Sam Glaser
Sam Glaser | |
---|---|
Born | 1962 |
Origin | Los Angeles, United States |
Genres | Jewish music |
Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, musical director |
Instruments | Vocals, piano |
Years active | 1992–present |
Labels | Glaser Musicworks |
Associated acts | Craig Taubman, RebbeSoul |
Website | www.samglaser.com |
Sam Glaser (born 1962) is a composer,[1] performer and interpreter of Jewish music. Referred to as one of the top ten Jewish artists in the United States by Moment Magazine,[2] he holds a global fifty-city music tour culminating in Israel every year.[3]
He performs annually to over 100,000 people of all ages[3] at such venues as The Greek Theater, Universal Amphitheatre and Dodger Stadium, and toured cities such as Sydney, London, Hong Kong, and Tel Aviv.[3]
While an Orthodox Jew himself, he holds concerts as well as sings in synagogues of all streams of Judaism, which are Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist.
Personal life
Glaser was born to a Jewish family in Los Angeles and started composing and performing at the age of 7. He recorded his first full-length album at the age of 11 and composed his first national radio spot at the age of 14. While in Jr. High, Glaser was chosen Best Male Vocalist in the LA City School District and was presented the award by conductor Zubin Mehta at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. He graduated from the University of Colorado with a B.A. in Business and Minor in Music, and also attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston and the UCLA Film Scoring Program.[3] Glaser currently lives in Los Angeles in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood with his wife Shira and children Max, Jesse and Sarah.
Career
Music career
Glaser has released 24 albums, as well as four collections of lyrics and poetry, four musicals, five sheet music songbooks of his Jewish music and an SATB choral book, Kol Haneshama. He is a 7 time winner of the ASCAP Award and has won Parent's Choice, John Lennon and International Songwriting Competition awards.
He produces his music through his own record company Glaser Musicworks as well as producing scores for film and television. He has served as in house composer for the WB Network and has scored for ESPN, Warren Miller Films and TV, PBS and the Sports Channel. Glaser is also a prolific producer of albums for other recording artists.
Professional career
Glaser served as the Executive Director of the Jewish Music Commission for five years. Glaser also produced the annual American Jewish Song Festival, a song writing competition from 1992 to 2000. In 1995, Glaser was appointed Music Coordinator for the Department of Continuing Education at the University of Judaism (now the American Jewish University) where he supervised the music curriculum and directed the Cultural Arts Program. For four years he was the Musical Director at the Yad b'Yad youth theatre as also served as Music Director for the Brandeis-Bardin Institute in Simi Valley, California.[3] Glaser is also involved with the Coalition for Advancement of Jewish Education, and the Center for Jewish Culture and Creativity.
Discography
Albums
- Hineni (1992)
- A Day in the Life (1994)
- Across The River (1997)
- Kol Bamidbar:A Musical Journey Through the Five Books of Moses (1999)
- Musical libretto by David Sacks
- The Songs We Sing (2001)
- The Bridge (2002)
- Presence (2003)
- Edge of Light (2003)
- Double album with pianist Sharone Kushnir
- Soap Soup (2004)
- Nigun:Voice of the Soul (2006)
- Co-produced with Bruce Burger; features vocals from Moshav Band, Soulfarm, Blue Fringe, Gershon Veroba, and Beatachon
- Rockin' Chanukah Revue (2007)
- Hallel (2008)
- The Songs We Sing: Volume 2 (2010)
- Fatherhood (2011)
- The Promise (2012)
- Towards the Dawn (2014)