Florida Theatre
Matisyahu
Wednesday, November 12, 2014 | 7:30pm
Perhaps one of the most eclectic talents in popular music today, Hasidic reggae singer/rapper Matisyahu (born Matthew Paul Miller on June 30, 1979) has been captivating audiences since he burst onto the scene in late 2004. His infectious mix of reggae, hip hop, and Jewish soul has attracted the praise of a multitude of fans and critics alike. By combining the dancehall reggae sound of artists like Bob Marley and Buju Banton with the energetic ska of Sublime, as well as the Jewish spirit of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, Matisyahu has created a popular cultural fusion that has inspired fans across the world.
It wasn’t until his second release, a concert album recorded in Austin, Texas entitled Live at Stubbs, did Matisyahu and his band (known as Roots Tonic) begin to achieve commerical success. To date, the album has been certified Gold by the US RIAA and peaked at #30 on the Billboard Charts. The live version of the single “King Without a Crown” has broken into the Modern Rock Top 10 and peaked at #7. His album, Youth, released in March 2006 by Epic Records, is a smash hit and has also been certified Gold. Youth peaked at #4 on the Billboard Charts.
“We live in a world where people tend to think in extremes and categorize with ultimate statements,” Matisyahu says. “While it’s true that at one point it would’ve been pretty accurate to describe me as Hasidic reggae, for most of my career my music has been a blend, a mixture.”