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 Barsh was born in Chicago, IL, and began playing piano at the age of 4. He attended New Trier High School in Winnetka, ILWilmette Newspaper Index and William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey. Barsh moved to New York City in 2001 and currently resides in Los Angeles.
Career
From 2003 to 2006 Barsh was a member of the band of bassist Avishai Cohen, with whom he toured the world extensively. Barsh appears on Cohen's albums At Home and Continuo, and the live album/DVD As Is...Live at the Blue Note.
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.
Along with vocalist Jesse Palter, Barsh founded the electronic pop group Jesse Palter and the Alter Ego, (later renamed Palter Ego), in 2009.Jim Derogatis review of Jesse Palter and the Alter Ego for Chicago Sun-Times The group has released 2 EPs and two albums.
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, selling over 2.5 million copies in the US.
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. 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. 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.
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. 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.
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.
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.
Barsh co-wrote 2 songs on Kanye West's 2021 album Donda. "Hurricane" reached #1 on the Rolling Stone Top 100 and multiple Billboard charts, and won a 2022 Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance. "Moon" reached the top 10 on multiple Billboard charts and was certified platinum by the RIAA.
In 2023 and 2024 Barsh produced and co-wrote songs with Doja Cat, Schoolboy Q, Kali Uchis, and Andy Grammer
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, Marvin Parks, The Brand New Heavies, and Tom Jones.
Discography 1999 Song For Tomorrow – Sam Barsh (As Sam Bar-sheshet) (songwriter, piano, keyboard)
2004 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 Chemistry – Zach Brock (songwriter, producer, piano, keyboards) Finding Space – Rick Parker Collective (piano, synthesizer) The Relatives – Jeff Parker (electric piano)
2006 Continuo – Avishai Cohen (keyboards, piano, handclapping) Live at the Jazz Factory – Zach Brock (piano, songwriter)
2007 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 All We Need – Raury (songwriter, keyboards) 07. "Peace Prevail" Free TC – Ty Dolla Sign (songwriter, keyboards) 17. "Finale" Southpaw (Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture) – Various Artists (keyboards) 02. "Kings Never Die (Eminem featuring Gwen Stefani) The Incredible True Story – Logic (songwriter, keyboards) 18. "The Incredible True Story" To Pimp a Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar (songwriter, keyboards) 04. "Institutionalized" (featuring Bilal, Anna Wise and Snoop Dogg 15. "i" Way to Be – Amanda Brecker (piano, keyboards, organ) Misunderstood – Ethan Tucker (keyboards, organ)
2016 Malibu – Anderson .Paak (songwriter, keyboards) 02. "Heart Don't Stand a Chance" 12. "Your Prime" In My Mind – BJ the Chicago Kid (songwriter, keyboards) 02. "Man Down" Always Strive and Prosper – ASAP Ferg (songwriter, keyboards, trumpet) 01. "Rebirth" 05. "Psycho" 11. "Beautiful People" 18. "Grandma" Back To Me – Shana Halligan (songwriter, keyboards) 04. "Something Real" The Birth of a Nation: The Inspired By Album – Various Artists (songwriter, keyboards, string arranging) 14. "Forward" (K. Michelle) Stripped – Macy Gray (songwriter) 09. "The Heart" Beautiful Broken – Heart (songwriter) 02. "Two" 61 Barkly – Jakubi (songwriter, keyboards) 02. "Uptown Lady" The Name EP – SonReal (songwriter, keyboards) 04. "Hot Air Balloon" State of Mind – Nipsey Hussle ft. Y2 (songwriter, keyboards) D.R.U.G.S. – Rejjie Snow (songwriter, keyboards) The Deal – Palter Ego (songwriter, producer, keyboards, engineering)
2017 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 Badass (songwriter, keyboards) 01. "Good Morning Amerikkka" 02. "For My People" 12. "Amerikkkan Idol" Everybody – Logic (songwriter, keyboards) 08. "Mos Definitely" 12. "Black Spiderman" 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 ASAP Rocky and Tom Morello) Still Striving – ASAP Ferg (songwriter, keyboards) 12. "East Coast REMIX (featuring Busta Rhymes, French Montana, Dave East, Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross and ASAP Rocky)
2018 Bobby Tarantino II – Logic (songwriter, keyboards) 06. "Indica Badu" (featuring Wiz Khalifa) Dreamin' Out Loud – Nick Grant (songwriter, keyboards) 14. "The Ode" (featuring Sonyae Elise) 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)