Jeff Gitelman

Jeff "Gitty" Gitelman
Jeff "Gitty" Gitelman
Also known as	Gitty
Born	February 5, 1982 (age 42)
Origin	Kishinev, Moldavian SSR, Soviet Union
Genres	R&B; soul; funk; jazz;
Occupation(s)	Record producer; singer; songwriter;
Years active	1996–present
Formerly of	The Stepkids

Jeff Gitelman (born February 5, 1982) is a record producer, musician and songwriter from Chișinău, Moldova. He is known for his work with the band The Stepkids, which formed in 2010.^[1] He is also known for his composition, production, and instrumentation for J. Cole, H.E.R., Jennifer Lopez, Mac Miller and Anderson .Paak.^[2] He was nominated for a Grammy Award for Album of the Year for his work on H.E.R.'s 2019 album I Used to Know Her.^[3]

Early life

Jeff Gitelman was born on February 5, 1982, to a

Jewish family in Soviet-ruled Moldavia. He and his family emigrated from Chișinău, Moldova in 1991 and moved to New Haven, Connecticut. His interest in music developed in his early childhood when he found a guitar in a trash can and his father fixed it for him. He subsequently learned how to speak English through listening to and learning how to play Western music, notably The Beatles.^[4]

Career

Performing

Gitelman's music career began while attending Amity Regional High School. After graduating from Amity, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. His first professional job was recording and touring with Lauryn Hill,^[5] which led to Gitelman being hired as a touring guitarist for Alicia Keys, as well as performances with Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Chance the Rapper^[6]^[7] and others.

The Stepkids

In 2010, Gitelman, along with Tim Walsh and Dan Edinberg formed The Stepkids, a psychedelic soul band. They released their debut self-titled album The Stepkids (album) in 2011 under Stones Throw Records.^[8] The band toured and collaborated with Kimbra, Mayer Hawthorne and Aloe Blacc.

Independent work and Production

Following his work with

Ty Dolla $ign, Jeremih, Kid Ink, Trey Songz, Rick Ross

, and others.

Education

Gitelman has worked in music education, serving on the Panel of Music Industry Advisors at the 2015

Grammy Camp in Los Angeles, and conducting lectures and seminars on composition, production, music business, and performance to young musicians throughout the USA. In 2005, Gitelman co-founded the American Roots Music program, an initiative to teach young adults grades one through twelve the history of American music through performance and lecture. In 2015, Gitelman was inducted into his alma mater Amity High School's hall of fame.^[15]

In 2016, Gitelman founded the Duality School of Music, that began programming during the Fall 2017 semester at Amity High School in Woodbridge, Connecticut.^[16]

Discography

With The Stepkids

The Stepkids (2011)
Direct To Disc – Stones Throw Records Live Album (2012)
Troubadour (2013)
Wanderers EP (2011)

Solo work

"Karaoke" ft. Trinidad James (2018)
"Stranger Than Fiction" (2017)

Production, composition, and writing discography

2023

Hozier - Eat Your Young

3. "Through Me (The Flood)"

2022

The Weeknd - Dawn FM

6. "A Tale By Quincy"

2021

Jorja Smith - Be Right Back

3. "Bussdown" (feat. Shaybo)
6. "Burn"

2020

It Was Divine

8. "Night And Morning"
14. "Be Good"
15. "Until I Met You (feat. Nas)"

Kelly Clarkson

1. "I Dare You"

KSI – Dissimulation

1. "What You Been On"

Mac Miller – Circles

13. "Right"

Chloe x Halle – Ungodly Hour

7. "Busy Boy"
11. "Don't Make It Harder on Me"

Usher

1. "I Cry"

2019

Allen Stone

"Sweaters"

Boogie – Everythings for Sale

01. "Tired/Reflections"

Brandy

"Freedom Rings"

Childish Major – Dirt Road Diamond

01. "Necessary Pressure"
02. "To My Little Homies"
04. "For You"

Dinah Jane

"SZNS" ft. A Boogie wit da Hoodie

Sweet Insomnia

11. "Sleep On It"

H.E.R. – I Used to Know Her

01. "Lost Souls" ft. DJ Scratch
06. "Can't Help Me"
08. "Feel A Way"
09. "21"
10. "Racks" ft.
YBN Cordae
15. "Take You There"
16. "As I Am"

JoJo

"Joanna"

SiR – Chasing Summer

02. "John Redcorn"

Terrace Martin

"Intimidated"

2018

Anderson .Paak – Oxnard

03. "Tints" ft. Kendrick Lamar

Camila Cabello – Camila

02. "All These Years"

Chic – It's About Time

TBA. "Till the World Falls" (ft.
Cosha and Vic Mensa
)

Jacob Banks – Village

04. "Prosecco"

Mac Miller – Swimming

01. "Come Back to Earth"
07. "Ladders"

Nao – Saturn

10. "Drive and Disconnect"

2017

Trey Songz – Tremaine the Album

08. "She Lovin It"

Jeremih

"Think of You" (ft. Chris Brown & Big Sean)

Rick Ross – Rather You Than Me

10. "Scientology" (composition)

