Shloime Dachs - Biography

Shloime Dachs is an American Orthodox Jewish singer who catapulted to stardom on the Orthodox Jewish music scene on the backs of several best-selling albums and innumerable wedding, concert and benefit performances in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. He is one of the most prominent of the new generation of twentysomething Orthodox Jewish singers.

Biography

Dachs began singing at the age of six with the Miami Boys Choir, Tzlil V'Zemer and the Amudai Shaish Boys Choir. His parents divorced when he was 13. He spoke publicly about being a child of divorced parents at the 88th National Convention of Agudath Israel of America in 2010.

In 1996 Dachs released his debut album, One Day at a Time, which became an instant hit. His introduction to the Jewish music scene precipitated many simcha and concert appearances. He released his second solo album, Acheinu, in 1998, and his third solo album, K'ish Echod B'Lev Echad, in 2001.

Riding the crest of popularity, he assembled the Shloime Dachs Orchestra in 2003. This band has performed at hundreds of weddings, bar mitzvahs, organization dinners and concerts.

His fourth solo album, Avinu, released in 2003, was the first to include an interactive computer video depicting an experience of Israel. His fifth solo album, Hashem Echad, released in 2007, also including an interactive computer video, marked the singing debut of Dachs' son Dovid. His sixth album, Dance All Night With the Shloime Dachs Orchestra, was released in 2009.

He has collaborated on albums with other twentysomething Orthodox Jewish singing stars such as Mendy Wald (Listig & Lebedig, 1999), Ari Goldwag (V'Zoicher, 2010), and Yisroel Williger (The Yom-Tov Album, 2001, and The Wedding Album, 2010). He has also contributed songs to Dance Mix (1998), Chazak! (2001), and Avraham Fried Live! (2002).

Benefit performances

Dachs is closely associated with the OHEL children's home and family services, both as an active board member and as a performer at hundreds of concerts for residents of OHEL's community homes. He and his wife Libby host OHEL residents at their home throughout the year, including the annual Nine Days siyum and barbecue. Dachs is also a regular performer at Camp HASC (Hebrew Academy for Special Children) and Camp Simcha Special. He has sung at the Israel Day Concert in Central Park, a Hanukkah concert benefiting the CAHAL Special-Education Program, a Long Island benefit concert to raise tuition for a special child, and a yahrtzeit concert memorializing rabbi-singer Shlomo Carlebach. In 2009 he was honored by the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation for his efforts on behalf of that organization.

Hazzan

In 2000, Dachs became the hazzan (cantor) at the Bialystoker Synagogue on New York's Lower East Side. Two years later, he became the hazzan for the High Holy Days at the Great Neck Synagogue.

Family

He and his wife, Libby, reside in Brooklyn, New York.

Discography

Solo albums

• One Day At a Time (1996)
• Acheinu (1998)
• K'ish Echod B'Lev Echad (2001)
• Avinu (2003)
• Hashem Echod (2007)
• Dance All Night With the Shloime Dachs Orchestra (2009)
• Kumzits: Starring Shloime Dachs – The Early Years (2010)

Collaborations

• Dance Mix (1998)
• Listig & Lebedig (1999)
• Chazak! (2001)
• The Yom-Tov Album (2001)
• V'Zoicher (2010)
• The Wedding Album (2010)
• Avraham Fried Live! (2002)

External links

• Photos: Shloime Dachs BBQ 2010