Jeff "Gitty" Gitelman
Also known as	Gitty
Born	(1982-02-05) 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 The Stepkids, Gitelman relocated to Los Angeles, California, to focus on production. His guitar, production, composition, and writing is featured on J. Cole's 2014 Forest Hills Drive, ^[9] H.E.R.'s I Used to Know Her, Anderson .Paak's Oxnard, ^[10] Donnie Trumpet's Surf, ^[11] Mac Miller's Swimming ^[12] and The Divine Feminine, ^[13] ASAP Ferg's Always Strive and Prosper, ^[14] as well as work 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 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

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" ft. Kendrick Lamar

Camila Cabello – Camila

• 02. "All These Years"

Chic – It's About Time

• TBA. "Till the World Falls" (ft. Mura Masa, 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]
		Best R&B Song	Nominated

References