By COLlive reporter
Before pop tunes of The Chevra and the Yeshiva Boys Choir, there was Yehuda.
Only known by his first name, Yehuda broke onto the Jewish music scene some 20 years ago as a 15-year-old teenage singing sensation.
He started out singing with his father’s band, following a family tradition of composing and singing. Both his grandfathers were singers in the Chassidic courts of pre-World War II Klausenberg and Vishnitz.
Yehuda’s music, however, carried the prevailing tune of the 1990s. His debut album titled “Moidim” was influenced by the dance-pop trends and provided songs to be played at frum weddings and simches.
Despite the lion on the cover of the 1992 album and in the logo of his name, Yehuda is known for his sweet voice and upbeat songs.
One of his hit songs was “Yesh Sachar,” a catchy tune composed by Yehuda and his producer Zale Newman for the album “Oh Yerushalayim!”. It was dedicated to the heroes – residents of Israel’s Yehuda and Shomron areas.
After recording 6 albums, Yehuda left the music scene, becoming virtually unknown to those born after 2000. The genre of his songs was successfully filled by Eli Gerstner and his slew of dance tunes as part of The Chevra men’s band and the Yeshiva Boys Choir, among others.
During this time, Yehuda got married and raised a family in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. He is said to have established a business there to make a living.
According to a press release, Yehuda was drawn back to today’s highly populated and competitive music world because “the call of the stage and the call of the studio never left him.”
His new, 7th album is entitled “Rak Likayeim Mitzvos” and features 12 new songs from both established songwriters and new ones as well.
They include the singalong “Vi-haarev nah,” Dayeinu in English, Sephardic-influenced dance songs Hamelech and Kaveh, and “anthem style” songs like Tzur Yisroel, Aleinu and Koleinu.
Yehuda is said to be the only individual in the music scene “who sings, arranges the music, writes and conducts the vocal arrangements, plays multiple instruments including keyboards, guitar, drums, synthesizer and percussion and is even the recording, sound and mixing engineer for his albums.”
Without any social media following or even a sampler of the album on YouTube, considered basic marketing methods for today’s music, only time will tell if the call of the public will follow Yehuda’s renewed passion.
The album is sold on iTunes, Google Play and at Yehuda.org.
His father’s band played my wedding. He was a young boy and sang a song. We have loved his music ever since then.
I never listened to Jewish music until I walked into Gal-Paz in Yerushalayim at age 13, and heard “Yeish Sachar” playing. Thank you Yehuda! for your inspiring music!
His last name is Cik
My kids grew up listening to Yehuda!…..
So glad he is back!! Much hatzlacha!
But out of curiosity….
Anyone knows his last name??
Yehuda is the singer of my youth. Can’t wait to buy and hear his new album!
You can hear samples of the songs on the website! Great stuff
yeah I remember Yehuda it’s been such a long time it’s about time is new album
Yehuda inspires me with every song he sings. So glad he’s back!