David Broza

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David Broza

Background information
Born September 4, 1955 (1955-09-04) (age 52)
Haifa, Israel
Genre(s) Rock
Folk rock
Blues
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, musician
Instrument(s) Vocals, guitar
Years active 1977–present
Label(s) NMC,
Hed Arzi ,
RGB
Website www.broza.com

David Broza (Hebrew: דויד ברוזה‎, born September 4, 1955) is a Multi-platinum Israeli singer-songwriter who has written several Israeli pop standards, including Yihiyeh Tov (It will be alright) and Mitachat La'Shamayim (Under the Skies). Broza's grandfather, Wellesley Aron, co-founded the Arab-Israeli peace settlement, Neve Shalom (The Oasis of Peace)[1] and the Habonim youth movement. David Broza made popular old Spanish songs from Barcelona in Modern Hebrew versions.

Contents

[edit] Early life

The son of an Israeli/British businessman and a folk singer, David Broza was born in the city of Haifa, Israel, and 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 became a superstar, and by age 27 he was being mobbed by fans in the street as his recordings were sold quickly.

[edit] Music

Critics have labelled Broza as “a post-modern Leonard Cohen” and the “Stevie Ray Vaughan” of folk rock.[2] Broza's American debut album, “Away From Home” was praised by the New York Times as one of the best pop albums of the year.[3] “Time of Trains”, his second American release, gained him recognition as one of the most important artists on international music scene. 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 [4] 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 5x platinum album “The Woman By My Side”. His live albums, recorded 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".

David Broza at Masada, a special concert featuring Broza, Jackson Browne and Shawn Colvin aired in America on Thursday, September 6, 2007 on PBS.

[edit] Personal life

David's seventeen-year-old son with ex-wife Ruti, Adam, currently attends the Walworth Barbour American International School in Israel. He also attended Camp Shomria in Upstate New York, and David Broza has performed there several times. He has two other children. Broza has a home in Tel Aviv, and lived in Cresskill, New Jersey for 17 years.[5] He has been compared to another NJ musician: Bruce Springsteen. [6] as well as Gordon Lightfoot and Jackson Browne [7]

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. [8]

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. [9]

[edit] Discography

  • 2007 BROZA 5 (Live at Zappa Tel Aviv)
  • 2006 PARKING COMPLETO (Spanish and Hebrew Version)
  • 2004 HAMEITAV (Best Of in Hebrew)
  • 2004 PARKING COMPLETO (Spanish)
  • 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 Sixteenth Sheep), NMC Music (Hebrew)
  • 1977 SIKHOT SALON ,(Small Talk), Phohokol (Hebrew)

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ David Broza Profile, Jewish Music
  2. ^ David Broza | Aviv Productions, Ltd
  3. ^ David Broza | Aviv Productions, Ltd
  4. ^ David Broza | Aviv Productions, Ltd
  5. ^ Leichman, Joseph. "A Chava Alberstein and David Broza experience: Israeli Megastars head for Englewood", Jewish Standard, March 1, 2007. Accessed November 28, 2007. "Broza lived in Cresskill for 17 years, and he will return to New Jersey when he plays with Alberstein at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood tomorrow night."
  6. ^ David Broza Profile, Jewish Music
  7. ^ `Israeli Springsteen' wields flamenco and blues at festival
  8. ^ David Broza Profile, Jewish Music
  9. ^ Hani Naser