Nov 26, 2013 1 min read

JERUSALEM (AP) – Arik Einstein, a pioneering Israeli singer and songwriter who performed some of the country’s best-known anthems, has died.

Doctors said Einstein died Tuesday after suffering an aneurism. He was 74.

Einstein began performing in the early 1960s after serving in a military entertainment troupe. His soft voice was instantly recognizable, melding classic folk music with a harder edge.

He is widely seen as the father of Israeli rock. In a career spanning half a century, Einstein recorded and performed with many of Israel’s top artists. He also enjoyed an acting career.

In a statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Einstein’s works “the soundtrack” of the nation.

According to Israeli media, Einstein is survived by his partner, actress Sima Eliyahu, and four children.