His Latest Release:

Rabbi Joe Black
Afikomen Mambo

Biography of Rabbi Joseph R. Black

 

                                       BIOGRAPHY - RABBI JOSEPH R. BLACK

 

Joy in the experience of learning. That's a big part of Rabbi Joe Black's approach to contemporary Jewish music. With children, he is energetic, surprising, and dynamic. With adults, his superb musicianship, powerful songwriting and sense of spiritual awareness creates an opportunity for the head and the heart to come together.

Rabbi Black is one of the most popular Jewish contemporary artists in the United States.  He has been a featured performer at the Coalition for Alternatives in Jewish Education (CAJE) Conference as well as the Biennial Conventions of the Union for Reform Judaism.  He has shared his music with hundreds of Jewish communities around the United States and Canada. He also has been featured in many acoustic music venues around the country. Rabbi Black has been honored as one of the “Top Ten Artists” in both the categories of “Jewish Children’s Music” and “Male, Adult Contemporary Jewish Music” by Moment Magazine and TARA Publications.  His recordings have received accolades from sources as diverse as The New York Times, Haddasah Magazine, Parent’s Choice, The American Library Journal and Kids First:  The Coalition for Quality Children’s Video.  While living in Chicago, he hosted the Emmy award winning television program, The Magic Door on WBBM TV.

 

Rabbi Black became Sr. Rabbi of Temple Emanuel in Denver, CO in July of 2010.  He served as Rabbi of Congregation Albert in Albuquerque, New Mexico from 1996-2010.  He served as Assistant and then Associate Rabbi at Temple Israel in Minneapolis MN from 1987-1996. 

 

Rabbi Black is thought-provoking and accessible, a rare and wondrous combination. His infectious musical style teaches while entertaining. A Rabbi Joe Black performance is an engrossing experience--an extraordinary and unique extension of the rabbinate.

 

His intense commitment to both modern Jewish music and to his home congregation means that he performs only a few select concerts each year, choosing venues where his creative musical approach can counsel, guide, and teach...but most of all, entertain.

 

Rabbi Black has recorded five critically acclaimed albums of Jewish music:

·         Aleph Bet Boogie – fun filled songs for Jewish families

·         Everybody’s Got a Little Music – more exciting music for Jewish families

·         8 Nights of Joy – a live Chanukah concert with Chicago’s acclaimed, Maxwell Street Klezmer Band. 

·         Leave a Little Bit Undone – thought-provoking and lively contemporary Jewish Music

·         Sabbatical – more contemporary Jewish Music

 

He also has published the New Rabbi Joe Black Songbook and Boker Tov! – a joyful picture book based on his original song.