David Broza
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David Broza (born September 4, 1955 in Haifa) is an Israeli singer/songwriter. He has written several Israeli pop standards, including Yihiyeh Tov (It will be all right) and Mitachat La'Shamayim (Under the Skies). David Broza is a modern troubadour of urban folk-rock. With 17 albums to his name, many of which went gold, platinum, and multi-platinum in his native country, Israel.
His grandfather Wellsley Aron was a founder of an Arab-Israeli settlement Neve Shalom (translates to The Oasis of Peace) [1] and of the Habonim youth movement. The son of an Israeli/British businessman and a folk singer, David Broza was born in Haifa, Israel. He was raised and educated in England and Spain. Broza originally planned to become a graphic artist, and by age 17, was selling his paintings in the Rastro, Madrid’s famous Sunday flea market. However, after high school graduation, he was drafted into a three-year term in the Israeli military. Stationed away from family and friends, he began playing guitar in cafes to earn extra money, and was eventually offered a record deal. Since he still hoped to attend the Rhode Island School of Design, he declined. He later recorded a tape to promote his live shows. "Somehow, one of the songs became a #1 hit in Israel", he explains. At age 21, he was a star, and by age 27 he was being mobbed by fans in the street as his recordings went triple platinum.
Critics have labelled him as “a post-modern Leonard Cohen,” [2] the “Stevie Ray Vaughn” of folk rock [3], and even “the Mel Gibson of Rock n’ roll.” [4]
His American debut album, “Away From Home” was praised by the New York Times as one of the best pop albums of the year. [5] “Time of Trains”, his second American release, gained him recognition as one of the most important artists on the music scene all over the world. Broza has made a mission of studying the work of American writers for the past several years, haunting libraries and bookstores, “always reading with a melody in my head.”
Broza has started forming yet another base for himself in the United States, building a strong legion of fans, and maintaining a hectic touring schedule. Now an artist-in-residence at Bennington College in Vermont, he has also gained a wealth of respect in American literary circles [6] and often guest lectures in college writing classes.
The singer/songwriter continues to record albums in Hebrew for his Israeli fans, and travels frequently all over the world. His popularity achieved new heights with the enormous success of his 4x-platinum album “The Woman By My Side”. Albums recorded at live concerts at the top of Masada in 1994 and 1999 went platinum. His Spanish language release, “Isla Mujeres” was released in Spain. His concert tours included Belgium, Spain, Argentina, Germany, Venezuela, Mexico, Brazil and the United States.
His Hebrew recording, “All or Nothing” was released in 2002 and went gold within one week, as well as its Spanish version, "Todo o Nada".
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[edit] Personal Life
David's sixteen-year-old son with ex-wife Ruti, Adam, currently attends the American International School in Israel. He has two other children. When in the United States, he lives in New Jersey [7] and has been compared to another NJ musician: Bruce Springsteen. [8] as well as Gordon Lightfoot and Jackson Browne [9]
An activist who is committed to several humanitarian causes, Broza was appointed a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF. His song “Together” (co-written with Ramsey McLean) was the theme song for the UNICEF 50th anniversary celebration in more than 148 countries. [10]
He recently toured the Middle East with Jordanian musician Hani Naser to promote peace through music, a mission very close to Hani's heart. They were invited by the Israeli and Jordanian Governments to perform in concert during the peace signing between the two countries. [11]
[edit] Discography
- 2002 TODO O NADA (Spanish Version of 'All or Nothing')
- 2002 ALL OR NOTHING (Hebrew)
- 2002 PAINTED POSTCARD (English & Hebrew)
- 2001 SPANISH HEART (English)
- 2000 ISLA MUJERES (The Women's Island), DRO East West/Warner Records Spain (Spanish)
- 1999 MATCHIL LINSHOM (Starting to Breathe), Hed Artzi/RGB Records Gold (Hebrew)
- 1995 SODOT GDOLIM (Big Secrets), RGB Records (Hebrew)
- 1994 STONEDOORS, RGB Records (English)
- 1994 SECOND STREET, RGB Records (English)
- 1994 ELEMENTS OF LOVE, RGB Records (Hebrew)
- 1994 MASADA LIVE, RGB Records Platinum (Hebrew)
- 1993 TIME OF TRAINS, RGB Records (English)
- 1992 NESHIKA GNUVA,(Stolen Kiss), NMC Music (Hebrew)
- 1990 FIRST COLLECTION, NMC Music (Hebrew)
- 1989 AWAY FROM HOME, RGB Records (English)
- 1987 A POET IN NEW YORK, SONY (English)
- 1984 BROZA, NMC Music (Hebrew)
- 1983 HAISHA SHEITI (The Woman By My Side), NMC Music Quadruple Platinum (Hebrew)
- 1981 Klaf (ACE), NMC Music (Hebrew)
- 1979 DAVID BROZA, NMC Music (Hebrew)
- 1978 HAKEVES HA SHISHA ASAR, (The Sixteen Sheep), NMC Music (Hebrew)
- 1977 SIKHOT SALON ,(Small Talk), Phohokol (Hebrew)
[edit] External links
- Official site
- David Broza
- American Friends of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam
- David Broza: Making the Music the Poem Wants
[edit] References
- ^ David Broza Profile, Jewish Music
- ^ http://www.aviv2.com/broza/
- ^ http://www.aviv2.com/broza/
- ^ http://www.aviv2.com/broza/
- ^ http://www.aviv2.com/broza/
- ^ http://www.aviv2.com/broza/
- ^ Israeli rocker David Broza seeks a new musical life in America
- ^ David Broza Profile, Jewish Music
- ^ `Israeli Springsteen' wields flamenco and blues at festival
- ^ David Broza Profile, Jewish Music
- ^ Hani Naser
