Israeli songwriter, writer and translator Avi Koren has died at the age of 75. Koren has died of cancer he has been battling in recent years.
Koren served in the Nahal band, where he also served as the band’s director and met the man who later became his wife, singer Shula Chen, from whom he divorced after 30 years of marriage. During his time in the band, he wrote his first song “By the way” with Yair Rosenblum. , Performed by “Southern Duo”.
His musical career continued with his release on the radio station “Kol Yisrael”, where he edited, produced and presented entertainment programs and light music. He also held these positions in Gali Tzahal, where he served as editor, producer and presenter of the program “Host Birds”.
Koren has held many positions, including an emissary for education and youth at the Jewish National Fund in New York, in charge of Bank Hapoalim’s advertising, and Mifal HaPais’ advertising director.
In addition, he was a member of the staff of the staff of the late former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, and for twenty years since his assassination (1995-2015) he held and moderated the memorial service of the Peace and Democracy Guards, in Rabin’s memory.
He did not stop working and creating over the years, writing, translating and performing, especially alongside his wife Shula Chen, in an evening called “All the Way Back”. Among his songs that entered the pantheon of Hebrew song: “We Do Not Need” performed by Shlomo Artzi, “Come Home” performed by Shula Chen, “Peace”, performed by the Nahal Band, “Spirit of Nonsense” performed by Yehoram Gaon and more than 500 songs. The stage has a variety of works, including “Pedem Pedem” – the story of Edith Piaf’s life and songs, “Behind the Fence”, songs and the script for the film “Five Five”, “Guys and Dreams” starring Eli Gurlitzky, Hannah Leslau, Sashi Keshet, Yardena Arazi and Shula Chen, plays The singer “Alice”, “Sounds of Music”, and more.
For his various achievements, in 2015 he won the Lifetime Achievement Award from EMI for his contribution throughout his years of work and the ACUM Award for his contribution to Hebrew song and Israeli culture for 2018.
His ex-wife, Shula Chen, and who has been by his side all these years, even after the divorce until the last minute, said: “My father was hospitalized ten days ago at Beilinson Hospital, after seven years in which he was ill. Everything seemed fine, I did not think that would be the case. We still do not know what exactly he passed away from but apparently it is not Corona and only on Sunday will we know about the funeral. He was a lovely man. The father of my children, the grandfather of my grandchildren, we were together 50 years from the Nahal band. And it’s over. “
Actress Hannah Leslau said: “My father was an outstanding man, a charming man and a man of clusters who knew so much about music and entertainment. He translated ‘Guys and Dreams’, wrote and created for so many years, we go hand in hand for many, many years, both he and Shula. I really liked him. ”
Actor and singer Shashi Keshet: “It hurts to talk about him in the past tense, I still digest the news even though his last period was not so good, to say the least. At the same time, even though he went out and got into hospitals, he was bright and prolific and published columns. He was the glue. Between the past and the present of us all. ”
He added: “Beyond the wonderful man he was, an encyclopedia that knew everything that happened and was in the Nahal band, he was the man who was always accurate. He was one of those who accepted me into the Nahal band. His and Shula’s marriage was part of our band’s legend, we were one big family, with great love and this loss really cracks something in the family. Menachem Zilberman I think he was the first, my father was a cluster man. “I am exceptionally talented. I was privileged to be with him in the band and sing songs he wrote and be a friend of his and his family.”