Profile Text
Birth Name: William Benjamin Bensussen
Place of Birth: San Diego, California, United States
Date of Birth: November 7, 1982
Ethnicity: Sephardi Jewish, Mizrahi Jewish, Ashkenazi Jewish
The Gaslamp Killer is an American alternative hip hop producer and DJ. He is based in Los Angeles. He has won many awards.
His father was born in Mexico. He is Jewish, with ancestors from Turkey, Syrian, Lebanon, Lithuania, Latvia, and Russia. His father is likely Sephardi/Mizrahi. His mother is Ashkenazi. His sister is theatre director Melia Bensussen. His maternal great-uncle was Marxist historian and political activist Herbert Aptheker, who wrote more than 50 books, predominantly about African-American and general U.S. history. His first cousin, once removed, is political activist, radical feminist, professor, and author Bettina Aptheker, who is Herbert’s daughter.
He became a DJ in the Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego.
The Gaslamp Killer’s paternal grandparents may have been named Nissim Bensussen and Esther Safemi.
The Gaslamp Killer’s maternal grandfather was Jay/Jerome Maurice Lowen/Lowenstein (the son of William Lowenstein and Bertha Prussak). Jay was born in New York, to Jewish parents. William was born in Latvia. Bertha was born in New York, to parents from Russia, Abraham Prusak and Sara.
The Gaslamp Killer’s maternal grandmother was Augusta/Agusta Aptheker (the daughter of Benjamin Aptheker and Rebecca “Beckie” Kaminetsky/Komar). Augusta was born in New York City, New York, to Russian Jewish parents.
Sources: Genealogies of The Gaslamp Killer’s maternal grandmother, Augusta Aptheker – https://www.findagrave.com https://www.geni.com