Photo: Photograph by A. Vente and A F. van Geelen — CC BY-SA 3.0Source
Abi Ofarim
singer · actor · composer · musician
- October 5, 1937
- May 4, 2018
- 80 years
About Abi Ofarim
Abi Ofarim, 80, Israeli musician ("Cinderella Rockefella") and dancer.
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60 Seconds Life Story
Israeli musician and dancer Abi Ofarim captured global hearts as one half of the iconic musical duo Esther and
Abi Ofarim
1937 – 2018
60 Seconds: Abi Ofarim's Life Story
A look at the life and career of Israeli musician, dancer, and composer Abi Ofarim.
Transcript
Israeli musician and dancer Abi Ofarim captured global hearts as one half of the iconic musical duo Esther and Abi Ofarim. Born Avraham Reichstadt in 1937, he displayed immense artistic talent early on, debuting on stage in Haifa by 1952. By the 1960s, he gained international fame alongside his then-wife, topping charts with the hit Cinderella Rockefella. Beyond his musical achievements, Ofarim worked as an actor, composer, and producer throughout his life. Later years saw him dedicating time to a social project in Munich supporting the elderly against poverty and isolation. After battling a long illness, he passed away in Munich in May 2018 at the age of 80. His creative legacy remains embedded in the music history of Europe and beyond.
Play the illustrated life story above, or read the full biography on this page.
Visual credits: Photograph by A. Vente and A F. van Geelen (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Luis_Humanoide / Pixabay (Pixabay Content License) · A 1960s RECORD SHOP. LIVERPOOL UK. (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Own work (Public domain) · Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0)
An illustrated presentation assembled inside the archive from the approved script and the credited images: narration, scene transitions and captions. Caption timing is estimated from the narration.
Narrated illustration. Images are sourced and credited; they are not presented as authenticated photographs.
Full Biography
|Abi Ofarim (born Avraham Reichstadt; Hebrew: אבי עופרים; October 5, 1937 – May 4, 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
Avraham Reichstadt (later Abi Ofarim) was born in Safed, Galilee, then Mandatory 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. He was then recruited to serve in the Israeli army during the Suez crisis and the Sinai war.
Esther & Abi Ofarim
In December 1958, Reichstadt married Esther Zaied. 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. In 1968, "Cinderella Rockefella" hit the top of the charts in a number of countries including the UK. The duo played live concerts in New York City and London, and they toured Europe before separating in 1969.
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. 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").
Personal life
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, 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.
After his divorce from Esther, 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.
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.
Discography
Albums
- 1972: Ofarim & Winter – Ofarim & Winter (CBS)
- 1982: Much Too Much (RCA)
- 2009: Too Much Of Something (Sony Music Entertainment Germany)
Singles
- 1964: "Shake, Shake (Wenn Ich Dich Nicht Hätte)" (Philips)
- 1971: "Zeit Ist Geld" (Warner Bros. Records)
- 1973: Ofarim & Winter – "Slow Motion Man" (CBS)
- 1973: Ofarim And Winter – "Take Me Up To Heaven" (CBS)
- 1973: Ofarim & Winter – "Speak To Me" (CBS)
- 1973: Ofarim & Winter – "Why Red" (CBS)
- 1982: "Mama, O Mama" (RCA)
- 1982: "Heartaches" (RCA)
- 1989: Abi Ofarim & Sima – "In The Morning Of My Life" (Polydor)
- 2007: "Mama, Oh Mama" (White Records)
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abi_Ofarim
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 20, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 15 questions
Questions drawn from Abi Ofarim's archived record and the sources above.
1.What was the birth name of Abi Ofarim?
- A.Avraham Ofarim
- B.Abi Winter
- C.Abi Zaied
- D.Avraham Reichstadtcorrect
Abi Ofarim was born with the name Avraham Reichstadt.
Source: Life and career section
2.In which city was Abi Ofarim born?
