Entertainment
Viral FedEx driver gets a parking lot concert from the singer he loves
Troi Smith went viral playing Hasidic songs for kids on his Lakewood FedEx route. Then singer Hershy Weinberger found him for a parking lot singalong.
Troi Smith delivers packages for a living. This week the delivery came to him. The New Jersey FedEx driver who went viral for blasting Hasidic music on his route got a surprise parking lot concert from the very singer whose songs he loves.
The driver with the best playlist in Lakewood
Smith is not Jewish but he has learned songs by Hasidic star Hershy Weinberger and other artists. He plays them on his Lakewood route to put smiles on the faces of the Jewish kids he passes each day. A video of him belting out Weinberger's hit "RTVT" from behind the wheel spread fast online.
Asked why he does it, Smith kept it simple. "The music is so positive. How can you not like it?"
A singer on a mission
Weinberger saw the clip and asked his followers to help him find the man who was having way too good a time with his song. Once they tracked Smith down Monday morning, Weinberger said there was no way he was going to wait.
He showed up with fellow musicians Naftali Schnitzler and Yanky Steinmetz plus a keyboard. Smith said he had only found out that very morning that he was internet famous.
The big question
Weinberger had to ask. Does Smith actually understand the Yiddish lyrics he sings with so much heart? Smith cheerfully admitted he knows none of them. He said people have told him what the songs are about and that they are positive. That was more than enough for everybody.
"How about we sing some RTVT?" Weinberger asked.
"I'm down," Smith said.
Concert in a parking lot
A keyboard went up in the back of an SUV and a New Jersey parking lot turned into a pop-up music venue. Smith danced right alongside the singers. Weinberger told him he spreads so much light and positivity and happiness.
Before they said goodbye Weinberger handed Smith a music player loaded with Jewish songs so he never runs out of tunes for the road. Smith, who has driven for FedEx for more than six years, now has one of the most joyful routes in America. The kids of Lakewood already knew that.
