Sam Barsh (born 1981) is an American songwriter, keyboardist and record producer. He has worked in the genres of jazz, R&B, hip hop and pop.

Biography edit

Barsh was born in Chicago, IL, and began playing piano at the age of 4.[1] He attended New Trier High School in Winnetka, IL[2] and William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey.[3] Barsh moved to New York City in 2001 and currently resides in Los Angeles.[4]

Career edit

From 2003 to 2006 Barsh was a member of the band of bassist Avishai Cohen, with whom he toured the world extensively.[5] Barsh appears on Cohen's albums At Home[6] and Continuo,[7] and the live album/DVD As Is...Live at the Blue Note.[8]

Between 2008 and 2011, Barsh released three albums as a leader: the independently released Live! and Live Vol. II, and I Forgot What You Taught Me on Razdaz Recordz.[9]

Along with vocalist Jesse Palter, Barsh founded the electronic pop group Jesse Palter and the Alter Ego, (later renamed Palter Ego), in 2009.[10] The group has released 2 EPs and two albums.[11]

In 2013, Barsh co-wrote The Man for Aloe Blacc's album Lift Your Spirit. The song reached #1 on the UK Singles Chart, and #8 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was certified platinum by the RIAA,[12] selling over 2.5 million copies in the US.[13]

Barsh played keyboards on the 2014 Kendrick Lamar song I, which received the award for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song at the 2015 Grammy Awards.[14] He composed and played keyboards on the song Institutionalized on Lamar's GRAMMY-winning 2015 album To Pimp a Butterfly.

In 2016, Barsh co-wrote and played on the songs Heart Don't Stand a Chance and Your Prime for Anderson .Paak's Grammy-nominated breakthrough album Malibu, and co-wrote Man Down for BJ the Chicago Kid's Grammy-nominated album In My Mind.[15] In 2017, Barsh co-wrote Logic's Black Spiderman, which won an MTV Video Music Award for "Best Fight Against the System" and was certified Gold by the RIAA.[16]

Barsh co-wrote Logic's Indica Badu feat. Wiz Khalifa from the Billboard #1 album Bobby Tarantino II in 2018. Both the album and single were certified gold by the RIAA.[17] He also co-wrote Elevate by DJ Khalil, featuring Denzel Curry, Cordae, SwaVay and Trevor Rich which was featured in the Academy Award-winning feature Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and the accompanying soundtrack, which was nominated for a GRAMMY award and certified 2× platinum by the RIAA.[18][19]

In 2019, Barsh released an album titled The Nine, which was commissioned as part of the Skirball Cultural Center's "Notorious RBG" exhibit on the life of US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The album's collaborators include Aloe Blacc, Justin Tranter, Amber Liu, Sid Sriram, Miles Mosley, Shea Diamond, Christine Gordon, Mic Holden, Samad Savage and Harry Mack.[20]

In 2020, Barsh received a GRAMMY award nomination for Best R&B Song for co-writing the Tiana Major9 feat. EarthGang single Collide, which was featured in the film Queen and Slim. Collide was also awarded "Best Original Song" at the 2020 Black Reel Awards.[21][22]

Barsh has performed with Babyface, Bobby McFerrin, Boyz II Men, Branford Marsalis, Bruno Mars, Cassandra Wilson, Common, David Foster, Debbie Friedman, Emily King, Estelle, Fred Wesley, Gene Simmons, Gregory Porter, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Kiran Ahluwalia, Large Professor, Lonnie Plaxico, Mark Ballas, Mino Cinelu, Natasha Bedingfield, Quadron, Ravi Coltrane, Rez Abbasi, Robin Eubanks, Roy Hargrove, Stevie Wonder, The Brand New Heavies, and Tom Jones.[23][24]

Discography edit

1999 edit

  • Song For Tomorrow - Sam Barsh (As Sam Bar-sheshet) (songwriter, piano, keyboard)

2004 edit

  • At Home - Avishai Cohen Trio and Ensemble (songwriter, fender rhodes, melodica, organ, piano, vocals)
  • So Alive - Lonnie Plaxico (piano, keyboards, organ)
  • Two Colors - Russ Nolan (piano)
  • Zach Brock and the Coffee Achievers - Zach Brock (songwriter, piano, organ)

