Just got back from Hoshana Rabah services, and I’m thinking of my mom. Tibby never missed Hoshana Rabah. It was the only day of the year she attended morning minyan. The only day of the year when you can hit in shul. Mom liked to hit. Back in the ’40’s and ’50’s, people hit. It was part of the […]
It’s two weeks before my first yontef davenning in ’63, and I’m terrified. My teacher, Willie Bogzester (“Buck-chester”) has prepared me very well for all the big moments, but this little Orthodox shul on Avenue C in Bayonne New Jersey where I was hired to sing for $700 skipped nothing—down to the most obscure Piyyut, […]
In March of ’82, I get a call from Fredda’s opera agent at 10 am. “Where’s La Fredda?” he asks. “Out grocery shopping,” says I. “Can you get her and drive down to the Met?” says Pietro. “What’s going on Peter?” I say. “There’s a Mezzo emergency at the Met. Mignon Dunn is supposed to […]
In the fall of ’65, I started classes at the Hebrew Union College School of Sacred Music. Among the upperclassmen was a giant, hulking bear of a man named Stanley Rich. In a student body filled with “characters,” Stanley stood out. Behind his chain smoking “hit man” veneer was a man of great intellect, borderline […]
“Make no mistake,” wrote Harold C. Schoenberg of The New York Times ( first music critic to win the Pulitzer Prize for music criticism) March 12 1971, “Mr. Pavarotti has a Golden Age voice.” The career of the greatest tenor of our age was officially launched. In my more modest world of Hazzanut, The largest […]
How many times have I heard older colleagues exclaim after a concert:”That was the Best I ever sang!” Only a couple hundred… and each time I hear it, I think “Wow, what a yutz! When I get older, I’m gonna own up to the fact that my voice has aged.” Well, the other night was […]
My brother Solomon, is called Tucky; after the depression era nursery rhyme: “Little Tommy Tucker, sings for his supper.” Early on, he displayed a fabulous vocal talent. A “Wunderkind.” Beginning at age 8, he started to sing with the great synagogue choirs as alto soloist. All the famous cantors of the day knew him, and […]
I flew to Toronto to daven Shabbat Hagadol, at the behest of young Eric Moses, Cantor of Beth Sholom on Eglington street, a wonderful old congregation known for it’s love of Hazzanut. Eric is a handsome, affable, smart, and talented Chazz’n with a sweet tenor, excellent Cantorial “chops,” and most important: PERSONALITY! I mention that, […]
I served as Cantor for a large congregation called Beth Torah, in North Miami Beach from 1972 till ’76. All that time I was homesick for the Big Apple. In my last year, the stars must have been in perfect alignment, for I began singing better than I’d ever had before. So good, in fact, I […]
Fogel the Chazz’n In the summer of 1966, I was a resident of the 92nd street Y. I lived on the 8th floor, and my best friend, Eddy Fogel lived in the next room. Rent was $15 a week plus free maid service. Along with residency, came free use of the Y’s facilities. The gymnasium […]
