Abie Rotenberg is a prolific Orthodox Jewish

Orthodox Judaism

Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...

 musician, composer and entertainer from Toronto

Toronto

Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...

, Ontario

Ontario

Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....

, Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

. He has been producing music since the mid 1970s with a style which has been described as "soft and sweet" with a strong folk

Folk music

Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....

 influence.

Rotenberg grew up in Queens, New York surrounded by other up and coming religious Jewish musicians, including Eli Teitelbaum, who directed the first Pirchei boys choir, as well as Rabbi Baruch Chait

Baruch Chait

Baruch Chait is an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi and musician composer. He is also the Rosh Yeshiva of the Israeli high-school Maarava Machon Rubin. He is the son of the Rabbi Moshe Chait, the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivath Chafetz Chaim of Jerusalem, and a student of the Rabbi Henoch Leibowitz, former Rosh...

 and Label Sharfman who attended yeshiva

Yeshiva

Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...

with him. Rotenberg studied piano and taught himself guitar at a young age.

Musical career

Rotenberg has cited musicians Rabbi Benzion Shenker, and Shlomo Carlebach

Shlomo Carlebach

Shlomo Carlebach , known as Reb Shlomo to his followers, was a Jewish rabbi, religious teacher, composer, and singer who was known as "The Singing Rabbi" during his lifetime...

 as strong influences. While his folk-inspired sound and inspirational lyrics are strongly reminiscent of Carlebach, Rotenberg's soft and sometimes melancholic voice, however, contrast with Carlebach's ecstatic style. Rotenberg has collaborated with other Jewish musicians including Mordechai ben David

Mordechai ben David

Mordechai Werdyger , professionally known as Mordechai Ben David or MBD for short, is an American Hasidic Jewish singer and songwriter popular in the Orthodox Jewish community. He has been referred to as the 'King of Jewish music'. He has produced many popular Jewish albums over the past 40 years...

, Avraham Fried

Avraham Fried

Avraham Shabshi Hakohen Friedman better known by his stage name, Avraham Fried, is a popular musical entertainer in the Orthodox Jewish community.-Career:...

, Yehuda Schechter, Yaakov Shwekey

Yaakov Shwekey

Yaakov Shwekey is an Orthodox Jewish American recording artist, and musical entertainer. Through his father, he is of Egyptian and Syrian Sephardic heritage, although his mother is Ashkenazic.-Biography:...

, Moshe Yess

Moshe Yess

Moshe Aaron Yess was an Orthodox Jewish musician, composer and entertainer from Montreal, Canada.A member of the Chabad community in Montreal, Yess was a regular performer at Chabad House events and shows, together with general music festivals and the annual A Time for Music concert.- Musical...

 and Shlomo Simcha with whom he co-starred in Israel National Radio's Miracles 18 concert.

Rotenberg has also been a main fixture of the annual HASC A Time for Music concerts. He has produced a children's audio series called the Marvelous Midos Machine composed of 3 volumes, with all original material. Rotenberg has said that wanted to raise awareness of different traits inherent in each child through this series.

Discography

• D'veykus: Volumes 1-6

• Journeys: Volumes 1-4

• Lev VeNefesh: Volumes 1 & 2

• The Golden Crown

• Aish: Volumes 1 & 2

• A Time to Laugh

• The Marvelous Middos Machine: Volumes 1-3

• Kol Salonika