Hofni Cohen, one of the pioneering and important singers in the history of Mizrahi music in Israel, passed away today (Monday) at the age of 76.
Chofni Cohen - Sing in an Evening Voice (from the movie 'Kasah')
Cohen, who has been a kidney patient for several years and undergoes heart surgery, was hospitalized a few weeks ago at Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer, after his medical condition deteriorated significantly.
He was born in 1946 to singers Sarah and Shlomo Cohen and began singing from an early age. Cohen broke into consciousness in 1976 when he participated in the "To the Conductor Song of Psalm" song festival, where he performed the hit song "Daughter of Time". He later recorded the song "In the Countryside" (also known as "The Stoned Song").
During the 1984s he was considered one of the most beloved and popular singers in Mediterranean music in Israel, and one of the pioneers of the "caste generation" of the Mizrahi genre in Israel. In <> he even played the lead role in Haim Gil's film "Kasah", alongside names such as Dekelon, Avihu Medina, Zohar Argov, Shimi Tavori and others.
His success spilled over into the 90s, when he recorded his 1993 album Everybody Is the Same. For years he officiated ceremonies and sang the national anthem before matches of the Israeli national team, after singing Nissan Friedman's song "El El Israel", the official anthem of the Israeli national football team.
In recent decades, Cohen has continued to record and release songs, and in 2015 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Israeli Artists. As mentioned, in recent years he experienced professional and financial difficulties after having to undergo open heart surgery and later a kidney transplant.
Hofni is the brother of singers Pini, Verdina and Izhar Cohen. He was survived by a son and three daughters.
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