Sam Glaser
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Sam Glaser (born 1962) is an American Jewish performer, composer, producer, cantorial soloist, educator and writer.[1][2][3]
Early life and education
[edit]Glaser was born to a Jewish family in Los Angeles.[4] He grew up in Brentwood and Pacific Palisades, California, where he was exposed to jazz, classical and rock music. He regularly attended performances by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and was influenced by his mother's interest in piano and musical theater.[5][6] During his high school years, Glaser transitioned from classical piano to jazz and rock.[5]
Glaser started composing and performing at the age of 7.[7][8] He recorded his debut full-length album when he was 11 years old and composed his first national radio spot for Independence Bank at the age of 14.[4]
Glaser earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business with a minor in music from the University of Colorado.[7][8] He also studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts and later the UCLA Film Scoring Program.[7][4][9]
Glaser is married to Shira and they have three children together.[7][5][8] He currently lives in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood of Los Angeles.[7]
Career
[edit]After completing his education, Glaser worked in production and sales in the garment industry with his father for five years while simultaneously attempting to establish a career in rock music.[8] During this period, he found that the demands of a full-time job left him with limited energy to pursue his musical ambitions, leading him to reevaluate his career path. In 1990 he went into music full time.[8]
From 1992 to 2000, Glaser produced the annual American Jewish Song Festival, a songwriting competition, and later the American Jewish Idol singing contest.[10][11] He served as music coordinator for the Department of Continuing Education at American Jewish University, where he was responsible for overseeing the music curriculum and directing the Cultural Arts program.[4][10]
Since 1992, Glaser and his band has performed on his annual tours across 40-50 cities each year, appearing in over 1000 venues, including L.A.'s Greek Theater, Crypto.com Arena, and Dodger Stadium, as well as Broadway and the White House. His tours have reached nearly every US state and throughout Australia, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Sam has produced and recorded 26 albums of his own songs, primarily in Jewish rock and classic rock genres, as well as award-winning children's albums.[12][13]
Glaser owns and operates Glaser Musicworks, his record company and recording studio, which produces music for film, television, audiobooks, and albums for other artists.[4] He has served as in-house composer for the Warner Brothers Network and has scored for ESPN, PBS, Warren Miller Films and the SportsChannel.[7]
Glaser has been involved in youth engagement, holding positions such as the director of the Yad b'Yad Youth Theater Troupe, a music specialist at Camp Ramah, and the music director for both the JCC Maccabi Games and the Brandeis Collegiate Institute.[4][14]
In 2019, Glaser published his overview of spiritual living, The Joy of Judaism.[15]
Awards and recognition
[edit]Glaser is a 7-time winner of the ASCAP Award and his work has received awards from organizations such as Parent's Choice, the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, and the International Songwriting Competition.[4] He has been named as one of the top ten Jewish artists in the U.S. by Moment magazine.[14][16]
References
[edit]- ^ "Sam Glaser performs at Tustin synagogue". 29 November 2011.
- ^ "Dafna, Sam Glaser to headline Soulful Sounds at B'nai Jeshurun". 26 May 2019.
- ^ "REVIEW: Jewish musician Sam Glaser upbeat and hopeful in Bethlehem concert". 5 November 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Artists-in-Residence event at Temple Israel".
- ^ a b c "Bridging denominations, this Jewish musician puts the 'soul' in music | The Times of Israel". The Times of Israel.
- ^ "New Sam Glaser Album Celebrates 25 Years of Music | Behrman House Publishing".
- ^ a b c d e f "ABOUT TOWN: Music Surrounds Stoughton". 25 July 2013.
- ^ a b c d e "How Tech and COVID Altered Sam Glaser's Musical World". 8 December 2022.
- ^ "Attitude of gratitude - The Jewish Standard".
- ^ a b "Sam Glaser discusses finding spiritual path in musical career". 4 November 2010.
- ^ "Jewish recording artist Sam Glaser to perform at Temple Bat Yam". 18 July 2013.
- ^ "Glaser dreams of a 'white Shabbos' in Cleveland". 4 February 2013.
- ^ "Sam Glaser Concert to Benefit Struggling Jewish Families | Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley".
- ^ a b "Sam Glaser, a Top 10 American Jewish musician, scheduled at Clearwater Shabbaton Nov. 3-4 - Jewish Press of Pinellas County". 6 October 2017.
- ^ Glaser, Sam (December 2018). The Joy of Judaism: A Practical Guide to Spiritual Living Using Judaism's Timeless Teachings. Shefa Press. ISBN 978-1-7329506-0-3.
- ^ "The Teenage Years: Better Run Away | Sam Glaser | The Blogs".