2005 edit

  • Chemistry - Zach Brock (songwriter, producer, piano, keyboards)
  • Finding Space - Rick Parker Collective (piano, synthesizer)
  • The Relatives - Jeff Parker (electric piano)

2006 edit

  • Continuo - Avishai Cohen (keyboards, piano, handclapping)
  • Live at the Jazz Factory - Zach Brock (piano, songwriter)

2007 edit

  • As Is…Live at the Blue Note - Avishai Cohen (piano, keyboards, melodica)
  • As Is…Live at the Blue Note (DVD) - Avishai Cohen (piano, keyboards, melodica)
  • With You in Mind - Russ Nolan featuring the Kenny Werner Trio (producer)

2008 edit

  • The Gambler EP - Beyondo (keyboards)
  • I Forgot What You Taught Me - Sam Barsh (songwriter, producer, keyboards, melodica, piano)
  • Live! - Sam Barsh (songwriter, producer, keyboards)
  • Vosotros Presents: The Years - The Years (songwriter, producer, keyboards, melodica)

2009 edit

  • Day One - Meilana Gillard (electric piano)
  • Evil Genius - Michael Feinberg (piano, keyboards)
  • Hypnotic - Gene Segal (songwriter, organ, synthesizer)
  • In My Own Company - Jennifer Lee Snowden (producer, piano, organ, melodica)
  • Inner Dance - Fabrizio Sotti (organ)
  • Limited Edition EP - Palter Ego (as Jesse Palter and the Alter Ego) (songwriter, producer, keyboards)
  • Vosotros Presents: The Years Mixtape - The Years (songwriter, producer, keyboards, melodica)

2010 edit

  • By the Numbers - Dustin Edge (keyboard, organ)
  • PVD and 8th W1 are: Luz Deville - Lux Deville (keyboards)
  • Yvette Rovira - Yvette Rovira (songwriter)
    • 01. "Everybody Stand Up"
    • 09. "Psychedelia"
    • 12. "Smile"

2011 edit

  • Live Vol. II - Sam Barsh (songwriter, producer, keyboards)
  • Sounds Like This! - PVD (keyboards)
    • 01. "One Two (feat. Sam Barsh)"
  • We Write Songs - Palter Ego (as Jesse Palter and the Alter Ego) (songwriter, producer, keyboards)
  • We Are - Elan (keyboards)

2012 edit

  • Agápē - Jojo (keyboards)
    • 01. "Back2thebeginningagain"
  • Above the Covers - Palter Ego (producer, keyboards, mixing)
  • Dealbreaker - White on Rice featuring Norah Jones (songwriter, producer, keyboards)
  • Emuna - Daniel Ori (piano)
  • Eviction Notice - Wax (songwriter, producer, keyboards)
    • 09. "Killing Me Inside"
  • MoodSwings - Lalana (songwriter, producer, keyboards)
    • 01. "Waitin' (6 O'clock)"
    • 02. "Best of 3"
    • 04. "Operating At the Cost of Love"
    • 06. "Gold"
    • 07. "You Pester Me"
    • 08. "Somethin Bout Nothin"
    • 09. "Lady Freak"
    • 12. "I'm Sold/Apology"
  • Soulflower - Robin McKelle (songwriter)
    • 01. "So It Goes"
    • 02. "Tell You One Thing"
    • 03. "Nothing's Really Changed"
    • 04. "Fairytale Ending"
    • 05. "Miss You Madly"
  • Violet - Nick Rosen (songwriter, producer, keyboards, mixer)
    • 04. "Blues for Albert"
    • 05. "Eastside/Westside"

2013 edit

  • Between Two Evils - Aubrey O'Day (songwriter, keyboards, vocal producer)
    • 08. "Devil & Me"
  • Fairytale Ending - Robin Mckelle (songwriter)
  • I Lost My Coachella Ticket - Kosha Dillz (songwriter, producer, keyboards)
  • Id, Ego, Palter Ego - Palter Ego (songwriter, producer, keyboards)
  • The Man - Aloe Blacc (songwriter, keyboards)
  • Maurice vs. Mobetta - Maurice Brown (songwriter, producer, vocals, keyboards)
    • 02. "The Connection (feat. Sam Barsh)

