Hasidic musician Yosi Piamenta passed away on Sunday night at the age of 64, after a long battle with cancer.

Piamenta was born in Jerusalem, Israel in 1951. His family moved to Tel Aviv when he was 12 years old, where he received his first guitar from his uncle, Albert Piamenta, an Israeli saxophonist.

Piamenta served in the IDF Artillery Corps troupe, and after concluding his army service founded the Piamenta Brothers band with his brother, Avi.

In his 20s, Piamenta moved to New York, together with his brother with the intention of working on a joint album with American saxophone player Stan Getz. The album was a success but Piamenta disapproved of the entertainment industry lifestyle and turned to religion, becoming Hasidic.

Piamenta lived in Flatbush, New York, for over 20 years before moving back to Israel to live close to his father.

In recent years his health deteriorated, and this past April he fell into a coma. Piamenta woke up from the coma two days later but fell ill again last week, and underwent surgery for his cancer at the Sheba Medical Center.

Four months ago, Piamenta performed in Tel Aviv, where he showed off his impressive musical abilities.