Home / Not Too Verbose / Music for You with Matisyahu!
One musical act that I am Jonny King has enjoyed the sounds thereof, is the man-Matisyahu… mat-is-what-with-who you may be asking, but settle petal, if this man’s name is not newsworthy to yourself, you will have the opportunity to avail yourself of the man, his music, and his message!
Before we get to some videos of some of his numbers for your personal pleasure, here is some details about the man from a trustworthy site…
Matisyahu was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania as Matthew Miller; his family eventually settled in White Plains, New York. He was brought up a Reconstructionist Jew, and attended Hebrew school at Bet Am Shalom, a synagogue located in White Plains. He performed for over a year under the alias MC Truth in Bend, Oregon’s Soulfori band. He spent some time as a young man as a self-professed “deadhead,” taking hallucinogens and following the rock band Phish on tour.
In 1996, Matisyahu took part in a semester-long program that offers students first-hand exploration of Jewish heritage at the Alexander Muss High School in Hod Hasharon, Israel. His experiences there significantly affected his feelings towards Judaism eventually leading to his decision to adopt Orthodox Judaism, becoming a Baal Teshuva around 2001. Initially he found his way to the Carlebach Shul on the West Side of Manhattan. Matisyahu then found his way to Chabad of Washington Square. He finished high school at a wilderness program in Bend, Oregon. Following this seminal event, Matisyahu began playing with the Jewish band Pey Dalid.
From 2001 through most of his early career until July 2007, Matisyahu was affiliated with the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic community in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York. However, as of July 17, 2007, he told the Miami New Times in an interview that he no longer “necessarily” identifies with the Lubavitch movement. In the interview, he stated that “…the more I’m learning about other types of Jews, I don’t want to exclude myself. I felt boxed in.” Additionally in the autumn of 2007 while on a family vacation spent primarily in Jerusalem’s Nachlaotneighborhood he has expressed interest in another Hasidic sect, that of Karlin. As of November 2007 he has confirmed a preference to pray at the Karliner synagogue in Boro Park where the custom is to ecstatically scream prayers; however he continues to reside in Crown Heights because of his wife’s affinity for the community.
Soon after his adoption of hasidism, Matisyahu began studying Torah at Hadar Hatorah, a yeshiva for returnees to Judaism where he wrote and recorded his first album. He counts Bob Marley, Phish, God Street Wine and Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach among his musical inspirations and gives credit to Rabbi Simon Jacobson’s book Toward a Meaningful Life for the lyrical inspiration to Youth’s title track. As part of his faith, he does not perform in concert on Friday nights in observance of the Jewish Sabbath. An exception to this occurred at a 2007 concert in Fairbanks, Alaska, which he allowed because the sun didn’t set until 2:00 a.m.
Matisyahu is married to Tahlia; the couple has two sons. He also has a younger sister named Julie.
If you didn’t read all that, let me put it succinctly, Matisyahu is an Hassidic ultra-orthodox Jewish individual, who moonlights as an international music man… hip-hop-reggae style… buggin-da-beats [to coin an album name]!
I am Jonny King has a couple of his albums, and in the fullness of financial times, will purchase his latest album out this year, Light.
Following, is a number of videos of some of the man’s music, with a little explanation>elaboration where appropriate from the Jonny King am I… I trust you enjoy the experience!
Anyone thinking of Psalm 137:5 when they were watching this?!
The following is the first track of his latest album, with this track titled, One Day!
That One Day is Coming… Behold the King is Coming!
Now, to finish off this experience for you, Matisyahu is a talented beat-box spitting individual… I will show you… take a look at these…
Let me know what ya think!
Until Next Time
I am Jonny King
November 21st, 2009 at 9:33 pm
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