Yaakov Shwekey - Biography

Yaakov Shwekey (last name was originally spelled Choueka) (born in 1977) is an Orthodox Jewish American recording artist, and musical entertainer. Through his father, he is of Egyptian and Syrian Sephardic heritage, although his mother is Ashkenazic.

Biography

Yaakov Shwekey was raised in Brooklyn where he attended Yeshiva of Brooklyn. He now lives in Deal, New Jersey with his wife Jenine and their four children. Yaakov's career began when he and his brother Yisroel Meir sang with the Miami Boys Choir for a short period of time. As a young man Shwekey learned in Rabbi Menachem Davidowitz's yeshiva (TIUNY) in Rochester, NY, and for a short time in Yeshivas Ner Yisroel of Toronto. For a period of time he was an unofficial wedding singer. His debut solo album, Shomati, was released in 2001. To date, ten albums have been released, including both albums of original songs and compilations of covers (an album of wedding songs and an album of kumzitz songs). Less than one year after releasing an album, Ad Bli Dai, Shwekey released a brand new all middle eastern style songs album, titled, Libi Bamizrach - My Heart is in the East (July 2010). While Shwekey used some of his well known past composers, this time he also went to many of the composers and arrangers who have become mainstays working with the current Mizrachi genre in Israel. Featuring 10 brand new songs, and one traditional Sfardic melody, Libi Bamizrach includes songs composed by Yitzi Waldner, Yoni Rohe, Moshe Wertzberger, Yonatan Razel, Eli Laufer. Shwekey has headlined numerous concerts, including 3 HASC concerts and an OHEL concert. Although Yaakov's popularity is not nearly as close to some other orthodox singers such as Mordechai Ben David, who is known as 'The King of Jewish Music' and Avraham Fried, the second most popular orthodox singer, Yaakov is however among the top singers today with popular stars such as Lipa Schmeltzer, Shloime Gertner and Dovid Gabay.

Musical style

Yaakov Shwekey is a singer and his music and songs are composed by others. His albums are produced by Yochi Briskman, and distributed in the US by Aderet Music, and in Israel by Greentec. Many different arrangers have arranged his albums including Moshe Laufer, Mona Rosenblum, Yanky Briskman, Leib Yaakov Rigler, and Yisroel Lamm. Until 2006 Shwekey’s primary studio was “Studio X” (run by Yochi Briskman, engineered by Zohar "Baba" Buerger), today, most of his recording is done in his private home studio.

Some of Shwekey's songs have garnered a substantial following. His most famous song is Racheim composed by Pinky Weber. The lyrics are from the prayer after eating, asking God to have mercy on the Jewish nation and the city of Jerusalem. As Shwekey describes this song, "It’s a prayer. It’s not just a song. We connect with G-d and ask Him to have mercy". In 2008/2009 Vehi She'omdah, composed by Yonatan Razel and debuted on his Live in Caesaria concert DVD, and later rerecorded on Ad Bli Dai became a major hit. Many of his songs, including Shomati (from the Talmud) composed by Yossi Green and Im Eshkacheich, from Psalms 137, have found considerable popularity as Jewish wedding songs.

Concert controversy

In August 2007, Yaakov Shwekey and Avraham Fried were slated to headline a major concert in Jerusalem at Teddy Stadium. The event was produced by Moshe Ben-Zimra and billed as a commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem. Leading chareidi Rabbis, including Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, the Gerrer and Belzer Rabbis, Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman, Rabbi Shmuel Wosner, and Rabbi Chaim Pinchas Sheinberg signed a ban which appeared in the chareidi press forbidding participation or attendance of the event or similar events.

Yaakov Shwekey issued a response that he had already posed the question to his rabbi, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, when an earlier concert featuring him, along with Mordechai Ben David, was also banned. Rabbi Ovadia Yosef responded that there is absolutely no prohibition as long as it is a completely separate seating event. Neither Shwekey nor Fried pulled out of the concert.

Personal life

Shwekey supports his family through his albums, performances at Jewish weddings, and concerts. He also performs at fundraisers for charitable organizations.

His wife Jenine is a founder of "Special Children's Center of Lakewood", a respite and support program for special needs children and Shwekey also volunteers much time and energy to this philanthropic endeavor. In an interview with the Yated Ne'eman, Shwekey said "I’m convinced that the success I’ve experienced in my music career is all because of our work with these special children".

Discography

• Shomati, 2001
• Shwekey 2, 2002
• Besimcha, 2003 שינחת
• Yedid (Shwekey 3), 2004
• Behisorerus, 2005
• Live in Paris, 2006
• Leshem Shomayim (Shwekey 4), 2007
• Live in Caesaria, 2008
• Ad Bli Dai (Shwekey 5), 2009
• The Shwekey Collection, 2010
• Libi Bamizrach, 2010

live in Caesaria 2 2011

In addition, Shwekey appears on the following albums:

• Vishuvu El Hashem (Rav Shmuel Brazil), 2000

(Kechu, Kerasicha, Im Eshkachech, Shuvi Nafshi, and Yerushalayim)

• Dance With Neginah 5 (Neginah), 2001

(Zoche)

• Dance With the Stars, 2002

(Zoche)

• The Best of The Best 2 (Gideon Levine), 2002

(Al Tiktzof)

• Miami 25 (Miami Boys Choir), 2002

(Racheim)

• Journeys 4 (Abie Rotenberg), 2002

(Mama Rachel)

• HASC 18 (HASC), 2005

(Ben Bag Bag, Mama Rachel, Shomrim, Rebono, and Finale)

• Vezakeni (Baruch Levine), 2006

(Vehu Keili)

• Eternity (Oorah), 2006

(Eternity)

• Highlights - HASC 19 (HASC), 2006

(Yedid, and Finale)

• Harei Yehuda (Yehuda Gilden), 2008

(Yehi Shalom)

• Hasc 22 (HASC), 2009

External links

• Interview with Yaakov Shwekey on Jewish Community Radio