[3][4] Zohar Argov was born in Rishon LeZion, Israel, to Ovadia and Yona Orkabi, Jewish parents who immigrated from Yemen.

Argov's father Ovadia, with whom he had had a stormy relationship over the latter's authoritarianism and alcoholism, died on the day of Gili's brit.

His pay was meager, and within months, he had incurred huge debts, all of his property was repossessed, and he could no longer support his wife and son.

The family's poor financial status and the pressure of late-night club appearances put a strain on his marriage, which ended with Bracha moving back in with her parents and taking Gili with her.

[6] In 1978, Argov was arrested for rape after he had offered a woman a ride home from a Bar Mitzvah performance, then forced her into his apartment and sexually assaulted her.

During his trial, when it was still not clear to the court whether the incident had constituted rape or consensual relations, Argov commented "there is no girl who doesn't want it, she just needs to learn how to take it.

Argov's debut album Elinor (1980) featured the title track, "Sod HaMazalot" ("The Zodiac Secret"), and "Mah Lakh, Yaldah?"

[10] In 1982, Argov participated in the Mizrahi Music Festival with the song “HaPerah BeGani” (הפרח בגני, The Flower in my garden), the song would ultimately win the festival’s competition and became Argov’s and subsequently Mizrahi music’s mainstream breakthrough.

By the end of the year, his drug abuse coupled with his demanding performance schedule was beginning to visibly affect his health.

Argov was stung by what he viewed as their betrayal, as well as the realization that there was no hope of reconciling with his ex-wife Bracha after she remarried at around this time.

It was a commercial success, but Argov performed rarely that year, until he had himself committed to a drug abuse rehabilitation program.

Upon completing the program in 1987, he appeared on a talk show and declared he was clean and ready to start a new chapter in his life.

In the early morning hours of July 23, 1987, Argov, his brother, and another man entered the Magen David Adom station in Rishon LeZion and demanded drugs.

Shortly afterward, Argov was arrested on suspicion of stealing the purse of a doctor in the area, but was released after it was determined he had nothing to do with the theft.

Argov was the subject of a play mounted at the Cameri Theater in Tel Aviv, and a feature film on his life, "Zohar (1993)," enjoyed commercial success.

("What's With You, Girl"), "Ba'avar Hayu Zmanim" ("In The Past There Were Times"), "Nakhon Lehayom" (As Of Today) and "Badad" ("Alone"), are now Israeli pop classics and an integral part of national culture.

Proposals to name streets after him in Rishon Lezion and Tel Aviv were discussed in 2007 but sparked a controversy due to his conviction on rape charges, for which he spent a year in prison.

[18] In 2023, "Kan Le Olam" ("Here Forever"), a duet with Ofra Haza was released in conjunction with Israel's 75th birthday.