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Jewish musicians
Allee Willis at the 49th annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards gala at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel on Thursday, June 14, 2018, in New York. (Brad Barket/Invision/AP)
December 25, 2019, 11:25 pm
Allee Willis, ‘Friends’ theme songwriter, dies at 72
US Jewish composer penned ‘I’ll Be There For You’ as well as several hits by Earth, Wind and Fire; was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018
By AFP
Peter Curtis is a music professor at Riverside City College in Southern California. (Courtesy of Curtis/via JTA)
December 25, 2019, 6:42 am
‘Christmas With Your Jewish Boyfriend’: A jazz album of holiday songs by Jews
After guitarist Peter Curtis prepared a medley of the popular tunes written by his coreligionists for a holiday concert, his interest was piqued, culminating in his new collection
By Gabe Friedman
'Be Careful, It's My Heart,' is the song Irving Berlin sings during an interview in Berlin's New York office, July 16, 1942. (AP Photo/Murray Becker)
December 24, 2019, 12:51 pm
How Jewish-American immigrant Irving Berlin started a Christmas revolution
‘Irving Berlin: New York Genius’ tells how the songwriting legend, born Israel Beilin in czarist Russia, started on the streets before penning the hit ‘White Christmas’
By Rich Tenorio
The 'face' of Woodstock, Jewish promoter Michael Lang. (Screenshot)
August 17, 2019, 2:41 am
America’s iconic Woodstock festival was more Jewish than you’d think
On the 50th anniversary of the historic concert, a look at the Members of the Tribe who promoted, funded, and performed — and the dairy man who made it all possible
By Jordan Hoffman
Iris, a 32-year-old Jewish Icelandic singer with "the voice you wish the cantor at your childhood synagogue had but they truly did not." (Image via Iris's Instagram/JTA)
August 11, 2019, 4:01 am
Meet Iris, the Jewish Icelandic singer with the voice of an angel
Music is the religion of choice for the 32-year-old daughter of a mother from Iceland and a Jewish father from New Jersey — and it appears her star is rising
By Jordana Lipsitz
Gary plays 'The Golem' in BimHuis, Amsterdam, in September 2000. (Arjen Veldt)
July 27, 2019, 11:27 pm
Avant-garde musician gives eerie 1920s silent film ‘The Golem’ a live soundtrack
Guitarist Gary Lucas has toured the world with Jeff Buckley, Lou Reed, Allen Ginsburg, and Bob Weir. But for the past 30 years he’s also dreamed up scores for supernatural stories
By Jordan Hoffman
Leonard Cohen and Marianne Ihlen seen in the documentary 'Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love' (Courtesy Roadside Attractions)
July 5, 2019, 3:54 pm
Leonard Cohen documentary makes viewers laugh and cry about it all again
In ‘Marianne & Leonard,’ opening Friday, director Nick Broomfield explores Cohen’s origin story and relationship with Marianne, his own former flame who loved both men on Hydra
By Jordan Hoffman
Drake poses with his awards at the Billboard Music Awards on May 1, 2019, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
May 2, 2019, 12:20 pm
Drake sweeps Billboard awards, breaking Taylor Swift’s record for most wins
Jewish rapper thanks mom after picking up 12 accolades including top artist, bringing him to an unprecedented 27 in total
By Mesfin Fekadu
Bram Presser, former leader of the band Yidcore, won an award from the Jewish Book Council for his debut novel. (Courtesy of Presser/via JTA)
April 12, 2019, 8:47 am
Why only a Jewish punk rocker could write this lyrical novel on the Holocaust
‘The Book of Dirt,’ a thoughtful examination of his family’s tortured past wins new author Bram Presser the Jewish Book Council’s Goldberg Prize for Debut Fiction
By Curt Schleier
In this June 25, 2008, file photo, Hal Blaine holds up his hands covered in cement after placing them in wet cement with Don Randi and Glen Campbell, representing The Wrecking Crew following an induction ceremony for Hollywood's RockWalk in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File)
March 12, 2019, 2:54 pm
Hal Blaine, legendary Jewish drummer for Elvis, Sinatra, Lennon, dies at 90
Hall of Famer, a session musician for countless top hits in ’60s and ’70s, and possibly the most recorded drummer ever, spoke about his Jewish upbringing in 1990 memoir
By AP and TOI staff
Lil Dicky, real name Dave Burd (FX via JTA)
March 12, 2019, 6:12 am
Comedic rapper Lil Dicky getting his own FX show
David Burd’s program will be centered on a ‘suburban neurotic man in his late 20s who has convinced himself that he’s destined to be one of the best rappers of all time’
By JTA
Detail from back cover of Neshama Carlebach's album, 'Believe,' out March 29, 2019. (Courtesy)
March 7, 2019, 11:57 pm
Coming out from under her father’s shadow, Neshama Carlebach shines in new album
Amid fallout from allegations of sexual misconduct decades ago by ‘Singing Rabbi’ Shlomo Carlebach, the Jewish music star voices solidarity with fellow women on new album ‘Believe’
By Cathryn J. Prince
From left, Dov Rosenblatt, Duvid Swirsky and Ami Kozak of Distant Cousins. (Courtesy)
March 5, 2019, 4:41 am
Jewish band makes soulful music for major Hollywood movies and TV ads
After its Israeli and American members founded popular bands Moshav and Blue Fringe, LA-based Distant Cousins is making a name for itself in the music industry mainstream
By Lisa Klug
Jeff Tweedy has opened up about his Jewish conversion while promoting his memoir and his first solo album. (Whitten Sabbatini/via JTA)
February 21, 2019, 6:51 am
Jeff Tweedy on converting, the next Wilco album and why he loves his synagogue
In 2013, the longtime rock frontman followed up on a promise made to his son around the time of his bar mitzvah, and has been gushing about his religious choice ever since
By Stephen Silver
Izzy Young (at back) poses at his Folklore Center in Greenwich Village with, from left, music historian Sam Charters and blues musicians Memphis Willie B., Furry Lewis, and Gus Cannon. (Photo by Ann Charters via JTA)
February 7, 2019, 8:42 am
Izzy Young, who produced Bob Dylan’s first major concert, dies at 90
Son of Polish immigrants opened the Folklore Center in New York’s Greenwich Village in 1957 which became a hub for folk musicians, as immortalized in Dylan song
By JTA
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