His most recent project is a nostalgic Shmuel Kunda medley

Learning in kollel during the day and energizing simchahs at night, ELCHONON GARTENHAUS is a musician and bandleader from Lakewood who has been playing at events since the age of 12. He has released music with Shmueli Ungar, Lipa Schmeltzer and others, and his most recent project is a nostalgic Shmuel Kunda medley.

HOW I GOT STARTED

It was at my grandparents’ Chanukah party when I was five or six. My grandmother had a keyboard set up, and I just started playing it and figured out some songs.

MY FIRST GIG

I played at school events in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade, but the first time I got paid was at the bar mitzvah of a kid in my class. I was twelve, I spent days practicing and rehearsing, and I got paid $40. I played my first wedding when I was 15.

A MUSIC ARTIST I ESPECIALLY CONNECT TO

Yosef Karduner. I love his authenticity and simplicity. There is something very real about his music, and it is also utterly calming to listen to.

MY FAVORITE TYPE OF EVENT

Concerts, because people come there specifically to hear the music. The music is the whole point, so you really have to be on top of your game. Also, I thrive on the pressure of it, because dealing with pressure makes you a better musician and stronger person.

A SONG THAT TAKES ME TO ANOTHER PLACE

Michoel Shapiro’s song “All Worlds,” which Zusha covered, about how Hashem is everything (“You fill all worlds and surround all worlds and without You there is no world at all…”). The words, together with the haunting tune, somehow take me to a higher place. I walked down to that song at my chuppah.

A SONG THAT TAKES ME BACK TO MY CHILDHOOD

Shmuel Kunda’s songs, all of them!

MY GO-TO MOTZAEI SHABBOS SOUNDTRACK

Yosef Karduner’s A Breslever Melave Malka album

A SINGER I’D LOVE TO COLLABORATE WITH

Benny Friedman. He has a phenomenal voice, great songs, and is doing more concerts than any other singer I know. Also, he’s a really sweet guy.

AN ALBUM THAT BROKE THE MOLD

Sruly Green’s new album, Ich! It has just created a new genre of music which was never touched on before. Original Yiddish songs, very creative, hip hop, but in a healthy, inspiring way.

A SONG THAT MADE A STRONG IMPRESSION THE FIRST TIME I HEARD IT

Pini Einhorn released an a capella song last summer called “Nachamu,” for pre-Tishah B’Av listening. As soon as I heard it, it hit home. He later released it with music.

A SONG I NEVER GET BORED OF SINGING

“Ufduyey,” as sung by the Moshav Band. It’s actually a little-known old Carlebach niggun.

MY BEST FEEDBACK

A lot of people have let me know that my Shmuel Kunda medley is taking them back to their childhood. Who doesn’t like to feel young again, the music taking them back to simpler, less complicated times.

THE ONES WHO GOT ME STARTED

Those would be my parents! From age 12 to age 17, they used to drive me to jobs around twice a week. My mother would stop in the middle of serving supper to drive me, and my father picked me up later in the evening. How else would I have gotten the opportunity to play before I could even drive myself? I'm forever grateful for their unwavering support.

THE PERFORMANCE I’LL NEVER FORGET

I was playing a wedding, and in the middle of the kabbalas panim I got up to get a drink from the other side of the room. As I crossed the room, I heard someone choking. I did the Heimlich maneuver, the obstruction came out, and they were okay. It all happened so fast… and then I just went back to playing the chuppah.

A SONG I CAN’T STOP SINGING THESE DAYS

“Heiligeh Rebbe” by Joey Newcomb. It takes you to a different realm.

FIVE SONGS ON MY PLAYLIST

“Shabbat Gan Eden,” a recent release from Yaakov Shwekey, featuring Eliad; “Ayekah” by Shuli Rand; “Hareini Mechaven” by Zusha; “Olam Haba” by Sruli Green; and “Nafsheinu Chikta” by Yonatan Razel.

HOW I DO BIKUR CHOLIM

I used to play in hospitals, but more recently I go to patients at home. I once went to play for a guy and saw he was really down. I sat down to play but we ended up just talking instead. We spoke for an hour and a half, and we actually became really close friends — we’ve kept up for a few years now.

A SONG WHERE WORDS AND NIGGUN ARE A PERFECT MATCH

Akiva’s “Mizmor Letodah.”

AN INSTRUMENT I WISH I COULD PLAY

I play keyboard, drums, guitar, and bass. I’m not really looking for anything else. My wish would be to get better and better at all of those I already play.

A SONG THAT REMINDS ME OF MY GRANDPARENTS

The slow, chazzanus-style Carlebach “Mimkomcha.” We’ve been singing it every time we get together since I was a kid.

MUSIC THAT HELPS ME UNWIND AND RELAX

The music of Ken Burgess a”h — there’s nothing as calming as his sound.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 1093)