Shloime Dachs is an American Orthodox pop vocalist. He is also the founder of the eponymous Shloime Dachs Orchestra, which plays at weddings, concerts, and benefits.[1][2][3]
Biography
Dachs was born in New York. He has one brother and one sister.[4] His parents divorced when he was 13. He spoke publicly about being a child of divorced parents at the 88th National Convention of Agudath Israel of America in 2010.[4][5]
Dachs began singing at age 7[6] with the Yeshiva Torah Vodaas school choir[4] and joined the three main choirs of the era: the Miami Boys Choir, Tzlil V'Zemer, and Amudai Shaish Boys Choir.[6][7][8] He sang the solos on the first 613 Torah Avenue albums.[6][4]
In 1996 Dachs released his debut album, One Day at a Time.[9] His introduction to the Jewish music scene precipitated many simcha and concert appearances.[7] He released his second solo album, Acheinu, in 1998,[10] and his third solo album, K'ish Echod B'Lev Echad, in 2001.[7]
Dachs assembled the Shloime Dachs Orchestra in 2003.[6][7] This band has performed at hundreds of weddings, bar mitzvahs, organization dinners and concerts.[10]
His fourth solo album, Avinu, released in 2003,[11] was the first to include an interactive computer video depicting an experience of Israel.[7] His fifth solo album, Hashem Echad, released in 2007,[12] also including an interactive computer video, marked the singing debut of Dachs' son Dovid. His sixth album, Dance All Night With the Shloime Dachs Orchestra, was released in 2009.[7][13]
He has collaborated on albums with other Orthodox Jewish singers such as Mendy Wald (Listig & Lebedig, 1999),[14]Ari Goldwag (V'Zoicher, 2010),[15] and Yisroel Williger (The Yom-Tov Album, 2001,[16] and The Wedding Album, 2010[17]). He has also contributed songs to Dance Mix (1998),[18]Chazak! (2001),[19] and Avraham Fried Live! (2002).[20]
Benefit performances
Dachs is closely associated with the OHEL children's home and family services, both as an active board member and as a volunteer performer at concerts for residents of OHEL's community homes.[4][10][21] He and his wife Libby host OHEL residents at their home throughout the year, including the annual Nine Dayssiyum and barbecue.[22] Dachs is also a regular performer at Camp HASC[23] and Camp Simcha Special.[24][25] He has sung at the Israel Day Concert in Central Park,[26][27] a Hanukkah concert benefiting the CAHAL Special-Education Program,[28] a Long Island benefit concert to raise tuition for a special child,[29] and a yahrtzeit concert memorializing rabbi-singer Shlomo Carlebach.[30] In 2009 he was honored by the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation for his efforts on behalf of that organization.[31]
Chazzan
Since 2002, Dachs has been a chazzan (cantor) for the High Holy Days at the Great Neck Synagogue, his childhood synagogue.[32]
Family
He and his wife, Libby, have 4 children and reside in Brooklyn, New York.[10]
Discography
Solo albums
One Day At a Time (1996)
Acheinu (1998)
K'ish Echod B'Lev Echad (2001)
Avinu (2003)
Hashem Echod (2007)
Dance All Night With the Shloime Dachs Orchestra (2009)
Collaborations
Suki & Ding Present: Kumzits – The Early Years (1988)
^ abcdeBesser, Yisroel. "I've Been There: Shloime Dachs shares his challenges and triumphs as the child of a 'broken home'". Mishpacha, 9 February 2011, pp. 52–59.
^ abcdGinsberg, Rachel. "Catch a Falling Star: How do former child stars navigate life after the glitz and glitter is gone?" Mishpacha, April 9, 2014, pp. 160-162.
