Sam Barsh


Sam Barsh 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, IL 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,, in 2009. 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

2004

At Home – Avishai Cohen Trio and Ensemble So Alive – Lonnie Plaxico Two Colors – Russ Nolan Zach Brock and the Coffee Achievers – Zach Brock

2005

Chemistry – Zach Brock Finding Space – Rick Parker Collective The Relatives – Jeff Parker

2006

Continuo – Avishai Cohen Live at the Jazz Factory – Zach Brock

2007

As Is...Live at the Blue Note – Avishai Cohen As Is...Live at the Blue Note – Avishai Cohen With You in Mind – Russ Nolan featuring the Kenny Werner Trio

2008

The Gambler EP – Beyondo I Forgot What You Taught Me – Sam Barsh Live! – Sam Barsh Vosotros Presents: The Years – The Years

2009

Day One – Meilana Gillard Evil Genius – Michael Feinberg Hypnotic – Gene Segal In My Own Company – Jennifer Lee Snowden Inner Dance – Fabrizio Sotti Limited Edition EP – Palter Ego (as Jesse Palter and the Alter Ego) Vosotros Presents: The Years Mixtape – The Years

2010

By the Numbers – Dustin Edge PVD and 8th W1 are: Luz Deville – Lux Deville Yvette Rovira – Yvette Rovira
  • * 01. "Everybody Stand Up"
  • * 09. "Psychedelia"
  • * 12. "Smile"

2011

Live Vol. II – Sam Barsh Sounds Like This! – PVD

2012

Agápē – Jojo
  • * 01. "Back2thebeginningagain"Above the Covers – Palter Ego Dealbreaker – White on Rice featuring Norah Jones Emuna – Daniel Ori Eviction Notice – Wax
  • * 09. "Killing Me Inside"MoodSwings – Lalana
  • * 01. "Waitin' "
  • * 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
  • * 01. "So It Goes"
  • * 02. "Tell You One Thing"
  • * 03. "Nothing's Really Changed"
  • * 04. "Fairytale Ending"
  • * 05. "Miss You Madly"Violet – Nick Rosen
  • * 04. "Blues for Albert"
  • * 05. "Eastside/Westside"

2013

Between Two Evils – Aubrey O'Day
  • * 08. "Devil & Me"Fairytale Ending – Robin Mckelle I Lost My Coachella Ticket – Kosha Dillz Id, Ego, Palter Ego – Palter Ego The Man – Aloe Blacc Maurice vs. Mobetta – Maurice Brown
  • * 02. "The Connection

2014

Control Yourself – Opolopo Remix – Robin Mckelle Enter the Dynasty – Dontae Winslow and Winslow Dynasty
  • * 06. "Blaxploitation and Revolutions "
  • * 09. "2304 West North Avenue"Heart of Memphis – Robin Mckelle and the Flytones
  • * 01. "About to Be Your Baby"
  • * 04. "Control Yourself"
  • * 08. "Easier That Way"i – Kendrick Lamar Lift Your Spirit – Aloe Blacc
  • * 02. "The Man"
  • * 08. "Red Velvet Seat"Modern Vintage – John Robinson and PVD
  • * 06. "What's the Point"The Way – Macy Gray
  • * 10. "Life"The Worst – Van Ike

2015

All We Need – Raury

2016

Malibu – Anderson.Paak

2017

4eva Is a Mighty Long Time – Big K.R.I.T.

2018

Bobby Tarantino II – Logic
  • * 06. "Indica Badu" Dreamin' Out Loud – Nick Grant
  • * 14. "The Ode" Eclectic Excursions – Nabate Isles
  • * 01. "Inception"
  • * 02. "Laid Back"
  • * 03. "Find Your Light"
  • * 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"
  • * 16. "Laid Back Instrumental November – SiR
  • * 01. "Gone"
  • * 09. "Better"New Change – Sarah Reich
  • * 05. "It's Tappening"
  • * 09. "The Groove"
  • * 10. "New Change"
  • * 15. "Gemini Vibe" Book of Ryan – Royce da 5'9"
  • * 09. "Life is Fair"Quarterthing – Joey Purp
  • * 02. "Godbody Pt. 2" Rolling Papers 2 – Wiz Khalifa
  • * 20. "B Ok"Testing – ASAP Rocky
  • * 13. "Changes"YSIV – Logic
  • * 02. "Everybody Dies"Music for People – Genr8r
  • * 01. "First Offense"
  • * 02. "Gone"
  • * 03. "BB&J "
  • * 04. "BB&J"
  • * 05. "Over It"
  • * 06. "N.C.M.S."
  • * 07. "OSSO"
  • * 08. "Smash"
  • * 09. "Find Your Way"
  • Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (soundtrack) – Various Artists
  • * 12. "Elevate" – DJ Khalil feat. Denzel Curry, YBN Cordae, SwaVay & Trevor RichMimi – Bad Rabbits
  • * 06. "Dollars and Change"

