John Lack spoke these words 12:01 August 1, 1981 upon the launch of MTV. The first music video shown was The Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star, followed by Pat Benatar’s “You Better Run.”
The world of pop music would never be the same. Watching your favorite stars tell their stories, instead of just listening to their music changed the way the world experienced the sounds of secular music. The videos added a personal connection from artist to viewer and gave the audience a sense of theater, with choreography and dance elements. Additionally, music television helped to elevate burgeoning artists and new genres of popular music while keeping the world up to date with pressing news of the times.
Ladies and gentlemen of Temple Emanu-El: let’s rock and roll with some new Jewish tunes! Today, March 15th, 2018, Jewish Music Television is born! JMtV is a video campaign that will showcase newer, and new (with a few “oldies” thrown in there too) synagogue music.
Every Tuesday catch me on video on our Youtube channel or Facebook and check out the song of the week! Listen and watch to your heart’s content, -don’t forget to share it with your friends!- and on Friday night sing it with your clergy as we celebrate Shabbat together.
John Lack spoke those famous opening words over the footage of the first Space Shuttle launch countdown of Columbia and launched a new entertainment concept into the stratosphere. On the eve of our fortieth year, I look forward to launching our very own Jewish Music Television campaign into space, to connecting with each of you through the video waves and in person as we lift up our favorite Jewish melodies, and discover new ones together.