known professionally as Zohar Argov, was an Israeli singer.

Zohar Argov was born in Rishon LeZion, Israel, to Ovadia and Yona Orkabi, Jewish parents who immigrated from Yemen.

Zohar Argov displayed a talent for singing in childhood, and his classmates nicknamed him "nightingale".

In 1977, at age 22, Zohar Argov published a single with two songs written and composed by Moshe Nagar.

Zohar Argov felt that the name Orkabi would not "sound good" to the media and establishment, and chose the name of one of the greatest composers and musicians in Israel at the time, Sasha Argov.

Zohar Argov's pay was meager, and within months, he had incurred huge debts, all of his property was repossessed, and he could no longer support his wife and son.

Zohar Argov's trial was presided over by judge Dov Levin, who would later serve as a judge on the Supreme Court of Israel.

Zohar Argov was released in 1979, after which he returned to his work as a musician.

Zohar Argov claimed that he was first introduced to hard drugs at Club Halleluyah in Los Angeles.

Zohar Argov was stung by what he viewed as their betrayal, as well as the realization that there was no hope of reconciling with his ex-wife Bracha after she remarried at around this time.

On July 16,1984, after returning to Israel from a performance in Paris, Zohar Argov was arrested for drug dealing.

Zohar Argov was released on bail two week later but prohibited from leaving the country for the next six months.

Zohar Argov had tried to prevent the album's release via legal action but failed.

Shortly afterward, Zohar Argov was arrested on suspicion of stealing the purse of a doctor in the area, but was released after it was determined he had nothing to do with the theft.

Three weeks before he was due to be released, Zohar Argov was granted a furlough to allow him to go home.

Zohar Argov initially stayed in the home of singer Yishai Levi in Holon before he and Levi's girlfriend and future wife, Iris Gabbay, stayed alone at Argov's mother's house in Rishon LeZion.

On November 6,1987, Zohar Argov died in his cell in an apparent suicide by hanging.

Zohar Argov was found dead at 4:00 AM, hanging from strips torn from a blanket wrapped around his neck.

Chief Superintendent Aharon Tal, who was appointed to investigate Zohar Argov's death, concluded that Zohar Argov had not intentionally committed suicide, but rather wanted to make it appear as if he was attempting suicide to get concessions from the guards.

Zohar Argov had died after the strips had tightened around his neck and he was unable to save himself due to the effects of drugs he had taken.

Zohar Argov is credited with introducing Mizrahi music into the Israeli mainstream, and his life story has been widely discussed, with some considering it emblematic of the sociocultural tragedy that befalls singers from the Mizrahi community in Israel.

Zohar Argov is said to have the best selling albums in Israel, however these claims have never been verified.