Abi Ofarim

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Abi Ofarim

| alias = Abraham

| image = Fenklup1968AbiOfarim.jpg

| caption = Ofarim in March 1968

| native_name = אבי עופרים

| native_name_lang = he

| birth_name = Avraham Reichstadt

| birth_date = October 5, 1937

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2018|05|04|1937|10|05}}

| birth_place = Safed, Mandatory Palestine

| death_place = Munich, Germany

| associated_acts = *Esther Ofarim

Esther & Abi Ofarim

| label = Philips, CBS, Warner Bros., RCA, Polydor, Sony Music

| occupation = Musician, singer, songwriter, producer

| instrument = Guitar

}}

File:Grand Gala du Disque . Esther en Abraham Ofarim, Bestanddeelnr 921-1481.jpg on March 8, 1968.]]

Abi Ofarim (born Avraham Reichstadt; {{langx|he|אבי עופרים}}; October 5, 1937 – May 4, 2018)[http://www.discogs.com/artist/Abi+Ofarim Profile], Discogs.com; accessed 4 May 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/955204/Abi-Ofarim-dead-death-cause-Esther-Ofarim-Cinderella-Rockefella-songs-age-latest-news|title=Abi Ofarim dead: Cinderella Rockefella singer dies at home after 'long illness' age 80|first=Jessica|last=Earnshaw|date=4 May 2018}} was an Israeli musician and dancer. He is better known for his work in the 1960s as half of the duo Esther & Abi Ofarim with his then-wife Esther Ofarim.

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.[http://www.onlineweb.com/theones/ofarim/ofarim_eng_trans.htm 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 Sinai war.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/abi-ofarim-obituary-kdlfwmjhj|title=Abi Ofarim obituary|date=2018-05-18|work=The Times|language=en|issn=0140-0460}}

= Esther & Abi Ofarim =

In December 1958, Reichstadt married Esther Zaied.{{cite news |last=Achterfeld |first=Wilfried |date=1966-02-16 |title=Die Ofarims |trans-title=The Ofarims |url=http://www.esther-ofarim.de/ofarim-stern.htm |language=de |work=Stern magazine 16 Feb 1966}} He achieved international fame performing with her as a musical duo Esther & Abi Ofarim in the 1960s, playing the guitar and singing backing vocals. 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.{{Cite web|title=Esther & Abi Ofarim together with the Bee Gees|url=http://www.esther-ofarim.de/beegees.htm|access-date=2020-06-03|website=www.esther-ofarim.de}} In 1968, "Cinderella Rockefella" hit the top of the charts in a number of countries including the UK.{{cite book|first=David|last=Roberts|year=2006|title=British Hit Singles & Albums| edition=19th|publisher= Guinness World Records Limited|location=London, UK|isbn=1-904994-10-5|page=404}} The duo played live concerts in New York City and London, and they toured Europe before separating in 1969.[http://www.esther-ofarim.de/bildzeit1.htm Esther Ofarim website], esther-ofarim.de; accessed 4 May 2018.{{in lang|de}}

= Solo career =

Abi Ofarim continued performing and recording in Europe. He also worked as a manager, composer, and arranger. In 1970, Ofarim launched his own record production and music publishing company Prom Music. He also worked with Liberty/United Artists Records in Munich.{{Cite magazine|last=Schuegraf|first=Ursula|date=June 20, 1970|title=From the Music Capitals of the World: Munich|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1970/Billboard%201970-06-20.pdf|magazine=Billboard|pages=50}} 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").{{cite web|url=http://kindervongestern.de|title=KVG-EV - Jugendzentrum für Senioren|website=kindervongestern.de}}

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,{{Cite web|date=August 7, 2010|title=Ex-Freund Abi Ofarim beichtet: "Iris Berben wäre fast gestorben"|url=https://www.bz-berlin.de/artikel-archiv/ex-freund-abi-ofarim-beichtet-iris-berben-waere-fast-gestorben|access-date=2020-06-04|website=www.bz-berlin.de|language=de}}{{Cite web|title=SUSAN AVILES Sängerin Susan Avilés ("ZDF-Hitparade") über das schier unvorstellbare Martyrium ihrer Kindheit und über Abi Ofarim!|url=https://smago.de/ws2/schlager/SUSAN-AVILES-Saengerin-Susan-A-107502/|access-date=2020-06-04|website=SMAGO.DE|date=21 January 2014 |language=de-DE}} 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 alcohol addiction. 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.