Yair Rosenblum

Yair Rosenblum was born in 1944 in Tel Aviv

Rosenblum was born in Tel Aviv on 6 January 1944. His father Bezalel headed the Tnuva workers' committee, and his mother Pnina was an accountant. As a child he taught himself to play a harmonica his parents gave him.

He attended the HaKalir elementary school in Tel Aviv and sang as a soloist in its choir. In high school he studied accordion with the conductor of the fire brigade orchestra. He first played for an audience while accompanying folk dancing.

He joined the IDF in 1961 and played accordion in Lehakat HaNahal, where his musical career began. His first published song was written for the troupe's 1964 program.

From 1967 to 1977 he worked with several military ensembles, bringing rock and pop arrangements and electric instruments into them. He wrote more than 1,000 songs, including Shir LaShalom and Ammunition Hill, and worked with lyricists such as Yoram Taharlev and Ehud Manor. He also wrote for performers such as Ilanit, Ofra Haza and HaGashash HaHiver.

Rosenblum died of esophageal cancer in Holon in 1996. His daughter Karen later accepted a lifetime achievement prize on his behalf. In 2009 a postal stamp was issued in his memory.