By COLlive reporter
Musician Yosi Piamenta, one of the most beloved and veteran voices in the Jewish music scene, passed away on Sunday, Elul 8, 5775.
He was 64 and suffered from a terrible illness in the past year.
An Orthodox Jewish singer-songwriter and guitarist, known for introducing the electric guitar to Jewish music, Piamenta played rock and roll tunes, often infused with heavy rock licks and extended guitar solos — all while dressed in Jewish Orthodox religious clothing and singing Biblical Hebrew lyrics. Piamenta has been widely acknowledged by rock critics as a guitar virtuoso.
In addition to being an original songwriter, Piamenta covered others’ music in the religious Jewish music category — his album Songs of the Rebbes includes various Lubavitch, Belz and Sephardi nigunim and Zemirot — as well as secular American music.
Piamenta was born in Jerusalem, Israel in 1951 to Yehuda and Genia Piamenta. In 1962, when he was 12 years old, Piamenta moved with his family to Tel Aviv, Israel. There, he received his first guitar from his uncle, Albert Piamenta, an Israeli saxophonist. Growing up, he practiced traditional Judaism.
In his 20s, Piamenta moved to New York, together with his brother, Avi Piamenta, with the intention of working on a joint album with American saxophone player Stan Getz. The album was a success but Piamenta disapproved of the entertainment industry lifestyle and turned to religion, joining the Orthodox Jewish community.
After getting married in London, Piamenta returned to the United States and fulfilled his dream to meet the Lubavitcher Rebbe whose teachings he had been reading in a column in the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Aharonot.
“I really liked his Jewish philosophy and identified with everything he has written,” Piamenta said years later. “When I came to visit him in Brooklyn, I was immediately hooked. I saw a man with a divine image. It was an electrifying encounter. He had a halo over his head and eyes that touch the Jewish sentiment and heart.”
After that meeting, Piamenta went home looking for his pair of Tefillin. When he left Israel, he took them with him to remind him of home. He decided to start using them for the first time since his Bar Mitzvah.
Piamenta received many blessings from the Rebbe over the years and merited to perform in front of the Rebbe on numerous occasions together with his brother, Avi, who was also on a journey back towards Judaism.
The two sang at the farbrengens the Rebbe held at the main shul of Lubavitch World Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, Simchas Beis Hashoeva street celebrations in Crown Heights, weddings and sold-out concerts around the globe.
Piamenta lived in Flatbush, New York, for over 20 years before moving back to Israel.
In August 2014, Piamenta – together with Avi Piamenta and Naftali Kalfa – released a single, “Yaancha,” calling it a “prayer for Piamenta’s recovery.”
On April 14, 2015, Piamenta’s Facebook page disclosed that “Yosi is not doing well” and asked fans to “Please pray your hearts out.” On April 17, 2015 Piamenta fell into a coma; he woke up from the coma two days later.
In August of 2015 the Piamenta’s condition took a turn for the worse. He passed away on Sunday at Cornell Medical Center in New York.
He is survived by his children Geni Barakat, Tzippy Rush, Moni Piamenta, Yuda Piamenta, Racheli Piamenta, and Avi Piamenta, all of Flatbush, NY.
He is also survived by his siblings, Mrs. Chaya Meer – Morristown, NJ, Mrs. Chana Lorber – Kfar Chabad, Israel, and Avi Piamenta – Kfar Chabad, Israel.
The levaya will take place tonight, Sunday, leaving Shomrei Ha’chomos funeral home, 4218 Ft Hamilton Parkway, Brooklyn, NY at 7:30 pm.
Passing by 770 Eastern Parkway at 9:30 pm, on the way to Israel.
Baruch Dayan Haemes.
the best i have ever seen in all guitar players in the jewish world! all we need is moshiach to come and we will hear him play in the beis hamikdash by the rebbes farbreingen in the beis hamikdash hashlishi bemeheira veyumeinu now!
yechi adoneinu moreinu verabeinu melech hamoshiach leolam voed!!!! !יחי אדונינו מורינו ורבינו מלך המשיח לעולם ועד
Boruch Dayan emes. May we only hear good news from now on. Yossi (and Avi, yibadel lechaim tovim) revolutionized the sound and rhythm of Jewish music and took it to another level. Moshiach now!
Sukkot at the 1650 President St.Courtyard was the place to be back in the day when we all moved into the building. We sat in our sukkot while Yossie, obm (!!!!????) cheerfully handed out sugar canes to the kinderlach, while the singing went on all day until mincha-time.
How we davened for you, Yossi. How we begged Hashem for b’sorot tovot!
Your smile, your ahavat Yisrael are your hallmarks.
You will live in our hearts forever until the IMMINENT Geula Shleima comes!
Mishpachat Metal
Full of Ahavas Hashem & Ahavas Yisroel. BDE.
What a legend… no words…
A true Ohayv Yisroel, doing what he could to lift the spirits of his fellow Yidden. He was one of our treasures and will never be forgotten.