2016

Mac Miller – The Divine Feminine

05. "Cinderella" (ft. Ty Dolla Sign)

A$AP Ferg – Always Strive and Prosper

01. "Rebirth"
05. "Psycho"

2015

Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment – Surf

01. "Miracle"
02. "Slip Slide"
03. "Warm Enough"
05. "Wanna Be Cool"
10. "SmthnthtIwnt"
11. "Go"

Karmin – Leo Rising

07. "Along the Road"

Logic – The Incredible True Story

18. "The Incredible True Story"

Outasight – Big Trouble

2014

Pharoahe Monch – PTSD

16. "Eht Dnarg Noisulli"

2011

Jennifer Hudson – I Remember Me

guitar

2009

Alicia Keys – The Element of Freedom

guitar

Awards and nominations


Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2020	I Used to Know Her	Grammy Award for Album of the Year	Nominated	^[17]
2024	"On My Mama"	Record of the Year	Nominated	^[18]
2024	"On My Mama"	Best R&B Song	Nominated	^[18]

References

^ ""Shadows on Behalf"". Pitchfork. February 8, 2011.
^ "Jeff Gitelman | Credits". AllMusic.
^ Hayes, Dade (November 20, 2019). "Grammy Nominations: Lizzo, Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X Lead Way – Complete List Of Noms". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
^ "The Stepkids' Jeff Gitelman talks about growing up in Moldova and playing with Lauryn Hill".
^ "The Stepkids' Jeff Gitelman talks about growing up in Moldova and playing with Lauryn Hill".
^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Rivera with Jeff Gitelman/Alicia keys back stage". YouTube.
^ "Album of the Week: Stream the Stepkids' Vintage Yacht-Funk Jazz Odyssey 'Troubadour'". September 4, 2013.
^ ""Shadows on Behalf"". Pitchfork. February 8, 2011.
^ "2014 Forest Hills Drive - J. Cole | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
^ "Oxnard - Anderson .Paak | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
^ "Donnie Trumpet & the Social Experiment: Surf". Pitchfork.
^ "Swimming - Mac Miller | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
^ "The Divine Feminine - Mac Miller | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
^ "Always Strive and Prosper - A$AP Ferg | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
^ "Amity Regional School District Presents 2015 Hall of Honor Ceremony | Orange Town News". orangetownnews.com. Archived from the original on May 24, 2015.
^ "the duality school of music". www.dualityschoolofmusic.org. Archived from the original on April 7, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
^ "Jeff "Gitty" Gitelman". GRAMMY.com. May 19, 2020.
^ "2023 GRAMMYs Awards: Complete Nominations List". GRAMMY.com. November 15, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2022.

[1] ""Shadows on Behalf"". Pitchfork. February 8, 2011.

[2] "Jeff Gitelman | Credits". AllMusic.

[3] Hayes, Dade (November 20, 2019). "Grammy Nominations: Lizzo, Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X Lead Way – Complete List Of Noms". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 20, 2020.

[4] "The Stepkids' Jeff Gitelman talks about growing up in Moldova and playing with Lauryn Hill".

[5] "The Stepkids' Jeff Gitelman talks about growing up in Moldova and playing with Lauryn Hill".

[6] Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Rivera with Jeff Gitelman/Alicia keys back stage". YouTube.

[7] "Album of the Week: Stream the Stepkids' Vintage Yacht-Funk Jazz Odyssey 'Troubadour'". September 4, 2013.

[8] ""Shadows on Behalf"". Pitchfork. February 8, 2011.

[9] "2014 Forest Hills Drive - J. Cole | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.

[10] "Oxnard - Anderson .Paak | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.

[11] "Donnie Trumpet & the Social Experiment: Surf". Pitchfork.

[12] "Swimming - Mac Miller | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.

[13] "The Divine Feminine - Mac Miller | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.

[14] "Always Strive and Prosper - A$AP Ferg | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.

[15] "Amity Regional School District Presents 2015 Hall of Honor Ceremony | Orange Town News". orangetownnews.com. Archived from the original on May 24, 2015.

[16] "the duality school of music". www.dualityschoolofmusic.org. Archived from the original on April 7, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2017.

[17] "Jeff "Gitty" Gitelman". GRAMMY.com. May 19, 2020.

[18] "2023 GRAMMYs Awards: Complete Nominations List". GRAMMY.com. November 15, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2022.

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v t e Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Original Song in a TV Show/Limited Series
2010s	"This Time" – Written by Darren Criss (2015) No Award (2016) "Power" – Written by Elliott Wheeler, Baz Luhrmann, Homer Steinweiss, and Donna Missal (2017) "The Innocents" – Written by Carly Paradis (2018) "Time Loop" – Written by Phonte Coleman, Lorenzo Ferguson, Diallo Riddle, Bashir Salahuddin, Evan Williams, and Rob Haze (2019)
2020s	"All for Us" – Written by Labrinth (2020) "Change" – Written by H.E.R., Maxx Moore, David Harris, Ronald Colson, and Jeff Gitelman (2021) "Maybe Monica" – Written by Thomas Mizer and Curtis Moore (2022) "Fought & Lost" – Written by Jamie Hartman, Sam Ryder, and Tom Howe (2023)