Singer, songwriter and composer Uzi Chitman dies at 52

Reproduced with permission from ©Haaretz

The Israeli singer and songwriter Uzi Chitman, who composed the song "Adon Olam," died of a heart attack Saturday night, at the age of 52.

Chitman, who was one of the most popular songwriters and performers in Israel in the 1980s and 1990s, began his career at the 1976 Hasidic Song Festival, where he performed "Adon Olam," a traditional Jewish prayer for which he had composed music.

His famous songs include "Noladati Lashalom" (I was born for peace), "Ratziti Sheteda" (I wanted you to know) and "Kan" (Here), which was performed by Orna and Moshe Datz and reached the third place at the 1991 Eurovision Song Contest.

Chitman later dedicated "Noladati Lashalom," to Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, the first Arab leader to sign a peace agreement with Israel.

The birth of Chitman's eldest son, Ido, in 1978 also inspired the song, Ido Chitman told Army Radio on Sunday.

After Chitman received a guitar from his parents at age 11, he went on to sing during his military service in the Israel Defense Forces.

"Dad was married to the State of Israel," his son told Army Radio. "More than my mother, more than his children, he loved the country... He simply loved the state, he loved the land."

In the early 1980s, Chitman appeared in the children's television program "Parpar Nehmad," and later in "Hopa Hei," another popular children's program.

Igal Bashon, who sang with Chitman in Hopa Hei, said he was known for his sense of humor.

"He was the king of the country," Bashon told Army Radio. "Uzi possessed great magic and the talent he was born with was rare."

In 2001, Chitman was presented with the ACUM Prize (Association of Composers, Authors and Publishers of Music in Israel) for lifetime achievement.

His funeral was set for 4 P.M. Sunday at the Yarkon Cemetery in Tel Aviv.