DESCRIPTION:
“The Picture of Rafael Ohayon” (Le Portrait de Rafaël Ouhioun) is the theme song sampled from upcoming album The Picture of Rafael by Pascalito Neostalgia Quartet, scheduled for official release in June 2020. French American singer Pascalito (Pascal Lorenzo Sabatttier) and Brazilian pianist Luiz Simas co-wrote the song as a vibrant and cathartic homage to the artist’s maternal grandfather Rafael Ohayon (Ouhioun), a North African-born Jewish singer and poet who was arrested in Paris and deported to Auschwitz in 1942. Shot and directed in New York, the video features evocative and poignant paintings by French artist Francine Mayran including a portrait of Rafael that triggered the inspiration for the song. See further credits and song lyrics below:

Band members: Pascalito (vocals) Luiz Simas (piano, back-up vocals), Leco Reis (bass), Nadav Snir Zelniker (drums)
Recording & Mixing: Michael Brorby
Mastering: Alan Silverman
Video & Edits: Arié Ohayon
Featured paintings by Francine Mayran @ www.francinemayran.com
CD artwork designed by Claire de Ladebat
Recorded & Filmed @ Acoustic Studio, Brooklyn, New York
Production: Neostalgia Music NYC © All Rights Reserved
Artist site: www.pascalito.com contact: info@pascalito.com

The Picture of Rafael Ohayon (Le Portrait de Rafaël Ouhioun)
Music: Pascal Sabattier & Luiz Simas
Lyrics: Pascal Sabattier
Arrangement: Luiz Simas

It haunts me every night
That I never got to know him
The way he lost his life
Deported, killed or missing

Casualty of war
Family torn apart
As they put him on the train
He wrote his last refrain

There is so much more to tell
Over this magic man
A whole life to unveil
The picture of Rafael

{Chorus}
A picture of Rafael Ohayon
Cruised the whole world in search of a song
A picture of Rafael Ohayon
Showed me the land of my heart and soul

A picture of Rafael Ohayon
Tracing the roots of a family bond
A picture of Rafael Ohayon
Telling the truth, hidden so long

{French bridge unisson}
Il est parti un jour
Fidèle a son amour
Il s’est enfuit la nuit
Fuyant la barbarie

Mourir pour son courage
Fidèle à son image
Combattant pour les siens
Méditerranéen

{Chorus} A picture of Rafael ….

{coda}
Casuality of war
Family torn apart
As they put him on the train
He wrote his last refrain

There is so much more to tell
Over this magic man
A whole life to unveil
The picture of Rafael

Rafael, Rafael, Rafael, Rafael