Cantor Edward R. Fogel Memorial Concert

[Fred Blumenthal <xd2fabl...>]

The St. Louis Circle of Jewish Music is a 33-year-old organization 
dedicated to spreading Jewish music in the St. Louis area, and currently 
contains the cantors, music directors, choir directors and soloists of 
most of the Reform and Conservative congregations in the city.  Over the 
years our most visible activities have included the annual Spring and 
Chanukah concerts. 

This year's Cantor Edward R. Fogel Memorial Concert will feature Doug 
Cotler, among the most famous singer-songwriters in modern Jewish music, 
having recorded six albums of original Jewish music, including the song 
"Manhunt" from the movie Flashdance, which won a Grammy in 1984.  The concert 
will take place Wednesday 
evening, May 21st at 7:30 pm at Congregation Shaare Zedek, 829 North 
Hanley Road in suburban University City.  Members of the St. Louis Circle 
of Jewish Music and a children's choir will also perform.

Edward R. Fogel, cantor emeritus of Congregation Shaare Emeth, passed away 
January 8th, 2002.  Born in Turkestan, then part of the Soviet Union, he 
was raised in Toronto, Canada.  After high school he hitch-hiked to New 
York City in order to attend Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of 
Religion School of Sacred Music.  Graduating in 1970, he was hired by 
Congregation Shaare Emeth, and completed a master's degree at St. Louis 
Conservatory of Music in 1988.  Cantor Fogel served Shaare Emeth as Hazan 
and Music Director,  proving to be versatile by directing adult and 
children's choirs, accompanying himself on the guitar and known as a 
comedian, performing throughout the world, and recording several albums. 
He was a founding member and President of the St. Louis Circle of Jewish 
Music, and a President of the American Conference of Cantors.  After 
surviving cancer he retired in 1998 and became cantor emeritus, but passed 
away in 2002.  Soon afterwards the St. Louis Circle of Jewish Music named 
its annual Spring Concert in his memory.  Rabbi Jeffrey Stiffman of 
Congregation Shaare Emeth said of him that "In his prime, he was 
considered one of the best voices in the American cantorate."