Jeff Gitelman

Jeff "Gitty" 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 and for his composition, production, and providing instrumentation for J. Cole, H.E.R., Jennifer Lopez, Mac Miller and Anderson .Paak. Gitelman 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.

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 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 refurbished it. He then learned to speak English through playing and listening to Western music, notably the Beatles.

Career

Performing Gitelman's music career began while attending Amity Regional High School in Woodbridge, Connecticut. After graduating from there he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. His first professional job was recording and touring with Lauryn Hill, leading to being hired as a touring guitarist for Alicia Keys and performances with Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Chance the Rapper, 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 in 2011 under Stones Throw Records. The band toured and collaborated with Kimbra, Mayer Hawthorne, and Aloe Blacc.

Independent work and production After working with the Stepkids, Gitelman moved to Los Angeles to focus on production. His guitar, production, composition, and writing is featured on J. Cole's 2014 Forest Hills Drive, H.E.R.'s I Used to Know Her, Anderson .Paak's Oxnard, Donnie Trumpet's Surf, Mac Miller's Swimming and The Divine Feminine, and ASAP Ferg's Always Strive and Prosper. He has worked with Camila Cabello, 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. The camp works with young musicians throughout the U.S. In 2005, he co-founded the American Roots Music program, an initiative to teach young adults grades 1-12 the history of American music through performance and lecture. In 2015, he was inducted into his alma mater Amity High School's hall of fame. In 2016, Gitelman founded the Duality School of Music which began programming during the Fall 2017 semester at Amity High School.

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 Alina Baraz - 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

Gallant – 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"

Camila Cabello – Camila 02. "All These Years"

Chic – It's About Time TBA. "Till the World Falls"

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

I Used to Know Her Grammy Award for Album of the Year

Record of the Year

Best R&B Song