Shmuel Dovid "Shmueli" Ungar is an American singer, songwriter and entertainer in the contemporary Jewish religious music industry.[1] He has released four albums, three of which charted on the Billboard World Music category.[2]
He also hosts a Yiddish-language podcast titled ShmueliCast, in which he hosts various Hasidic guests. Its YouTube channel has over 7,000 subscribers.
Biography
Ungar was born in 1990 in Kiryas Joel, New York, where he studied in the Satmar yeshiva. He continued to study in a yeshiva in London[1] followed by a yeshiva in Monsey. He was orphaned from his father at age 14.[3]
Musical career
Ungar began his career at the wedding of his sister, at the request of his grandfather,[4] after which he continued to perform at weddings in Williamsburg. He was originally part of Zemiros Choir,[5] after which he switched to Shira Choir,[6] but eventually left the group to progress his career as a solo artist.
In 2016, he released his debut album, Shmueli 2. The album was produced by Naftali Schnitzler and features compositions by Moshe Laufer, Pinky Weber, Naftali Schnitzler and Yitzy Waldner, and arrangements by Moshe Laufer and Yoeli Dickman.
In August 2017, he released the first single from the album, Mach A Bracha. As of November 2024, the music video has more than 10 million views on YouTube.
In 2018, he released his album Mach a Bracha. The album was produced by Naftali Schnitzler and features compositions by Pinky Weber, Beri Weber, Naftali Schnitzler and Hershy Weinberger.
In 2019, he released an album called On Stage, produced by Naftali Schnitzler, with the Menagnim Orchestra and Moishe Roth. The album includes over 50 wedding songs and encompasses almost an entire wedding.
Following the success of On Stage, he released a second album in the series in 2022 called Back Stage. The album includes 50 tracks. The album was produced by Naftali Schnitzler together with composer Hershy Weinberger, with musical arrangement by Shea Kaller.[7]
In February 2024, he released an album titled Shulem Aleichem, which was later voted Album of the Year 2024 by streaming app 24Six. He also released a music video, titled Fire, one of the songs from the album.
In December 2024, he released an album of popular Hanukkah songs, titled L'chaim Shmueli, with producer Yosef Moshe Kahana, with arrangements by Moshe Laufer and Yehuda Galili.
Personal life
Ungar is a member of the Satmar dynasty and is married with two children. He lives in Monroe, New York.[8]
^"שמילי אונגר חוזר לבמה" [Shmueli Ungar returns to the stage]. Hageula (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-12-20.
^Aronfeld, Yosef (2016-09-05). "האלבום החדש של שמילי אונגר נחת בישראל" [Shmueli Ungar's new album has landed in Israel]. Chasidinews (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-12-20.
