As the season turns and the tradition of lighting the menorah approaches, the Recorded Sound Archives (RSA) at FAU Libraries is ready to celebrate! We are delighted to share our annual musical gift: The RSA Chanukah Playlist 2025! This curated selection of eight tracks offers a vibrant, diverse soundtrack for your eight nights of celebration, drawn directly from the RSA’s extensive collection of Jewish sound recordings.
This playlist captures the light and global spirit of the Festival of Lights by highlighting a variety of essential musical styles. For a traditional start to your nightly ritual, we feature the contemplative beauty of Ariel Silber’s stirring rendition of the blessing over the candles. This track sets a powerful and reflective tone, honoring the miracle of the oil.

The collection also celebrates the rich cultural diversity of Jewish tradition. You’ll find the beautiful Sephardic favorite “Ocho Kandelikas” (Eight Little Candles) performed by the Lachan Toronto Jewish Chamber Choir, sung entirely in Ladino. For a completely different, nostalgic folk sound, we included Lori Cahan-Simon’s delightful Yiddish track, “A Tsindt on Likhtekh” (Light the Candles).
To round out the soundscape, the playlist offers unique contemporary arrangements. Don’t miss Benjamin Roth-Aroni’s “Chanukah Piano Medley,” which provides a smooth, instrumental backdrop perfect for a quiet evening or sophisticated holiday gathering. Read More About This…

As the days grow shorter and autumn settles in, November invites us to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with the stories that shaped American culture. It’s the perfect time to tip our hats to one of the most iconic voices of early American popular music: Gene Autry, the Singing Cowboy. Long before country music dominated the charts, Autry brought tales of the Wild West into homes across America through his recordings, radio shows, and films.

The Sound of the Cowboy
Gene Autry’s 78rpm recordings captured more than just songs—they painted vivid pictures of frontier life. From ballads of lonely trails to upbeat tunes about adventure and romance, his music celebrated the spirit of Americana. Records allowed fans far from Hollywood or Nashville to experience the charm and excitement of cowboy culture, long before television made it mainstream. Read More About This…

This Halloween, the Recorded Sound Archives invites you to step into the spirited world of Cab Calloway — the legendary bandleader, singer, and showman whose larger-than-life performances brought both swing and spectacle to the jazz age.

Long before Halloween playlists or themed albums, Calloway was already weaving ghosts, devils, and playful mischief into his music. His charismatic voice, animated conducting style, and theatrical storytelling made him one of the most unforgettable entertainers of his time. Whether performing in Harlem’s Cotton Club or on national radio, Calloway had a rare gift for turning every song into a story — one that could make you laugh, shiver, and dance all at once. Read More About This…

The 1920s and 1930s were transformative decades in American music. As technology evolved—from acoustic horns to electric microphones and national radio broadcasts—so did the role of the singer. For the first time, individual vocalists could connect with listeners on a deeply personal level, their voices crackling across radio waves and spinning from gramophones in homes across the country.

This golden age introduced us to vocal pioneers whose artistry laid the foundation for modern pop, jazz, and blues. Read More About This…

As we prepare for the High Holy Days, we reflect on tradition and prayer and the voices that have carried these sacred melodies through time. Among them stands one of the greatest cantorial legends of all time — Cantor Gershon-Yitskhok Leibovich Sirota (1874–1943).

Often called the “Jewish Caruso,” Sirota’s rich tenor voice helped define the Golden Age of Khazzanut (cantorial music). He began his career in Odessa, later serving eight years as cantor of the Shtatshul (State Synagogue) in Vilna, where he began a lifelong collaboration with choirmaster Leo Lowe. In 1907, he became the cantor of the prestigious Tłomackie Street Synagogue in Warsaw, a role that solidified his reputation as one of Europe’s greatest liturgical artists. Read More About This…