Haza, Ofra (1957–2001)
Haza, Ofra (1957–2001)
Israeli pop singer. Born Nov 19, 1957, to Yemenite Jewish Parents in Tel Aviv ghetto, Israel; died of AIDS-related pneumonia, Feb 23, 2000, in Tel Aviv; m. Doron Ashkenazi, 1997.
At 12, joined Hatikva theater troupe; won Israeli music awards for albums recorded with troupe; served compulsory years in Israeli army (1977–78); became popular singer in Israel and surrounding Arab nations (1980s); won 2nd prize in annual Eurovision song contest (1983); recorded a collection of ancient melodies on album Yemenite Songs (1985); had worldwide hit with "Im nin alu" (1988); released 1st US album, Shaday (1989), followed by Desert Wind (1989), Kirya (1992), and Ofra Haza (1997); recorded single "Temple of Love" with Sisters of Mercy (1992); sang at Nobel Prize Ceremony (1994); sang on soundtrack to Disney's Prince of Egypt (1998); at death, eulogized by Israeli Prime Minister Enud Barak.