MALAVSKY, SAMUEL (1894–1983), *ḥazzan. Born in Smela, near Kiev, Ukraine, Malavsky sang as a meshorer (see *Music) with various ḥazzanim. He went to the U.S. in 1914 and auditioned for Josef *Rosenblatt, thus beginning a lifelong association. Malavsky sang duets with Rosenblatt in concerts and on recordings as well as officiating as ḥazzan in many leading congregations. In 1947 he formed the Malavsky family choir, "Singers of Israel," with his two sons and four daughters. They achieved great international popularity through their appearances in synagogues, concerts, and on recordings. Malavsky created a unique style for his family choir by introducing a strongly marked beat and syncopation into traditional Eastern European ḥazzanut.
Sources: Encyclopaedia Judaica. © 2007 The Gale Group. All Rights Reserved.