Ofer Levi opens up: The secrets of Zohar Argov revealed
Decades after the death of the king of Mediterranean music, his close friend opens up about everything and tells of the attempts to save him, the nightly routine, and the severe deterioration far from the public eye.
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The special bond and mutual appreciation between Ofer Levi and the king of Mediterranean music, the late Zohar Argov, are no secret. Levi has said more than once that it was Argov who recognized his talent when he first heard him performing in a club, hugged him warmly, and strengthened the beginning of his musical path.
However, in an episode of the program "In Sharon's Living Room," Levi reveals new and unfiltered details about the close friendship, the nightly routine, and the attempts to save Argov from himself.
"Every club he performed at, he would book a show for me," Levi described during the interview, recalling a deep relationship far from the eyes of the media. "He never suffered, he was only my friend. We were like a Turkish soap opera. He would sit with me in searches for 14,000 shekels, and I would travel from club to club. He would earn 100 dollars, I would earn 100 dollars. And all the clubs in Tel Aviv, every day, four, five clubs. Every day packed."
When asked by the interviewer if Argov was the king of the era and he followed right after him, Levi answered with great appreciation: "He was the most beloved singer by everyone. I was 14 to 16 years old when he was a big star, and I really loved the color of his voice. We would just perform, and we would also spend a lot of time together."
Alongside the days of glory, Levi did not hide the complex and dark sides that accompanied Argov during the stages of his deterioration.
"There was a period when I looked after him. I tried to get him into rehab several times, I tried to rehabilitate him," he said with sorrow. "I heard there were hard things with the aluminum foil. Not in front of me, he only stole some pair of glasses from a gas station, I did not agree with him."
Zohar Argov is still considered one of the greatest and most influential artists in Israeli culture. Alongside the dizzying success with mega-hits like "HaPerach BeGani" and "Sod HaMazalot," Argov suffered from a severe heroin addiction that led to repeated criminal entanglements and the decline of his career.
In November 1987, at only 32 years old, Argov was found lifeless in a detention cell at the police station in Rishon LeZion, a tragedy that shook the country and left a huge void in the world of music.
