Matti Caspi – Sound Architect from Kibbutz Hanita • Passed away

(haipo) - Mati Caspi, one of the greatest composers and musicians in the history of Israeli music, passed away at the age of 76 today (Sunday, 8/6/26). The official announcement of his death was received with deep sorrow across the country, with a family message: “With a heavy heart and deep sadness we announce the passing of our beloved husband and dear father. The light in our lives has gone out. His love and the work he left behind will always continue to be a part of us forever.”

Matti Caspi will be laid to rest tomorrow (Monday, 9/2/26) at 15:00 PM in Kfar Saba. His coffin will be placed at 10:00 AM at the Tel Aviv Opera House, so that the public can pay their last respects.

Mati Caspi was born on 11/30/1949 in Kibbutz Hanita, and as a child he was revealed to be a musical prodigy. He studied piano, playing and composing, and at a young age, became one of the most diverse and influential composers the country has ever known. Over the course of six decades of creativity, he composed, arranged and produced nearly a thousand songs, which became the soundtrack of the country, intertwined in the collective memory of all of us.

The brilliant composer, who accompanied generations of listeners, developed a unique musical style that combined pop, jazz, rhythm and blues, Brazilian music, rock and even Middle Eastern folk elements, turning his work into an unparalleled musical space. In songs such as “Brit Olam,” “Ya’leh Vi’u’,” “Yilduti Ha-Hashani,” “Nahlieli,” and more, the joy of creation, the human spirit, and talent are evident, fusing together rhyme and melody that millions have felt.

Caspi was not only a singer-songwriter, he was a composer, arranger, producer, wind instrument, piano and guitar player, and was a full partner in shaping the Israeli sound. His collaborations with writers and artists such as Ehud Manor, Shlomo Gronich, Riki Gal, Hava Alberstein and more made his works an inseparable part of Israeli culture.

In 2025, Matti Caspi bravely revealed his battle with cancer, a serious illness that had spread throughout his body and gradually limited him. The man who was accustomed to standing center stage, playing, singing, and conducting orchestras, found himself struggling for breath and strength. In May of last year, he published a personal and moving statement, in which he said that he had been diagnosed with advanced cancer with metastases throughout his body.

With a heavy heart, he canceled all his performances to devote all his energy to medical treatments, but even then he did not say goodbye to the audience. He turned to his fans for support, thanked them for the long years together, and took advantage of every moment he could still take the stage and play.

Even when the disease had already taken away his ability to perform, his creative spirit remained strong. The music world and the audience surrounded him with love, and in a large and moving tribute show, some two thousand artists and fans took to the stage to sing his songs and honor his work - moments of kindness, hope, and unity that will never be forgotten. The donations collected for him were transferred to the headquarters of the kidnapped.

Matti Caspi's contribution to Israeli culture is not only quantitative, but also substantial. He wrote with his heart, played with his soul, and gave each and every one of us a part of himself in every song that came out of his mouth and mind. His memory and work will continue to accompany us, in his songs, memories, and human strength, which spoke to such a wide audience.

He left behind his wife, Rachel (“The Cow”), and his four children, a family whose love, as written in the family announcement, was a great source of light in his life.

"Hai Fe" shares in deep sorrow with his family, all his lovers, and the entire people of Israel.
Of blessed memory!