Moshe Hecht
Musical artist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Moshe Hecht (born 1985 in Queens, New York) is an American Hasidic singer-songwriter and rabbi, best known as the eponymous lead singer of the folk rock group Moshe Hecht Band.
Moshe Hecht | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1985 (age 40–41) Queens, New York |
| Origin | Brooklyn, New York |
| Genres | Jewish music Folk rock Reggae rock |
| Occupations | Singer-songwriter, tech entrepreneur |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Label | Aderet |
| Website | moshehecht |
Biography
Early life
Hecht was born in Queens, New York in 1985 to a Hasidic Jewish family, one among 14 children.[1] He is the grandson of prominent Chabad rabbi Chaim Gutnick.[2] He displayed interest in music at an early age, singing in school choirs and even writing a musical for Hanukkah when he was 18. He also began listening to secular musicians like Bob Marley, Simon & Garfunkel, and Bob Dylan, but was often forced to hide their records from his devout friends and family.[1]
After high school, Hecht spent a year in Ukraine doing community service, then 18 months in Melbourne completing his rabbinic ordination.[1]
Musical career
Hecht gained a strong community following in 2008 with the release of his song "Lamplighters", a tribute to the Chabad emissaries killed in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.[3] Building a community following from this and other singles, he formed the Moshe Hecht Band in 2010 with a group of local musicians. The band's debut album, Heart is Alive, was released by Aderet Music on October 18, 2011.
Discography
- Heart is Alive (2011)