The only one reggae singer who never performs in concert on Friday nights happened to break the rule once. It happened in Fairbanks, Alaska in 2007, but the tradition of Jewish Sabbath observance wasn’t ruined because the polar sun didn't set until 2:00 a.m. on that day. Meanwhile, speaking about rules breaking, he did it a lot! And that’s probably why the long-bearded guy in a Hasidic outfit has become a star in the world of Rasta people and hip-hoppers!
Born in Pennsylvania in 1979, Matthew Paul Miller was brought up as a Reconstructionist Jew and attended Hebrew school at Bet Am Shalom. At the same time he behaved not in a common for a religious Jew way, taking hallucinogens and following the “Phish” band with “deadheads”. At 16 he took part in a semester-long school program in Israel and decided to adopt the Ortodox Judaism. In 2001 he became affiliated with the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic community in Brooklyn, but in July 2007 told the “Miami New Times” in an interview that he no longer "necessarily" identifies with the Lubavitch movement.
Being obsessed with rock and MC, Matthew took his first steps as a musician performing with the “MC Mystic's Soulfari” band. At that time he was not Matisyahu yet, the band’s fans knew him as MC Truth. He took the Hebrew version of his name - Matisyahu as a stage name later.
In 2004, Matisyahu signed with JDub Records, a not-for-profit record label that promotes Jewish musicians, and released his first album which whoever didn’t make much waves. At the time a relatively unknown musician, he did not rise to prominence until 2005, when Phish invited him a guest spot during their performance at the Bonnarroo Music Festival. This would prove to be the event that launched his career.
Throughout 2005 and 2006, Matisyahu toured extensively in the United States, Canada and Europe; and made a number of stops in Israel, including a performance as the supporting act for Sting in June 2006. At the same time the live version of the song King without a Crown, broke into the Modern Rock Top 10 in United States. And when he appeared at Bonnarroo-2006, now he was performing solo in front of estimated crowd of 10,000 people.
Since 2004, he has released two studio albums, a live album; two remix CDs and a DVD featuring a live concert – pretty much for five years of extensive stage work while touring around country.
Matisyahu managed to break the barriers between cultures, ethnic clichés and music formats to become the phenomenon of the American Modern rock stage. He mixes in contemporary styling of rap and beatboxing, as well as the traditional Hazzan style of Jewish cantors and Hasidic nigunim creating the American Hasidic Jewish reggae. Reviewers generally agree that Matisyahu may disappoint reggae purists, but acknowledge the unique musical blend that makes his music really unique.
“Chasidism teaches that music is 'the quill of the soul.' Music taps into a very deep place and speaks to us in a way that regular words can't” – says Matisyahu and you have a chance to prove it attending one of the performances of his recent tour around USA.

June 23 – Portland, OR               July 1 – Minneapolis, MN
June 24 – Seattle, WA                 July 7 – Boston, MA
June 25 – Boise, ID                       July 9 – New York, NY
June 27 – Salt Lake City, UT      July 14 – Rochester, NY

For detailed info about Matisyahu concerts please browse this site database.