Jewish reggae rocks the synagogue
Matisyahu most definitely deserves to score a “Song of the Day” with “King Without a Crown”, a solid reggae tune with spiritual themes much like the reggae greats, but from a much different and, perhaps, unlikely source.
If you aren’t already familiar with Matisyahu, he grew up a young Jewish boy named Matthew Miller in West Chester, PA and then Berkeley, CA. Like many young Jewish kids, he rejected his teachings at Hebrew school and went a different route. But something called him back to his faith late in high school. By this time, he was a hippie who was really into reggae music and playing bongos. With a few trips, including a specifically spiritual one to Israel, Matthew truly discovered his relationship with God and deepened his faith.
The story can then be summarized by saying, he went to college, studied music, wrote a play, and transformed from Matthew into Matisyahu. He became a Hasid and got very into the Hasidic practice of song worship. Along with his love for reggae music and Bob Marley, his Hasidic faith led to the music that now graces my XM radio dial.
With his own fresh sound, Matisyahu is spreading the word of God through music, much like other reggae greats before him… but this time it’s not black Rastas singing of Jah, it’s a Jewish white boy from the Philly suburbs singing to Yahweh.
January 11th, 2006 at 1:57 pm
Oy!