Sam Barsh is a music producer, songwriter and keyboardist. His discography of over 300 recordings includes 18 Gold and Platinum certifications, 2 #1 singles, 4 #1 albums, and 4 GRAMMY wins out of 12 nominations. Through his collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, Anderson .Paak, Aloe Blacc, Doja Cat, Kanye West and The Weeknd, he has played a significant role in reincorporating sophisticated harmony into popular music.
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Upon graduating William Paterson University, Barsh began his career as a jazz pianist in NYC, touring and recording with iconic bassist and composer Avishai Cohen’s trio for 3 years, working with artists including Cassandra Wilson, Gregory Porter, Roy Hargrove, Snarky Puppy, Lonnie Plaxico and Robin Eubanks, and leading his own groups.
After relocating to Los Angeles to pursue songwriting and production, Barsh co-wrote the #1 single “The Man” by Aloe Blacc, and helped create 2 of Billboard’s albums of the decade, Anderson .Paak’s “Malibu” and Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp A Butterfly,” which garnered Lamar his first 3 GRAMMYs, a #1 spot on the Billboard 200, and signified a turning point where mainstream artists began to embrace jazz harmony. He is dedicated to maintaining a multi-faceted career, creating records with artists ranging from Gwen Stefani to J. Cole, co-writing Kanye West and The Weeknd’s GRAMMY-winning #1 single “Hurricane,” and playing nearly 100 live performances per year.
Barsh is a vocal advocate for reform in the record business, having written articles and viral posts about the realities of streaming royalties, lobbying congresspeople on behalf of the Recording Academy’s Advocacy wing, mentoring young artists on copyright law and fair business practices, and working to help create opportunities for women in the male-dominated music industry.
