Biography
Bat-Seva Ofra Haza, professionally known as Ofra Haza (1957-2000), was an Israeli singe, an important cultural figure of Israel who helped spread the Mizrahi culture, known for combining traditional and commercial songs, elements of Eastern and Western orchestration and dance.
She was born on November 19, 1957, in Tel Aviv, Israel, to a Jewish family who had emigrated from Yemen. She was the youngest of nine children and grew up in one of the city's poorest neighborhoods. At the age of 12, she took part in a local theatrical troupe where a manager was impressed by her voice and became her mentor, promoting her to the world of music. At 19, she was Israel's top pop star.
Haza served two years in the Israeli Defense Forces and in 1983 represented Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest, finishing second. She achieved international success with the album Shirei Teiman ("Yemenite songs"), which she recorded in 1984. The album consisted of songs she had heard as a child, using covers that combined authentic Middle Eastern percussion with classical instruments. Since then she would release one album after another knowing great success and the praise of audience and critics
In 1994, Haza released her first Jewish album after seven years, Kol Haneshama ("The Whole Soul"), creating one of her greatest hits, Le'orech Hayam ("Along The Sea"), which became an anthem after interpreting it at the memorial service for the late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, a week after his assassination.
In 1997, Haza was married and on February 23, 2000, she died of pneumonia due to AIDS. The media as well as her manager accused her husband of having transmited her the virus; he who had denied it, died after a year of drug overdose.