- A.Safedcorrect
- B.Munich
- C.Geneva
- D.Haifa
Abi Ofarim was born in Safed, Galilee, in what was then Mandatory Palestine.
Source: Life and career section
3.What instrument did Abi Ofarim play in the duo Esther & Abi Ofarim?
- A.Piano
- B.Guitarcorrect
- C.Violin
- D.Drums
As part of the duo Esther & Abi Ofarim, Abi Ofarim played the guitar.
Source: Esther & Abi Ofarim section
4.When did Abi Ofarim make his stage debut?
- A.1952correct
- B.1958
- C.1960
- D.1948
Abi Ofarim made his stage debut in Haifa in 1952.
Source: Life and career section
5.Which group wrote the song 'Morning of my Life', which was a major success for the duo?
- A.The Rolling Stones
- B.Zoo Army
- C.The Bee Geescorrect
- D.The Beatles
The song 'Morning of my Life' was written by the Bee Gees.
Source: Esther & Abi Ofarim section
6.What was the name of the music production company Abi Ofarim launched in 1970?
- A.Prom Musiccorrect
- B.Liberty Records
- C.Zoo Army Records
- D.White Records
In 1970, Abi Ofarim launched his own record production and music publishing company called Prom Music.
Source: Solo career section
7.To whom did Abi Ofarim sell his interest in Prom Music in 1975?
- A.Esther Ofarim
- B.Tom Winter
- C.Yehuda Zwickcorrect
- D.Gil Ofarim
Abi Ofarim left Prom in 1975, selling his interest to ex-partner Yehuda Zwick.
Source: Solo career section
8.What is the English title of the book Abi Ofarim published in 1982?
- A.The Price of the Wild Yearscorrect
- B.Much Too Much
- C.Morning of my Life
- D.Children of Yesterday
Abi Ofarim's book, Der Preis der wilden Jahre, was published as 'The Price of the Wild Years' in 1982.
Source: Solo career section
9.What social project did Abi Ofarim begin in 2014?
- A.A drug rehabilitation center
- B.A music school for children
- C.A dance studio for youth
- D.A youth center for elderly peoplecorrect
Beginning in 2014, Abi Ofarim ran a 'Jugendzentrum für Senioren' or 'Youth Center for Elderly People' in Munich.
Source: Solo career section
10.Who is the front man of the band Zoo Army?
- A.Tom Winter
- B.Gil Ofarimcorrect
- C.Abi Ofarim
- D.Tal Ofarim
Gil Ofarim, the son of Abi Ofarim, is the front man of the band Zoo Army.
Source: Personal life section
11.For what legal reasons was Abi Ofarim arrested in 1979?
- A.Copyright infringement and fraud
- B.Physical assault and robbery
- C.Illegal protesting and trespassing
- D.Narcotics possession and tax evasioncorrect
In 1979, Abi Ofarim was arrested for possession of narcotics and tax evasion.
Source: Personal life section
12.In what year did Abi Ofarim and Esther Ofarim separate?
- A.1969correct
- B.1968
- C.1970
- D.1966
The duo Esther & Abi Ofarim toured Europe before separating in 1969.
Source: Esther & Abi Ofarim section
13.How old was Abi Ofarim when he died in 2018?
- A.81
- B.78
- C.80correct
- D.77
Abi Ofarim died at the age of 80 in Munich on May 4, 2018.
Source: Personal life section
14.What military involvement did Abi Ofarim have before his international musical fame?
- A.Service in the border police
- B.Service in the Suez crisis and Sinai warcorrect
- C.Service in the World War II
- D.Training for the air force
Abi Ofarim was recruited to serve in the Israeli army during the Suez crisis and the Sinai war.
Source: Life and career section
15.Which year was the album 'Too Much Of Something' released?
- A.2007
- B.2009correct
- C.2014
- D.1982
Abi Ofarim released the album 'Too Much Of Something' in 2009.
Source: Solo career section
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