own company and traveled to Buenos Aires and across Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil. Returning to the U.S., he worked on the radio and starred with his wife in the Harry Kalmanovitsh - Joseph Rumshinsky operetta (This is what's called being loved). Around the same time, with the encouragement of friends, he applied to conduct services as for the High Holidays at the First Roumanian-American Congregation, in Manhattan, New York, on the Lower East Side and caused a sensation, being perhaps the first singer to step from "" (stage) to "" (pulpit). He thereafter worked around the world in both arenas. Some say that Oysher's voice was like the "roaring of the lion." In regard to his popularity, he was considered "the darling of many Jews.."[museumoffamilyhistory.com] He liked the jazz style, popular at that time, and he used similar rhythmic melodies in his prayers, respecting always the traditional Bessarabian "doinas" and "" moods of the prayers. Oysher starred in three Yiddish films. In 1943 Oysher signed a contract with Fortune Gallo to perform several roles with the Chicago Opera Company and a fine career was foreseen, but after a heart attack he had to abandon the idea; he continued to work in radio and as a and recording artist until, after other heart attacks, on the advice of his doctors, he entered semi-retirement. Oysher died in New Rochelle from undisclosed causes in 1958 aged 52, although his age was misreported as 51. Family Oysher was survived by his second wife Theodora (a pianist who had often accompanied him in concert), their daughter Shoshana (Rozanna), his sister Fraydele (a Yiddish theater actress and singer) and her husband Harold Sternberg, a chorister in the Metropolitan opera; their daughter is recording artist Marilyn Michaels. Rozanna married Armond Lebowitz and they had two sons, David and Brad. Oysher died in 1958, aged 52, and is interred in Cedar Park Cemetery in Paramus, New Jersey. Filmography The Cantor's Son (Dem Khazn's Zindl) 1937, USA, B&W, 90 min, Yiddish with English subtitles. Directed by Ilya Motyleff and Sidney Goldin. Other actors: Judith Abarbanel and Florence Weiss. Based on Moishe Oysher's life. A very poor young immigrant lands a job as a custodian, where he is "discovered" and becomes famous immediately. However, his success seems meaningless as he yearns for home. The Singing Blacksmith (Yankl der Shmid; the Yiddish title literally means "Yankel the Smith") 1938, USA, B&W,