Sometimes it’s the unsung uncelebrated deeds that boost a singer into the limelight. Who helped these popular entertainers find their way?

Singer Levy Falkowitz:
“I have to thank my brother Yoeli who’s six years ahead of me on the music scene. When I was new his name was my introduction. He pushed me into music spent hours and hours teaching me the business and gave me a head start which went a long way.”

Singer Rabbi Shloime Taussig:
“The way of the world is that many performers are highly protective of the territory they’ve built up which means that if one needs to send someone else to fill in at a gig he’ll either send someone inferior or someone who has no desire to compete for that clientele. It’s pretty rare for a singer to graciously share his terrain with a colleague and that’s why what my former singing partner Nechemia Brodt did for me is so amazing. He was able to fargin without concern for his own ego.

His father Reb Abish Brodt is tremendously popular out of town and when Reb Abish didn’t want to travel so much he began to send his son Nechemia. Once Nechemia was invited to a certain city for a simchah but he couldn’t make it so he sent me instead. The next time that family made a simchah they called me back. I told them that I’d have to ask Nechemia as it was his ‘account.’ He happily farginned. That actually jump-started my own clientele in different cities. Of course all parnassah is bashert but I can’t forget what a moiredig farginner Nechemia was.”

Producer Sruly Meyer:
“In 2003 I was a young graphic designer. Izzy Taubenfeld z”l the distributor of Sameach music took a chance on me and hired me to design Sameach albums. I met the people at Sameach and I started to branch out into music. I was a big fan of Jewish music but had no experience then yet thanks to Izzy’s faith in me I gradually started doing both production and design for all the people I met along the way.”

Singer Dovid Gabay:
“When I started my career I was learning in Eretz Yisrael. I actually began as a one-man band. I sang while I played and got a lot of experience controlling the tempo on the bandstand as well as interacting with clients. Playing music was keeping me busy but I decided pretty quickly that I just wanted to become a vocal artist although to this day I still love playing.

“I felt I had a future in the industry but I really didn’t know much about the music business or how to break in. I knew Shloime Dachs pretty well as we had spent a summer together so shortly before I got married I called him for his advice and not only did he advise me but he went completely out of his way to recommend me to some of the bands at the top of the market. Shloime set up a few dates with Neginah Orchestra and they gave me my first break in the business. In the beginning they had me perform at a few weddings and dinners and once they got good feedback from fellow musicians they decided to start booking me on other events. I can say that Shloime definitely played a big role in bringing me into the industry and for that I will be forever grateful.”