Song: “Kerachem Av—A Tatte Blabt a Tatte”

Composer: Chaim Meir Erps

Year: 2015

"I

can’t compose out of the blue” claims Chaim Meir Erps (aka C.M.E.) New York wedding-hall-manager-turned singer and composer. “Music has to come from somewhere deep within and for me it has to be inspired by some strong feelings or a special occasion.”

“Kerachem Av”— better known by its unofficial Yiddish title “A Tatte Blabt a Tatte” (A Father Remains a Father) — emerged in November 2015 on the heels of his compositions “Dus Lechtele” (about how each of us can change the world if we harness our own internal candles) and “Rabi Nachman.”

“I composed ‘Kerachem Av’ in honor of the wedding of my close friend Shauli Katz whose father passed away during his engagement” C.M.E. explains. “You can imagine how painful it was for him and how his father would be missed at the wedding. I was in the house a few weeks before the chasunah and I really felt for my friend. His father Yanky Katz was an extremely upbeat and warm Yid who always exuded a feeling of simchah. Baruch Hashem the song I composed emerged positive and upbeat not mournful. It expressed my feeling that he would be present at his son’s wedding taking part in the joyous occasion from his place Above. Of course the lyrics also refer to our Heavenly Father who always remains with us.”

Chaim Meir Erps timed the release of the song for a few days before his friend’s chasunah so that the crowd would already be familiar with it but he never anticipated the popularity it would achieve. “Kerachem Av” rhythmic and contemporary yet heartwarming and couched in familiar Yiddish has become one of the year’s favorites at chassidic weddings where it generates great excitement on the dance floor.

Although C.M.E. plays keyboard he generally composes without an instrument in hand. “I get inspired and then I feel like the song comes down from Heaven” he says. “I’m just the messenger the guy on the motorcycle delivering the pizza.”

Erps left Ateres Golda, a popular wedding hall, to pursue his heart’s musical calling, although at the time he had no music bookings lined up. In the ensuing years composing and singing have become a parnassah for him but he feels strongly that the purpose of his gift is to uplift and spread inspiration.

“Music has to come from the heart and when it does it will touch others. It really can encourage people and make the world a better place and the constant feedback I receive reflects this. Through my singing I have not only had the chance to inspire but I have been inspired by those I encounter. I once visited a 16-year-old patient who was facing his 65th operation. He asked me to compose a song so I asked him which words would speak to him. He told me ‘Ein anachnu maspikim lehodos lecha Hashem We can never thank You enough Hashem.’ I asked the Eibeshter to give me music to these words to encourage him with. The answer to that prayer is on my upcoming album. And then there’s a young child from Israel lying sick in Memorial Sloan Kettering hospital and he’s singing ‘A Tatte Blabt a Tatte ’ telling himself that his Father is still protecting him. That’s what this music is for.”

Feedback:

“Fathers separated from their children continue to draw chizuk from this song and several have used it as the impetus to reconnect. C.M.E recounts just one story. “One father contacted me to let me know that he was estranged from his son and had not spoken to him in years. The father sent his son a recording of ‘Kerachem Av’ along with the note: ‘Please listen to this song. And please call me.’ And the son did.”