▁in ▁the ▁syn agog ue ▁cho ir . ▁His ▁first ▁professional ▁gig s ▁were ▁singing ▁at ▁K ut sh er ' s ▁Country ▁Club ▁in ▁the ▁Cat sk ill ▁Mountains , ▁and ▁then ▁as ▁a ▁solo ist ▁at ▁Town ▁Hall ▁in ▁New ▁York ▁City ▁with ▁the ▁Samuel ▁Stern er ▁Ch oir . ▁Later , ▁he ▁performed ▁in ▁both ▁high ▁school ▁( F idd ler ▁on ▁the ▁Ro of ) ▁and ▁college ▁( By e ▁By e ▁Bird ie ) ▁musical s . ▁His ▁father ▁Sig gi ▁disc ou rag ed ▁him ▁from ▁continu ing ▁in ▁music ▁as ▁a ▁career , ▁wanting ▁his ▁son ▁to ▁have ▁a ▁more ▁secure ▁profession . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 1 , ▁Ivan ▁Wil zig ▁knew ▁recording ▁industry ▁executive ▁Dave ▁Jur man , ▁Senior ▁Director ▁of ▁Dance ▁Music ▁at ▁Columbia ▁Records . ▁Jur man ▁introduced ▁Wil zig ▁to ▁two - time ▁Gram my - A ward ▁nom ine e ▁and ▁record ▁producer ▁Er nie ▁Lake , ▁who ▁produced ▁Ivan ' s ▁re make ▁of ▁John ▁L enn on ' s ▁" Im agine " ▁with ▁Ivan ▁performing ▁vocals . ▁Tom ▁Silver man , ▁owner ▁of ▁Tommy ▁Boy ▁Records ▁signed ▁the ▁track ▁and ▁released ▁it ▁on ▁September ▁ 4 , ▁ 2 0 0 1 . ▁" Im agine ", ▁sold ▁ 1 0 , 0 0 0 ▁vin yl ▁copies ▁in ▁its ▁first ▁three ▁months ▁and ▁became ▁a ▁Top - 4 0 ▁hit ▁on ▁the ▁Billboard ▁Club ▁Play ▁Chart . ▁▁▁ ▁His ▁follow - up ▁single ,