2014 edit

  • Control Yourself - Opolopo Remix - Robin Mckelle (songwriter)
  • Enter the Dynasty - Dontae Winslow and Winslow Dynasty (piano, keyboards)
    • 06. "Blaxploitation and Revolutions (feat. the West Coast Get Down)" (piano, nord lead)
    • 09. "2304 West North Avenue"
  • Heart of Memphis - Robin Mckelle and the Flytones (songwriter)
    • 01. "About to Be Your Baby"
    • 04. "Control Yourself"
    • 08. "Easier That Way"
  • i - Kendrick Lamar (keyboards)
  • Lift Your Spirit - Aloe Blacc (songwriter, keyboards)
    • 02. "The Man"
    • 08. "Red Velvet Seat"
  • Modern Vintage - John Robinson and PVD (songwriter, keyboards)
    • 06. "What's the Point"
  • The Way - Macy Gray (songwriter, keyboards)
    • 10. "Life"
  • The Worst - Van Ike (songwriter, producer, keyboards, vocals)

2015 edit

2016 edit

2017 edit

  • 4eva Is a Mighty Long Time - Big K.R.I.T. (songwriter, keyboards)
    • 10. (Disc one: Big K.R.I.T.) "Aux Cord"
    • 11. (Disc two: Justin Scott) "Bury Me in Gold"
  • All-Amerikkkan Badass - Joey Bada$$ (songwriter, keyboards)
    • 01. "Good Morning Amerikkka"
    • 02. "For My People"
    • 12. "Amerikkkan Idol"
  • Everybody - Logic (songwriter, keyboards)
  • East Coast - ASAP Ferg (songwriter, keyboards)
  • Half Hearted - Finn Matthews (songwriter, producer, keyboards)
  • The Mugician - Keyon Harrold (keyboards)
    • 5. "Wayfaring Traveler"
    • 6. "Stay This Way"
  • Rather You Than Me - Rick Ross (songwriter, keyboards)
    • 10. "Scientology"
  • Rebirth of the Cool - Nick Grant (songwriter, keyboards)
    • 01. "Sometimes"
    • 07. "PPIPP"
  • The Transition of Mali - Mali Music (songwriter, keyboards)
    • 01. "Worth It"
  • Bright: The Album - Various Artists
    • 09. "FTW (F**k the World)" (featuring A$AP Rocky and Tom Morello)
  • Still Striving - A$AP Ferg (songwriter, keyboards)

2018 edit

  • Bobby Tarantino II - Logic (songwriter, keyboards)
  • Dreamin' Out Loud - Nick Grant (songwriter, keyboards)
  • Eclectic Excursions - Nabate Isles (producer all tracks; keyboards tracks 1, 2, 7, 14–16; songwriter and mix engineer tracks 2, 16)
    • 01. "Inception"
    • 02. "Laid Back" (featuring Elzhi and JRDN)
    • 03. "Find Your Light" (featuring Alita Moses)
    • 04. "Funkdafied"
    • 05. "Exchanging Pleasantries"
    • 06. "Sultriness"
    • 07. "Grab Her by the What?!*&#$!?"
    • 08. "Minute Pieces of Wozzeck"
    • 09. "Mello D.E.M."
    • 10. "Cubicle"
    • 11. "Jubilation for Closure"
    • 12. "Pomponio"
    • 13. "Strange Fruit"
    • 14. "For the End"
    • 15. "2 of a Kind" (Bonus Track)
    • 16. "Laid Back Instrumental (Bonus Track)
  • November - SiR (songwriter, keyboards)
    • 01. "Gone"
    • 09. "Better"
  • New Change - Sarah Reich (producer, songwriter, mix engineer track 9; keyboards tracks 5, 9, 10, 15)
    • 05. "It's Tappening"
    • 09. "The Groove"
    • 10. "New Change"
    • 15. "Gemini Vibe" (featuring Lee How)
  • Book of Ryan - Royce da 5'9" (songwriter, keyboards)
    • 09. "Life is Fair"
  • Quarterthing - Joey Purp (songwriter, keyboards)
    • 02. "Godbody Pt. 2" (featuring RZA)
  • Rolling Papers 2 - Wiz Khalifa (songwriter, keyboards)
    • 20. "B Ok"
  • Testing - ASAP Rocky (songwriter, keyboards)
    • 13. "Changes"
  • YSIV - Logic (songwriter, keyboards, trumpet)
    • 02. "Everybody Dies"
  • Music for People - Genr8r (keyboards; songwriter tracks 3,4,7)
    • 01. "First Offense"
    • 02. "Gone"
    • 03. "BB&J (interlude/intro)"
    • 04. "BB&J"
    • 05. "Over It"
    • 06. "N.C.M.S."
    • 07. "OSSO"
    • 08. "Smash"
    • 09. "Find Your Way"
  • Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (soundtrack) - Various Artists (songwriter, keyboards)
  • Mimi - Bad Rabbits (producer, songwriter, keyboards, engineer)
    • 06. "Dollars and Change"

