# Malavsky Family

The Malavsky family was a Jewish-American family who appeared throughout the Jewish world in concerts of cantorial and Jewish folk music. The father of the family, Samuel Malavsky (1894–1985), a renowned cantor and composer, was often the soloist, accompanied by his four daughters and two sons.

## Samuel Malavsky

Cantor Samuel (Shmuel) Malavsky was born in the Ukrainian city of Smila, near Kiev in 1894. In 1914, at the age of 20, he emigrated to America. His talent as a cantor was recognized by the world-renowned hazzan (cantor) Yossele Rosenblatt (who was also from the Ukraine), who adopted Malavsky as his protégé. Malavsky was a cantor in numerous orthodox communities, including Bridgeton, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, New Haven and Detroit. He recorded many solo cantorial recordings, accompanied by an organ, as well as duets with his mentor Yossele Rosenblatt. His voice was expansive, warm, expressive and emotional. He was a talented composer of cantorial melodies and a gifted improviser. Many of his compositions have become classics of the cantorial genre.

## Malavsky family choir

When his children grew up and his sons returned from army service during World War II, Cantor Malavsky decided to appear together with his family, creating a choir from his two sons - Avraham (Albert) and Morton - and his four daughters - Goldie (Gloria), Gittele (Trudie), Ruth and Menucha (Minnie); the latter became known as the Four Chazentes. This was a bold step for a cantor who declared himself to be Orthodox, since the idea of a woman cantor was considered counter to halacha. The Orthodox synagogues refused to allow Malavsky to appear together with his daughters. On the other hand, Malavsky refused to accept a cantorial appointment in a Conservative synagogue, finding the changes to update the liturgy unacceptable. Instead, the Malavsky family appeared in rented halls and hotels. The first appeared in San Francisco in 1945, and later throughout the United States, performing cantorial music, Jewish and jazz songs both in Hebrew and in Yiddish.
Goldele (Goldie) Malavsky established her own independent career as a singer, appearing both as soloist as well in duets with her sister Gittele. Goldie became well known as a chazante, even though she never appeared in the formal role of a cantor in a synagogue service. The Malavsky family performed abroad as well, appearing in Canada, France, England, Cuba and Israel. When they appeared in the Edison theater in Jerusalem, they were billed as "the greatest musical sensation in the U.S. on stage, radio, television and records." They grossed $187,000 in 35 concerts and donated the proceeds to Israel. One of their melodies - "Haben Yakir Li Efraim" - has become a classic of Israeli music, as a result of the performance by Miri Aloni and the Nahal entertainment troupe.

## The Marlin Sisters

Goldie and Gittele performed as the Marlin Sisters, recording 45 records, and collaborating with Guy Mitchell, Eddie Fisher, Ted Steele and others. They had several charting hits on their own in 1948 - "Toolie Oolie Doolie (The Yodel Polka)" (#30 US pop) and "My Happiness" (#24 pop). They also provided vocals for a number of other charting tracks including Eddie Fisher's "You Can't Be True, Dear (1948, #19 pop), Frankie Yankovic's "Blue Skirt Waltz" (1949, #12 US pop, #7 US country), and the Pinetoppers' "Lonely Little Robin" (1951, #14 US pop, #11 US country).