Zohar Argov

Lore & Background

Zohar Argov was born in Rishon LeZion to Yemenite immigrants Ovadia and Yona Orkabi, the eldest of ten children. He dropped out of school at 14 to work in construction, married Bracha Tzabari in 1972, and had a son, Gili. He was exempted from military service due to his family situation.

In 1977, he released his first single under the name Argov, chosen because he felt Orkabi would not 'sound good' to the media. The single was unsuccessful, and he soon incurred debts, lost his property, and his marriage ended. In 1979, he was arrested for raping a woman after offering her a ride home; during his trial, he commented, 'There is no girl who doesn't want it, you just have to know how to take her,' leading to his conviction and a one-year prison sentence.

Reader's Guide

Zohar Argov is a pivotal yet polarizing figure in Israeli culture. He is credited with introducing Mizrahi music—a Middle Eastern and Mediterranean style—into the Israeli mainstream at a time when radio favored pop from overseas. His commercial success and the annual memorial concerts organized by the Israel Broadcasting Authority from 1990 cemented his legacy as 'the king' of the genre. However, his life is also seen as emblematic of the sociocultural tragedies faced by Mizrahi singers in Israel, marked by poverty, addiction, and legal troubles.

His rape conviction and subsequent charges continue to make him a divisive figure. His story has been widely discussed, and a drug rehabilitation center was proposed in his name. Despite his controversies, his music remains influential, and his death—ruled an accidental suicide—underscores the complexities of his legacy.

Did You Know?

• Argov changed his surname from Orkabi to Argov, choosing the name of composer Sasha Argov, because he felt Orkabi would not 'sound good' to the media.
• His song 'HaPerah BeGani' won the Mizrahi Music Festival in 1982, despite Argov disliking the song and wanting to perform a different one.
• An investigation into his death concluded his death was a suicide.