Please note that an updated text about Chazzan Kalman Kallich exist elsewhere on this website, this text is now outdated (see: Cantor Kalman Kalich (17 December 1903 in Poland – 25 February 1982 in New York City, NY, USA))
Cantor Kalman Kalich served among others, as the cantor of the Ohab Zedek congregation in New York.
From the website of Congregation Ohab Zedek (link):
Congregation Ohab Zedek (formally known as the First Hungarian Congregation Ohab Zedek), or OZ, as it is fondly known, is more than just a synagogue. Under the leadership of Rabbi Allen Schwartz, the Shul is known for its open doors and big heart.
[…]
OZ has a proud history. The Shul was founded in 1873 on Avenue B and Houston Street on the Lower East Side as the First Hungarian Congregation Ohab Zedek. After a sojourn on West 116th Street in Harlem, the Congregation moved to its present location at 118 West 95th Street in 1926. Today, as part of a revitalized Upper West Side that has drawn an ever-expanding population of families and young adults, OZ is a vibrant and dynamic Jewish center for prayer, learning and social activities.
After contacting the congregation, I got the following e-mail on Mon, Aug 22, 2011 from Mr. Chaim Steinberger (ChaiStein-*at*-aol.com) who serves as the archivist of the synagogue:
[…]This is the information that I wrote in the book on the History of the shul (Ohab Zedek), and that’s all the information I have:
“Cantor Kalich was born in Kalich, Poland on December 17, 1903. He previously served as Cantor of the Arena Synagogue, Budapest, Hungary, and sang in Yossele Rosenblatt’s choir in Pressburg, Hungary. He was honored for his many years of service at Ohab Zedek at a dinner held at the Hotel Olcott, New York City, given in his honor on Saturday evening, March 11, 1961, recognizing his 25 years of dedicated service to the congregation. He died in New York City on February 24, 1982.”
By the way, he was chazan at Ohab Zedek from 1935 to 1981. I believe his wife’s name was Rose.[…]
This is the book which Mr. Chaim Steinberger mentioned in his e-mail: http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/66462704.
There is also a copy of a recording with Cantor Kalman Kalich’s songs at the “Museum of Jewish Heritage — A Living Memorial to the Holocaust”.
You can see at the following link three photos of the vinyl record and its cover: http://collection.mjhnyc.org/index.php?g=detail&object_id=8057).
There is also an introduction on the vinyl record:
KALMEN KALICH was the original “BOY WONDER CANTOR”. Under the tutelage of the renowned choir leader ELI SHIPELINSKY, he conducted Sabbath Services in many of the famous synagogues throughout the United States.
Cantor Kalman Kalich won further acclaim as a great interpreter of Jewish Folk songs and Liturgical Music and for many years his voice was heard on radio, where many accolades and plaudits were given to him.
He is affiliated with the world renowned congregation OHAB ZEDEK of New York City. When the late LEO LOW heard him, he exclaimed, “The sweetness of his voice is like the great RAZUMNA of ODESSA. JAN PEERCE, the METROPOLITAN OPERA STAR said, “I love traditional Cantorial music, and my greatest pleasure is to hear KALMEN KALICH sing.”
I am not sure, but there is basis to believe that he may be related to my Kalech/Lehrer branch because of his name which was Kalman. It is a name which appears often in my Kalech/Lehrer branch. Alan Miller (who is doing research on yet another Kalech which most likely is related to my branch) also believes that he was related to us).
Please contact me or comment on this post if you can give me more information on Cantor Kalman Kalich a”h.