Isaac Bitton

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Isaac “Jacky” Bitton (born December 2, 1947) was the drummer for Les Variations, a French rock band that rose to stardom between 1967 and 1975, after which when they split up.

Born in Casablanca, Morocco[1], Jacky moved from Morocco to France alone at the age of 18.

Contents

[edit] Early History

Together with his friends, Bitton formed a rock group and played locally until getting noticed in 1969. Variations opened for some of the top billed rockers of the day, such as Bachman Turner Overdrive, Kiss, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream, Taste, and Aerosmith.

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 3 drummers of Europe[citation needed]. He jammed with John Bonham and Robert Plant in a club in Belgium[citation needed].

[edit] Jewish Identity

Bitton met Chabad representatives (shluchim) who helped him further discover his orthodox Jewish heritage.

[edit] Les Variations' End

By the end of 1975, Les Variations, with their new singer Robert 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 the Lubavitcher Rebbe for the first time.

Bitton settled in the Chabad Lubavitch neighborhood of Crown Heights, Brooklyn, where he still lives with his family.

[edit] Music Career After Les Variations: Crossover into Modern Jewish Music

In 1977, the Baal Shem Tov Band (BSTB) was formed at the Lubavitch Rabbinical College of America, in Morristown, New Jersey, as part of an outreach program to college students. The regular members included Menachem Schmidt (snare drum), Tzvi Freeman (acoustic guitar), Moshe Morgenstern (cello), and business and equipment manager Shlomo Sawilowsky. They were occasionally complimented by a violinist and a flutist who attended the College. Subsequently, Bitton, who had moved to the nearby Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, 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's Sephardi/Moroccan rhythm and lead vocals, produced an electric rock and roll sound. They played traditional Chabad nigunim (songs and melodies) to this beat at Chabad 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 a Kabbalistic work; the group was later renamed "Raava Mehemna"), which was formed in the early 80's. 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. He released his first record of this genre in 1980 and the second in 1984[citation needed].

Currently, Bitton makes new music, and performs at concerts occasionally. He performed at Yeshiva University on May 6 2007 at a Lag 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" the crowd erupted[citation needed].

Bitton is widely known for his energetic drumming style, soulful powerful voice, and for fusing traditional Moroccan tunes and scales with R&B, Blues, and Soul. He has served as leader and Cantor for a Sefardi Synagogue in Crown Heights since the early 1980s, where his musical signature is evident in his cantorial renditions.

[edit] Making Headlines

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[3] in Crown Heights and as a kosher food supervisor (mashgiach).

[edit] 1990s

In 1991, Bitton made headlines[4] when he was hit by rocks and bottles,[5] during the Crown 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.[6] The Bittons were removed from the scene by local residents and reporters, including Peter Noel, a West Indian journalist for the Village Voice.[7][8]

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.[9] 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.[10]

[edit] 2000s

Bitton was the subject of news stories and blogs when he challenged the kosher status of a restaurant he was supervising for the Jewish agency, the Orthodox Union (OU).[11] He made allegations that the chef was intentionally making food unkosher, but the OU disagreed with his assessment[12]. Bitton believed he had an obligation to report a cover-up to Jewish consumers. He quit the position, posted his views on his blog, and distributed emails about his account[13] of the debate.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Band member Tobaly’s website
  2. ^ NYU Mentor on a Mission, by Stephanie Wargin
  3. ^ New York Times, Warily, Crown Heights Is Awaiting Holy Days, By ARI L. GOLDMAN, September 7, 1991
  4. ^ Photo of Bitton on NY Post cover during the riot
  5. ^ New York Times, Vivid New Court Statements Detail Crown Heights Clash, By JOSEPH P. FRIED, April 3, 1993
  6. ^ Brandeis Press, Crown Heights - Blacks, Jews, and the 1991 Brooklyn Riot, by Edward Shapiro
  7. ^ U.S. News & World Report , Side by side, apart: the difficult search for racial peace in Brooklyn. (blacks and Jews in Brooklyn, N.Y.), November 4, 1991, by Horn, Miriam
  8. ^ Jewish Exponent, ”Blacks and Jews” Gets PBS Airing, July 24, 1997
  9. ^ Crown Heights - Blacks, Jews, and the 1991 Brooklyn Riot, by Edward Shapiro, 2006.
  10. ^ New York Times, Hasidic Family Hurt in Unrest Settles Lawsuit, By DAVID W. CHEN, January 26, 1998
  11. ^ New York Post, Rockin’ Rabbi, By Bill Sanderson, April 16, 2007
  12. ^ OU Challenge to Bitton
  13. ^ Bitton’s Blog

[edit] External links

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