Isaac Bitton | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Jacky |
| Born | (1947-12-02)2 December 1947 (age 77) Casablanca, Morocco |
| Genres | Jewish rock,rock and roll,rhythm and blues,soul,Middle Eastern |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, drums |
| Years active | 1966–present |
Isaac "Jacky" Bitton (born 2 December 1947) is a French-American musician. Initially gaining fame as the drummer for secular rock bandLes Variations, Bitton became abaal teshuva throughChabad in the late 1970s and subsequently began a career incontemporary Jewish music.
Born inCasablanca,Morocco to aJewish family,[1] Bitton moved from Morocco toFrance alone at the age of 18. Together with his friends, he formed a rock group and played locally until getting noticed in 1969. Les Variations opened for some of the top billed rockers of the day, such asBachman–Turner Overdrive,Kiss,The Jimi Hendrix Experience,Cream,Taste andAerosmith.
Having a close affinity to his Jewish roots, Bitton always wore the Star of David around his neck while performing.[2]
Bitton is said to have been rated at the time in the top three drummers of Europe.[citation needed] He jammed withJohn Bonham andRobert Plant in a club inBelgium.[citation needed]
Bitton metChabad emissaries (shluchim) who helped him further discover hisOrthodox Jewish heritage.
By the end of 1975, Les Variations, with their new singerRobert Fitoussi, were nearing a deal to tour with the Rolling Stones. The deal did not come to fruition, however, because the singer soon left the group. Bitton took the opportunity to go to New York, where he met theLubavitcher Rebbe for the first time.
Bitton settled in the ChabadLubavitch neighborhood ofCrown Heights, Brooklyn, where he still lives with his family.
In 1977, theBaal Shem Tov Band (BSTB) was formed at theLubavitchRabbinical College of America, inMorristown, New Jersey, as part of an outreach program to college students. The regular members included Menachem Schmidt[3](snare drum), Tzvi Freeman[4][5][6] (acoustic guitar), Moshe Morgenstern[7] (cello), and business and equipment managerShlomo Sawilowsky. They were occasionally complemented by aviolinist and aflutist who attended the college. Subsequently, Bitton, who had moved to the nearbyCrown Heights section ofBrooklyn, New York, joined and completed the group.
With the addition of Bitton, Schmidt was able to move to lead guitar, Freeman to rhythm guitar, and Morgenstern to bass guitar. The combination of Schmidt's creative genius and powerful rock licks with Bitton'sSephardi/Moroccan rhythm and lead vocals produced an electricrock and roll sound. They played traditionalChabadnigunim (songs and melodies) to this beat atChabad houses on college campuses and other venues, primarily on the Eastern seaboard of the United States. One of the highlights of each performance was Bitton's drum solo. A four-song demo was cut in a local studio, but the BSTB disbanded in 1978 as the rabbinical students began to graduate.
The experience with the BSTB provided a transition for Bitton. Subsequently, he was the founding member of the Jewish music group "Raaya Mehemna" ("Faithful Servant" – a reference to aKabbalistic work; the group was later renamed "Raava Mehemna"), which was formed in the early 1980s. Bitton was perhaps the first religious Jew to infuse music on religious Jewish themes with "non-Jewish" styles such as rock and soul. He helped establish the idea of Jewish rock with his heavy hitting style and brought real rock and roll showmanship to the Jewish stage. In the early 80's he released two albums titled "Songs for a Brother Vol 1&2".[8]
Currently, Bitton makes new music, and performs at concerts occasionally. He performed atYeshiva University on 6 May 2007 at aLag B'Omer celebration concert. The opening group played with little response. Once Bitton began his set on the drums to the tune of "Im Ein Ani Li Mi Li"[9] the crowd erupted.[10]
Bitton is widely known for his energetic drumming style, soulful powerful voice, and for fusing traditional Moroccan tunes and scales withR&B,blues, andsoul. He has served as leader and cantor for aSefardi synagogue in Crown Heights since the early 1980s, where his musical signature is evident in his cantorial renditions.
Bitton has played some shows geared toward an Orthodox Jewish audience, but has not rekindled his music career to his former level of a chart topping rock musician. He has since served as a hotel manager for the Crown Palace Hotel[11] in Crown Heights and as a kosher food supervisor (mashgiach).
In 1991, Bitton made headlines[12][13] when he was hit by rocks and bottles,[14] during theCrown Heights Riot. Due to the rioting, Bitton called a cab to take him and his son to his house. The driver refused to take them all the way to their house, letting them off one block away. Police were stationed at each end of the street. They informed Bitton it was safe to continue, and no police accompanied them. However, within a block, they were attacked by an angry mob of Caribbean American,West Indian, and African American rioters.[15] The Bittons were removed from the scene by local residents and reporters, includingPeter Noel,[16] aWest Indian journalist for theVillage Voice.[17][18]
Bitton suffered a torn rotator cuff and required 10 stitches to his head. His son was struck by bottles and bricks, and suffered hearing loss and psychological damage. Riot police saw the attack but failed to respond, choosing instead to radio for reinforcements. This was due to their instructions to remain in fixed positions during the early stages of the rioting.[15] The police reinforcements were also met by an attack of rocks and bottles from the rioters, but none of the rioters were arrested. Subsequently, Bitton sued and was awarded $200,000 by New York City.[19]
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