It’s not exactly a latke-eating contest, but maybe we crown someone the Music Maven of All Time

S

ome people have a knack for remembering even the smallest detail of something that may have occurred 50 years ago. They remember who sang at their bar mitzvah, what color their parents’ first car was, or even the name of the school janitor. You probably know someone like that. In the music business, producer Sheya Mendlowitz is that guy. You give him the name of any song, especially the oldies, and he can tell you the album, what number song it was, and what side of the record it was on.

Since we often do a trip down memory lane in this space, in lieu of the Chanukah carnivals that haven’t happened this year, I’ve decided instead to ask 25 random trivia questions. It’s not exactly a latke-eating contest, but maybe we crown someone the Music Maven of All Time.

(All answers must be postmarked no later than the end of this year. All family members and employees of Suki and Ding are excluded from this offer. Good luck!)

Questions

What was the name of the Manhattan lawyer from the song, “The Athiests Convention”?

Who conducted the Regesh choir at HASC V?

How many Ohr Chodosh records were there?

Which Baruch Chait song was sold to a group of Indians?

What was the name of Dov Shurin’s sidekick?

What album did Dedi sing on as a child?

Who was emcee at the first Haazinu concert?

Who composed Avraham Fried’s “V’hu K’chassan”?

Where was Yigal Calek born, Manchester or London?

Who arranged Mordechai Ben David’s first record?

What was the cover of the first Simchatone album and who’s on it?

At which venue in Manhattan did Shlomo Carlebach perform in 1962?

What’s Yehuda Green’s real name?

What is Yehuda!’s last name?

Who was the child soloist from Israel at the HASC XI Concert?

Where was the footage for Uncle Moishy’s “Pizza Song” recorded?

What instrument did Yoel Sharabi play at every concert?

Who composed Yossi Green’s “Tanya”?

Who sang the French and Spanish version of Uncle Moishy’s “Let’s Go to Shul”?

What’s the correct spelling of Yaakov Shwekey’s last name?

Who composed “Abishter” from the Tzlil V’zemer II album?

Who played the character “The Simcha Machine” on the album?

Is Bello’s hair real, a wig, or something else?

Who’s older, Bentzi Marcus or Shmuli Marcus?

What album had a Chanukah song called “Colored Candles”?

All right, never mind, this is not a contest. To find out the answers, you can either call Sheya, look it up, or just continue reading….

Answers: Peter from Manhattan. Eli Cohen. There were three Ohr Chodosh albums. “Yom Shekulo Shabbos” was sold to the Indians for more money than Reb Baruch made on any other song. We all remember Uncle Leibish. Dedi sang proudly on Pirchei Yerushalayim. Hilly Gross and Zale Newman. Neither — Yigal was born in Israel. Josh Goldberg. Yaakov Solomon, Bency Schachter and Yonah Weinrib were under a marquee and created quite the stir back then. Shlomo performed in Town Hall. Yehuda Greenvald (that’s how the family pronounces it, since they’re Yerushalmi). Cyk is Yehudah’s last name. Amit Listvand sang at HASC. Chez David was the pizza store on 83rd and Amsterdam. He played the chalil, if you consider that an instrument. Only Yossi Green could have composed “Tanya.” Yaakov Gade sang both versions of “Let’s go to Shul.” Choueka. Velvel Marantz composed that amazing song. Shmuel Klaver played the Simcha Machine. The hair is real. Shmuli is four years older. Destiny had that Chanukah classic, “Colored Candles.”

May the Chanukah flames continue to illuminate our days with light, happiness, and music.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 840)