Adored Israeli entertainer dies

jerusalem (ap) | Yossi Banai, a musician, actor and comedian who was beloved by millions of Israelis, died May 11 at the age of 74 at his home in Tel Aviv.

One of the country's cultural greats, the multitalented Banai was famous for his songs and satire. Much of his prose recounted scenes from his childhood in Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda neighborhood.

Banai's career began in the mid-1950s as an actor with Tel Aviv's Habima theater. He quickly became known as a talented writer of satire, a comedian and a musician.

Displaying another of his many talents, he narrated "Pillar of Fire," the 1979 multipart epic on the history of Zionism which aired on Israeli TV.

At the end of the 1970s Banai recorded his first album, "Yossi Banai," which was a huge success. One of the most popular songs from the album, "Me, Simone and Little Mouiz," was played repeatedly on Israeli radio stations after Banai's death was announced.