Every Jewish brother and sister is holy and special. I never had the oppertunity to meet Yossi but I wish him peace and more days of rocking the house for the malachim and bringing mossiach now
he played so beautifully at my wedding – it is a loss to the whole community
boruch dayan haemet
i always loved his music,he brought simcha and joy all around,may we open our eyes and see the geula! amen
Yossi’s music was unique! We grew up with their music, all songs were great hits.
What a loss to klal yisroel. You will be greatly missed
Anyone know where his kevura will be ? What time ?
The Funeral for Yosi Piamenta will be tonight, Today
Monday, Aug 24, 2015 (9 Elul 5775) at 10.30 pm at Shamgar in Jerusalem followed by burial at the Chabad Section in Har Hazaytim.
A true Magical, Mystical, Musical Genius and a very special Chossid of the Rebbe. The world will miss his smile, energy and his one of kind Jams………
A legend which we will never forget and a sound that will never fade. Moshiach now!
It was his music and personality that drew me to jewish music. He was one of kind musician and person. My family and I will miss him at future weddings. I hope his family carries on his legend. BDE
Boruch Dayan Haemes.
Brought so much simcha to so many people!
BDE. So sad. Such a good guy and chosid.
I remember when I was in Oholei Torah – he took the house down on Thursday night in Adar. There was was a 15 minute break and he was saying Tehillim basically the entire break..
Oh what a loss!!!!
Baruch dayn haemet
wishing Yosi’s family long life!
I have great memories of dancing wildly to his music at weddings in late 80’s … when I was just becoming frum!!!!
Mashiach we need You!!!!!
You are in the field now greeting each and every one of us with a smile! Please accept our strongest and most heartfelt prayer for Moshiach Now! We DON’T want to wait! We need Yossi together with our Rebbe amongst all the other “Shochnei Afar to arise and dance amongst the living, once more. Please Hashem bring them ALL back withi MOSHIACH Tzidkeinu B’roshum NOW NOW ממש ממש ממש אמן כן יהי רצון!!
Bde. Anyone know when the ohoron will pas
I always davened for him and just happened to be listening to his music today…
Hashgocho protis…
BS”D
its kind of weird- such a talent, magical hands, a one of a kind talent and death silences it all, what a waste death is, you listening the One Above, to the rest of us don’t waste time, utilize every moment of life in the service of Hashem and be happy every moment of life and don’t worry
rest in peace- you brought joy to many
Sad to hear
Baruch Daayan HaEmet
B D E I have some wonderful memories about Yossi Piamenta I remember in 1997 and 1998 Yossi would come before my camp Mogen Avraham in Swan Lake New York and when I heard them for the very first time in my cam I thought to myself wow Yossi and his brother Avi played really well I also remember he played weddings in Crown Heights the ballroom was so vibrates the speakers was so loud it was really like wow totally awesome . Yossi and his brother Avi would play in an organization called Camp Hasc upstate New York and… Read more »
Yossi played at my wedding and wedding of my brothers he was the one who made the simcha will be remembered for all the joy he brought to others
Our thoughts are with his family, what a great man bde will be missed specially at future simchas there is no replacement to rock the house as he did
Saw Yosi in hospital a few weeks ago,He gave me a blessing, He Mammish had a very holy face, it is very sad, where is Moshiach?
Yossie we love u…
we miss u …..
u brought simcha to klal yisroael with love……..
bde
As mentioned in the 13th comment, it’s a big loss to the Jewish music community. May he rest in peace 🙁
I had the opportunity to spend some time with Yossi z”l.
At one gig he was told they will begin in a few minutes-so he sat down opened a small tehillim, and begin reciting it. I admired his soft gentle sweet soul and his genuine smile.
Yossi, you will be missed but never forgotten!
Enjoy your reward in gan eden!
Baruch Dayen Emes!
BDE
Oi vey
He played at my daughter’s wedding, the place was on fire…..BDE
He also said the whole sefer tehillim every day
Bd’e
A lost to the Jewish music community
Yossi you will play again for the Rebbe soon.
I greatly appreciated knowing and hearing Yossi.
The world lost a beautiful soul:(
LEVAYA AT SHOMREI HACHOMOS ORTHODOX CHAPELS
4218 FORT HAMILTONPARKWAY, BROOKLYN
718-435-8100
למה ה’
His incredible music will live on forever. He was the nicest guy I ever met. Can’t wait to see him perform his amazing music again. as we all dance our way to Jerusalem with Moshiach now!!!! Let’s do everything we can to bring moshiach now
the best musician bdh
So sad
May his family find comfort
Tragic. A true inspiration. Fly on Yossi, fly on. You can jam with Jimi now . We certainly will miss you.
Boruch Dayan Emes
BDH
Will be missed…
very sad
I spent 6 hours a day for years learning his intricate revolutionary solos.
He is an inspiration to me and many others. And I plan on playing his music/solos for many years to come.
Shevach
That is SO sad!
We all kept on praying and hoping
Boruch Dayan Emess