Anthony Russell (American singer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anthony Mordechai Tzvi Russell
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| Background information | |
| Born | 1980 Fort Worth, Texas |
| Genres | Yiddish, klezmer, Jewish music, African-American music, opera |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Associated acts | Veretski Pass |
Anthony Mordechai Tzvi Russell is an American singer and musician. He is known for performing in Yiddish, a language spoken by many Jewish people. He is also an African-American person who chose to become Jewish.
Early Life and Learning
Anthony Russell was born in 1979 in Fort Worth, Texas. His family was Christian. Because his father was in the US Navy, his family moved often. When Anthony was seven, they settled in Vallejo, California.
His mother, who used to play classical piano, encouraged his love for music. Anthony taught himself a lot about music and the Bible. He learned to read and play music on his own. He was homeschooled from 5th grade. Later, he earned a degree in music from Holy Names University in Oakland, California.
Music Career
After college, Anthony Russell started singing opera in San Francisco and New York. He sings in a deep voice called a bass. His first big performance was in an opera called Appomattox by Philip Glass.
He later became interested in Jewish music. He heard a Yiddish song called "Dem Milners Trern" ("The Miller's Tears") in a movie. This made him want to learn more about old Jewish music and singers like Sidor Belarsky. He also looks up to famous performers like Paul Robeson and Josephine Baker.
In 2012, Anthony Russell was invited to sing at a cultural center in New York. There, he met Shane Baker, a Yiddish performer, who helped him start his career. In 2017, Anthony won Der Yidisher Idol, which was a Yiddish singing contest.
Anthony Russell creates his own special music style. He mixes traditional African-American music with Ashkenazi Jewish music. He sometimes performs with pianist Dmitri Gaskin in a duo called Tsvey Brider, meaning "Two Brothers." He also worked with a klezmer band called Veretski Pass on a project called "Convergence."
He has performed his Yiddish music in many places around the world. These include cities like Toronto, Montreal, Mexico City, Berlin, and Warsaw. He has also sung at famous venues like Symphony Space in New York City and the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. In 2023, he was a special lecturer at the University of Washington.
Personal Life
Anthony Russell formally converted to Judaism in January 2011. He chose the Hebrew name Mordechai Tzvi. He then traveled to Israel to study Yiddish at Tel Aviv University. Since 2022, he lives in Atlanta, Georgia.
Discography
- City of the Future (2014) with Hot Pstromi, Yale Strom, Michael Alpert, Judy Bressler, Vira Lozinsky, Elizabeth Schwartz, Daniel Kahn and Jack Falk
- Convergence (2018) with Veretski Pass (Cookie Segelstein, Joshua Horowitz, Stuart Brotman, featuring John Santos)
- Kosmopolitn (2022, with Tsvey Brider and Baymele) (Borscht Beat)