2019 edit

  • The RISE UP Project - J.Period (songwriter, keyboards, trumpet)
  • Queen & Slim: The Soundtrack - Various Artists (songwriter, keyboards)
  • Rise (from Godfather of Harlem Soundtrack) - Samm Henshaw (songwriter, keyboards)
  • Nobody Cares Except You - Kosha Dillz (producer, songwriter, keyboards)
  • Exercise - Kosha Dillz (producer, songwriter, keyboards)
  • Logic Became Me - Kosha Dillz (producer, songwriter, keyboards)
  • Hide - Tamir (producer, keyboards)
  • Spotify Singles - Sam Barsh and The Deli (producer, keyboards; songwriter track 1)
    • 01. "Constellations"
    • 02. "Misty"
  • Clydesdales and Castles - Sam Barsh (producer, songwriter, keyboards)
  • You Want My Cup - Sam Barsh (producer, songwriter, keyboards)
  • The Nine - Sam Barsh (producer, songwriter, keyboards, engineer)
    • 01. "Nothing's Wrong (2:40)" feat. Samad Savage
    • 02. "Soldier Story" (feat. Mic Holden and Sunny Bey)
    • 03. "Truth" (feat. Aloe Blacc)
    • 04. "Like You" (feat. Amber Liu)
    • 05. "Rose Garden" (feat. Harry Mack, Mz.007 and Van Ike)
    • 06. "Ballad of the 3 Officers Johnson" (feat. Myth Wazir)
    • 07. "Thank You" (feat. Shea Diamond)
    • 08. "Unholy Water" (feat. Christine Gordon, Niles and Myth Wazir)
    • 09. "Bear Arms" (feat. Mic Holden)
    • 10. "Three Fifths" (feat. Mic Holden and Myth Wazir)
    • 11. "Last Line of Defense" (feat. Myth Wazir)
  • Curiosity - Amber Liu (producer, songwriter, keyboards)
  • Paper Trail - Jesse Palter (songwriter)
    • 04. "Waitin"
    • 07. "Heart So Cold"
  • Dirt Road Diamond - Childish Major (producer, songwriter, keyboards)
    • 01. "Necessary Pressure"
  • Where Do I Start - Joel Matthew (producer, songwriter, keyboards, engineer)
    • 01. "Where Do I Start"
    • 02. "An Ode"
    • 03. "Rockstar"
    • 04. "Lost in L.A. Interlude"
    • 05. "Lost in Los Angeles"
    • 06. "Down This Road" (feat. Gabe Roland)
  • Contents Under Pressure - Harry Mack (producer, songwriter, keyboards, engineer)
    • 04. "Go For Mine"
  • So It Goes - Henry Canyons feat. OLLIE CHANIN (producer, songwriter, keyboards, engineer)

