Matisyahu

Matisyahu
Matisyahu is an American reggae musician. He was born in June 30, 1979 in West Chester, Pennsylvania. He was known for blending traditional Jewish themes with Reggae, rock and hip hop sounds.

As such, Matisyahu stands out for wearing the traditional clothing of Hasidic Jews and not performing on Shabbos. Since his debut, Matisyahu has received positive reviews from both rock and reggae outlets.

He was brought up a Reconstructionist Jew. Sometimes he performed under the alias MC Truth for MC Mystic"s Soulfari band. His family eventually settled in White Plains, New York. He spent some time as a young man as a self-professed "deadhead". At 16, Matisyahu took part in a semester-long program that offers students first-hand exploration of Jewish heritage.

Matisyahu"s experiences there significantly affected his feelings towards Judaism eventually leading to his decision to adopt Orthodox Judaism. Initially he found his way to the Carlebach Shul on the West Side of Manhattan.

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach pioneered contemporary Jewish music as well as counter culture Judaism. Rabbi Carlebach established the first alternative Jewish Center, The House of Love and Prayer, in San Francisco"s Haight-Ashbury district in 1966.

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. Matisyahu is married to Tahlia. He has two sons.

He also has a younger sister named Julie. Since 2004, he has released two studio albums as well as one live album. Through his short career, Matisyahu has teamed up with some of the biggest names in reggae production including Bill Laswell and duo Sly & Robbie.

He was recently named a spokesperson for Kenneth Cole. In 2004, Matisyahu, after having signed with JDub Records, a not-for-profit record label that promotes Jewish musicians, released his first album, Shake Off the Dust...Arise.

At the time a relatively unknown musician, he did not rise to prominence until Bonnaroo 2005, when Trey Anastasio of the band Phish invited him a guest spot on his set. This would prove to be the event that launched his career.

Matisyahu live album, Live at Stubb"s was released and recorded at a concert in Austin, Texas. Each album marks significant changes in Matisyahu"s style. Most markedly between Stubb"s and Youth, when more rock music influences are evident. In late 2006, Matisyahu released No Place to Be, a remix album featuring re-recordings and remixes of songs from all three of his earlier albums, as well as a cover of "Message in a Bottle" by The Police.

On March 16, Youth was Billboard magazine"s number-one Digital Album. Matisyahu appeared once again at Bonnaroo, this time performing a solo set in front of an estimated crowd of over 10,000 people.

In spring 2006, right before the release of Youth, Matisyahu cut ties with his managers at JDub Records, which resulted in some controversy due to Matisyahu"s role in the founding of the label. Contrary to popular belief, JDub managed his act, but was not his record label.

Matisyahu was a member of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic community in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. However, as of 17 July 2007, he told the Miami New Times in an interview that he no longer "necessarily" identifies with the Lubavitch movement. Additionally, while on a family vacation spent primarily in Jerusalem"s Nachlaot neighborhood he has expressed interest in another Hasidic sect, that of Karlin.

Matisyahu 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 2am.

In January 2007, Matisyahu performed in an impromptu concert at the Park City Film Music Festival in Park City, Utah, while in Park City for the Slamdance Film Festival. Matisyahu"s music is part of the winning documentary film "Unsettled" which won at the 2007 Slamdance Film Festival.

In April 2007 it was confirmed that Matisyahu, along with Los Angeles based jam band Particle and British ska band The English Beat, would open for 311 on their Summer Unity Tour 2007. In 2009 his up coming album is going to release.