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Joshua Nelson is an up-and-coming gospel singer and a Hebrew teacher.
Background
Nelson, who is Black and Jewish (he has called himself "the KKK's worst nightmare). He became fascinated with music when he was 8, living in Brooklyn. His fascination lasted after he graduated from Newark's Performing Arts High School. He was the school's official soloist for the 4 years he studied there. He went on to do a 2-year college and kibbutz program in Israel studying at the Hebrew Union College as well as the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
While attending Hebrew University in Jerusalem, he started blending Hebrew texts with gospel melodies or arranging Jewish hymns in gospel style, resulting in solo CDs like "Hebrew Soul."
Jewish Gospel singing
Nelson transcends differences between races and faiths through his music. He is both an up-and-coming Jewish Gospel singer in the tradition of Mahalia Jackson, and a Hebrew teacher full-time in the Hebrew school at Sharey-Tefilo-Israel, a Reform synagogue in South Orange, NJ, when he is not on the road. He also serves as director of music at Hopewell Baptist Church in Newark, NJ, which is housed in a former synagogue (the former B’nai Jeshurun.
Through his composing, gospel singing, and chanting Torah, Nelson is the musical embodiment of cultural harmony. His rich voice, charismatic personality, and personal mission to build bridges between the races.
Nelson created a new sound that blends Jewish liturgical and African American spiritual styles. Nelson performs all around the world, with musical legends including Wynton Marsalis and Aretha Franklin and Stephanie Mills, as well as gospel singers Albertina Walker and the Barret Sisters. Nelson also performs frequently with the Jewish Klezmer band The Klezmatics. Nelson sang before Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson and performed for an audience in Jerusalem that included then-Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Film
A film was made about him entitled Keep on Walking: Joshua Nelson: The Jewish Gospel Singer (2000). It was voted Best Documentary in the Northampton Film Festival.