2020 edit

  • Still Be Friends - G Eazy feat. Tory Lanez and Tyga (songwriter)
  • Streetlight - Yakul (producer, mix engineer)
  • Company - Yakul (producer, mix engineer)
  • For The Ones - Kosha Dillz feat. Matisyahu (producer, songwriter, keyboards)
  • The Jazzy Beats EP - Sam Barsh (producer, songwriter, engineer)
    • 1. "Fafa"
    • 2. "3 Out of 5"
    • 3. "Bay to Ventura"
    • 4. "The Jade Rule"
  • Juicy - Olivia Kuper Harris (producer, songwriter, keyboards, engineer)
    • 11. "Burn This Bridge"
    • 12. "Check"
  • Everlasting - Loyal Lobos (songwriter)
    • 7. "Everlasting"
  • Worth It - ZieZie feat. S1mba and Stylo G (songwriter)
  • The Jazzy Beats EP Remixes - Auxjack and Sam Barsh (producer, songwriter, engineer)
    • 1. "Fafa" (Auxjack Remix)
    • 2. "3 Out of 5" (Auxjack Remix)
    • 3. "Bay to Ventura" (Auxjack Remix)
    • 4. "The Jade Rule" (Auxjack Remix)
  • Forbidden Fruit - Lynn Cardona (producer, keyboards)
  • Running Back to You - Lynn Cardona (producer, keyboards)
  • Counting Sheep - Lynn Cardona (producer, keyboards)
  • Nobody Cares Except You - Kosha Dillz (producer, songwriter, engineer)
    • 1. "Nobody Cares Except You"
    • 2. "For the Ones" feat. Matisyahu
    • 4. "Exercise"
    • 7. "Real Me"
    • 9. "Age"
    • 10. "Never Ever Have I"
    • 11. "They know what my name is"
    • 12. "Tommy Pickles"
    • 13. "Solo" feat. Gangsta Boo
    • 14. "End of the Night"
  • A Motown Holiday - Various Artists (songwriter, keyboards)
  • Beat Tape, Vol. 1: Mood Side of the Barsh - Sam Barsh (producer, songwriter, keyboards)
    • 1. "Wavy Baby"
    • 2. "Finny"
    • 3. "Road Dog for Life"
    • 4. "Symarshall"
    • 5. "Turkey Bacon and Cheese"
  • Beat Tape, Vol. 2: Trap Side of the Barsh - Sam Barsh (producer, songwriter, keyboards)
    • 1. "Me Say Baywater"
    • 2. "Death Vali"
    • 3. "Deep Out"
    • 4. "Ratchet Doctor"
    • 5. "Modestly Priced Receptacle"
  • Beat Tape, Vol. 3: Crate Side of the Barsh - Sam Barsh (producer, songwriter, keyboards)
    • 1. "Fine Toothed Chrome"
    • 2. "Respect Old Arrangements"
    • 3. "Reclinerboy"
    • 4. "Peppermint Patek"
  • Beat Tape, Vol. 4: Drip Side of the Barsh - Sam Barsh (producer, songwriter, keyboards)
    • 1. "Dangit"
    • 2. "Willflower"
    • 3. "Sussy the Ghost"
    • 4. "Cel Blox"
    • 5. "Trimming the Treason"

2021 edit

  • Donda - Kanye West
  • Notes to Self - Van Ike, Sam Barsh (producer (except track 7), songwriter (except track 4), keyboards, vocals)
    • 1. "Never Wanted to Love You"
    • 2. "Can't Get Away From You"
    • 3. "Away For The Day"
    • 4. "The Worst"
    • 5. "Every Single Day"
    • 6. "3D Movie"
    • 7. "Never Wanted to Love You - Brother in Arms Remix"
  • Over This - PONO (songwriter, keyboards)
  • Preacher's Kid - Butterfly Ali (producer, songwriter, keyboards, mix engineer)
    • 1. "Testimony"
    • 2. "Pray for 'Em"
  • Why Would I Stop (Theme from the Podcast "The Vaping Fix") - Sam Barsh feat$. tarborn (producer, songwriter, keyboards, mix engineer)
  • Sak Pase - Jervsalem (producer, songwriter, keyboards, mix engineer)
  • Fight Fa - Jervsalem (producer, songwriter, keyboards, mix engineer)
  • USEE4YOURSELF - IDK (keyboards)
    • 14. "Peloton"
    • 31. "Peloton - Instrumental"

Awards and nominations edit

Barsh was a nominee for the 2021 GRAMMY Award for Best R&B Song for co-writing the Tiana Major9 feat. EarthGang single "Collide."[25]

He was the recipient of two 2015 BMI Awards, the US R&B Hip-Hop award[26] and the London Pop Award.[27]

Barsh was a nominee for the Ashford and Simpson Songwriter Award at the 2014 Soul Train Awards.[28]

His composition Black Spiderman was Awarded a 2017 MTV Video Music award for "Best Fight Against the System."

