True to his name, nothing makes Simcha Jacoby happier than upping the joy

While his popular wedding clips and several original singles have put him firmly on the music map, Lakewood-based SIMCHA JACOBY makes sure to learn first seder in BMG every day before bringing his vocal talent to weddings in the evenings. And, true to his name, nothing makes him happier than upping the joy at events in the Tristate area and beyond.

THE CURRENT HOTTEST DANCE SONG

Now it’s “Va’ani Evtach Bach,” then “Lechai Olamim.” They’re very simple, not a lot of words, so everyone knows them, and they’re pumping and get everyone going.

A SONG THAT GETS ME INTO THE SHABBOS MOOD

“Shevach” on Eli Marcus’s latest album. It was composed by a bochur in BMG, Nachum Levitan (Abie Rotenberg's grandson), and sung together with Benny Friedman. Such a win of a song, with that Shabbos calm in it. I play it every Friday.

SOME INTERESTING RECENT TRENDS

These days, people are requesting “Acheinu” or “Shaarei Shamayim Psach” before the chuppah. A few clients asked me to get everyone to join in. Well, that’s not too typical at a chuppah — it’s not a kumzitz — but I tried my best.

THE ALL-TIME FAVORITE CHUPPAH PROCESSIONAL

For the chassan, it’s “Penei Le’elbon,” across the board. And for the kallah, over the last couple of years, “Tefillas Haneiros,” as sung by Moshe Tischler, is used all the time.

AN ALBUM THAT BROKE THE MOLD

Shwekey’s Libi Bemizrach. Even though it was branded as Sephardi, it actually brought in a new phase of Israeli music. There were Israeli-style songs before that, like MBD’s “Yerushalayim At Yerushateinu” and Fried’s “Aleh Katan,” but Shwekey brought out a whole album of a genre which has become so popular today.

WHAT I WALKED DOWN TO

“Ekra” from Shalsheles. It’s over two decades old, but the words, “Ekra l’Elokim elyon l’Keil gomer alai, yishlach miShamayim veyoshieini — I will cry unto Hashem most high, unto Hashem Who completes what He promised for me, He will send from Heaven and save me,” which begin with thanks and then turn into a heartrending plea, always speak to me.

AN ALMOST BLOOPER

Before the first dance, I was talking to the keyboard player about an upcoming wedding, putting up the details on my phone screen, when suddenly the manager came over to say that the chassan and kallah were there. I put my phone down, took the mic, and as the musical cue ended, I began, “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome for the very first time our chassan and kallah…” and was about to read the names from my screen. I then realized that those were next week’s names, but I knew this couple wanted their names announced, so I fumbled on my phone to find the right ones. The room was quiet, and it took me eight or nine seconds, which felt like years.

THE JEWISH MUSIC ARTIST I MOST CONNECT TO

Growing up, my favorite vocalist was Yaakov Shwekey, and I’m still a big admirer of his vocals. In terms of connection, though, I think few artists are as connectable as Abie Rotenberg, especially through his Journeys series — those songs resonate so deeply and broadly that everyone connects.

MY VERY FIRST GIG

My father was a community rabbi in Toronto and very involved in kiruv and shidduchim. When I was 15, I began to sing at chuppahs of those newly religious couples. I was very nervous at first, but slowly local bands picked up on my singing. Getting those first full wedding jobs was very difficult. I started by taking the mic for ten minutes here and there during the dancing, and my first full wedding was in 2015, when I was 18, and a bochur in my yeshivah asked me to sing at his chasunah.

A KINDNESS ALONG THE WAY

When I came back to yeshivah in Toronto after learning in Eretz Yisrael, I sang at some weddings during bein hazmanim. But after I married and moved to Lakewood in 2020, it was hard to be noticed in a very crowded market. I owe much gratitude to a cousin, who could have hired any singer for his child’s wedding, but he took me, new on the New York scene, together with a ten-piece band from Energy. Chaim Bokchin, the band leader, put out an amazing clip of that wedding which is still popular today, and I appreciate him giving me the opportunity, which led to many others.

FIVE SONGS ON MY PLAYLIST

“Zeh Hakatan,” from Baruch Levine’s Lev Chadash album; “Hafachta” from Avraham Fried’s Keep Climbing; “Korveini Elecha” by Naftali Kempeh; Dovid Gabbay’s “Besimchah Tamid,”  which I’m happy to say is making a comeback these days; and my own “Ner Dolek,” which was released in November.

MUSIC THAT HELPS ME RELAX

The Israeli stuff, like Ribo and Akiva. On the way back from a wedding, I need to unwind, but also stay awake. If I’m driving back from Brooklyn or Monsey to Lakewood, I listen to MBD’s English Collection, Journeys, or the medleys from Off the Record.

WHAT’S WITH THE HAT?

The first wedding I did, I took off my hat to sing, like everyone. My rosh yeshivah was there, and afterward he told me that as a yeshivah bochur, I should wear it. That was that. When I got married, I asked again, and the answer was, “Yes, wear your hat, you’re an avreich.” When the opportunity came up for my first big wedding and video clip, I asked the Rosh Yeshivah one last time. He assured me, “You won’t lose out on parnassah because of it.” He was right. It actually became a bit of a branding thing, because I’m pretty much the only non-chassidish singer who wears a (down) hat. It means I have to buy a lot of hats, with all that exertion, but no problem, Borsalino in Lakewood takes care of me.

HOW I LISTEN

On an MP3, because I like to have a huge playlist and be surprised by the songs. I download all my music from Mostly Music or Music Table, and with 5000 songs, I usually just shuffle and enjoy. My MP3 comes with me wherever I go.

HOW TO BREAK IN

The truth is that it’s very hard — you need incredible siyata d’Shmaya. And the chassidish singers are the natural go-to in the industry. If you ask someone planning a wedding which singer he’s having, the answer is often, “I don’t know his name, that chassidishe guy.” But as litvishe singers, we have to accept who we are and not try to be someone else. You’ll only succeed if you’re authentically yourself.

MY MOST INTERESTING REQUEST

One chassan and kallah wanted me to sing TYH Nation’s “Happy Clappy” during the second dance. Unusual, but it definitely made them happy.

MY FAVORITE YIDDISH SONG

You know “A Yiddele” by Isaac Honig? On an album called Shabbos Chazak, produced by Yochi Briskman, Shloime Daskal sings the last track, using that melody with the words titled “A Yiddeneh” about a Yiddishe mother’s davening and Hashem’s answer to her, the reward for the kochos He sees her invest all week long. It’s a beautiful message.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 999)