Barsh's work as a composer and keyboardist has received 3 additional GRAMMY Awards out of 9 nominations.

He was awarded a 2000 Downbeat Magazine Student Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Soloist.[29]

References edit

  1. ^ "Sam Barsh Biography". www.allmusic.com.
  2. ^ Wilmette Newspaper Index
  3. ^ "Jazz Studies & Performance : Alumni". wpunj.edu.
  4. ^ "Sam Barsh: - As a lead artist I would have to commit to a lifetime of touring - Musicians on Music". www.musicians-corner.net. Retrieved 2017-03-14.
  5. ^ Pico. "Music Review: Sam Barsh – I Forgot What You Taught Me". Blogcritics.
  6. ^ "Jazz Reviews: At HomeAvishai Cohen - By Nate Chinen — Jazz Articles". jazztimes.com.
  7. ^ "BBC - Music - Review of Avishai Cohen - Continuo". bbc.co.uk.
  8. ^ "Jazz Reviews: As Is … Live at the Blue Note Avishai Cohen - By Steve Greenlee — Jazz Articles". jazztimes.com.
  9. ^ Mark Saleski. "Music Review: Sam Barsh – I Forgot What You Taught Me". Blogcritics.
  10. ^ Jim Derogatis review of Jesse Palter and the Alter Ego for Chicago Sun-Times
  11. ^ "Evolution Records - Palter Ego". highlyevolving.com. Retrieved 2017-03-14.
  12. ^ "American single certifications – Aloe Blacc – The Man". riaa.com.
  13. ^ "The Big 9 in 2014: Interscope". hitsdailydouble.com.
  14. ^ "57th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominees". Grammy Awards. 30 April 2017.
  15. ^ "Going for the Grammy: UCLA jazz director works on Anderson .Paak's nominated album 'Malibu'". dailybruin.com. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  16. ^ "MTV VMAS 2017: WORST AND BEST MOMENTS, FROM LOGIC'S BREAKOUT TO PERRY'S FLAMEOUT". newsweek.com. 28 August 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  17. ^ "SAM BARSH CO-WRITES NEW LOGIC/WIZ KHALIFA TRACK ON #1 BILLBOARD 200 MIXTAPE 'BOBBY TARANTINO II'". penmusic.com.
  18. ^ "Elevate Lyrics". lyrics.com.
  19. ^ "'Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse' Earns 3 Grammy Award Nominations". heroichollywood.com. 20 November 2019.
  20. ^ "ALBUM RELEASE: "THE NINE" COMMISSIONED TO CELEBRATE THE FIERCE AND NOTORIOUS RUTH BADER GINSBURG!". blackcatsf.com.
  21. ^ "BRAs Winners". blackreelawards.com/.
  22. ^ "GRAMMYs At Home: Tiana Major9 Recalls The Exhilarating Moment She Realized She Was Nominated For Best R&B Song". grammy.com. 12 March 2021.
  23. ^ "Jazz Studies Alumni". wpunj.edu.
  24. ^ "Sam Barsh: As a lead artist I would have to commit to a lifetime of touring". musicians-corner.net.
  25. ^ "2021 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Winners & Nominees List". grammy.com. 24 November 2020.
  26. ^ "Nile Rodgers Honored as BMI Icon at the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards". www.bmi.com. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  27. ^ "Graham Gouldman and Top Songwriters Honored at 2015 BMI London Awards". www.bmi.com. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  28. ^ "Ashford And Simpson Songwriter's Award". www.bet.com. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  29. ^ "DOWNBEAT AWARDS". ntjazz.com. Retrieved 4 January 2016.

External links edit