2019

The RISE UP Project – J.Period
  • * 04. "See The Light" Queen & Slim: The Soundtrack – Various Artists
  • * 04. "Collide" – Tiana Major9 feat. EarthGangRise – Samm Henshaw Nobody Cares Except You – Kosha Dillz Exercise – Kosha Dillz Logic Became Me – Kosha Dillz Hide – Tamir Spotify Singles – Sam Barsh and The Deli
  • * 01. "Constellations"
  • * 02. "Misty"Clydesdales and Castles – Sam Barsh You Want My Cup – Sam Barsh The Nine – Sam Barsh
  • * 01. "Nothing's Wrong " feat. Samad Savage
  • * 02. "Soldier Story"
  • * 03. "Truth"
  • * 04. "Like You"
  • * 05. "Rose Garden"
  • * 06. "Ballad of the 3 Officers Johnson"
  • * 07. "Thank You"
  • * 08. "Unholy Water"
  • * 09. "Bear Arms"
  • * 10. "Three Fifths"
  • * 11. "Last Line of Defense" Curiosity – Amber Liu Paper Trail – Jesse Palter
  • * 04. "Waitin"
  • * 07. "Heart So Cold"Dirt Road Diamond – Childish Major
  • * 01. "Necessary Pressure"Where Do I Start – Joel Matthew
  • * 01. "Where Do I Start"
  • * 02. "An Ode"
  • * 03. "Rockstar"
  • * 04. "Lost in L.A. Interlude"
  • * 05. "Lost in Los Angeles"
  • * 06. "Down This Road" Contents Under Pressure – Harry Mack
  • * 04. "Go For Mine"So It Goes – Henry Canyons feat. OLLIE CHANIN

2020

Still Be Friends – G Eazy feat. Tory Lanez and Tyga Streetlight – Yakul Company – Yakul For The Ones – Kosha Dillz feat. Matisyahu The Jazzy Beats EP – Sam Barsh
  • * 1. "Fafa"
  • * 2. "3 Out of 5"
  • * 3. "Bay to Ventura"
  • * 4. "The Jade Rule"Juicy – Olivia Kuper Harris
  • * 11. "Burn This Bridge"
  • * 12. "Check"Everlasting – Loyal Lobos
  • * 7. "Everlasting"Worth It – ZieZie feat. S1mba and Stylo G The Jazzy Beats EP Remixes – Auxjack and Sam Barsh
  • * 1. "Fafa"
  • * 2. "3 Out of 5"
  • * 3. "Bay to Ventura"
  • * 4. "The Jade Rule" Forbidden Fruit – Lynn Cardona Running Back to You – Lynn Cardona Counting Sheep – Lynn Cardona Nobody Cares Except You – Kosha Dillz
  • * 1. "Nobody Cares Except You"
  • * 2. "For the Ones" feat. Matisyahu
  • * 4. "Exercise"
  • * 7. "Real Me"
  • * 9. "Age"
  • * 10. "Never Ever Have I"
  • * 11. "They know what my name is"
  • * 12. "Tommy Pickles"
  • * 13. "Solo" feat. Gangsta Boo
  • * 14. "End of the Night"A Motown Holiday – Various Artists
  • * 1. "All I Want" – AsiahnBeat Tape, Vol. 1: Mood Side of the Barsh – Sam Barsh
  • * 1. "Wavy Baby"
  • * 2. "Finny"
  • * 3. "Road Dog for Life"
  • * 4. "Symarshall"
  • * 5. "Turkey Bacon and Cheese"Beat Tape, Vol. 2: Trap Side of the Barsh – Sam Barsh
  • * 1. "Me Say Baywater"
  • * 2. "Death Vali"
  • * 3. "Deep Out"
  • * 4. "Ratchet Doctor"
  • * 5. "Modestly Priced Receptacle"Beat Tape, Vol. 3: Crate Side of the Barsh – Sam Barsh
  • * 1. "Fine Toothed Chrome"
  • * 2. "Respect Old Arrangements"
  • * 3. "Reclinerboy"
  • * 4. "Peppermint Patek"Beat Tape, Vol. 4: Drip Side of the Barsh – Sam Barsh
  • * 1. "Dangit"
  • * 2. "Willflower"
  • * 3. "Sussy the Ghost"
  • * 4. "Cel Blox"
  • * 5. "Trimming the Treason"

2021

Donda – Kanye West
  • * 5. "Hurricane" feat. The Weeknd and Lil Baby
  • * 13. "Moon" feat. Don Toliver and Kid CudiNotes to Self – Van Ike, Sam Barsh, songwriter
  • * 1. "Never Wanted to Love You"
  • * 2. "Can't Get Away From You"
  • * 3. "Away For The Day"
  • * 4. "The Worst"
  • * 5. "Every Single Day"
  • * 6. "3D Movie"
  • * 7. "Never Wanted to Love You – Brother in Arms Remix"Over This – PONO Preacher's Kid – Butterfly Ali
  • * 1. "Testimony"
  • * 2. "Pray for 'Em"Why Would I Stop – Sam Barsh feat$. tarborn Sak Pase – Jervsalem Fight Fa – Jervsalem USEE4YOURSELF – IDK
  • * 14. "Peloton"
  • * 31. "Peloton – Instrumental"Elevate featuring Will Claye – Original Score Kingfisher – Wiley From Atlanta
  • * 1. "No Vacancies"Endless – Cameron Forbes Get Big – $tarborn If I Was White – Cameron Forbes Real Wild Child – Skylet Gunner

2022

Tana Talk 4 – Benny the Butcher
  • * 1. "Johnny P's Caddy" feat. J. ColeCoal – IDK Black Market with Michael K. Williams – Main Theme That Boy Across The Street Short Feature – Original Score Yam Grier – Zyah Belle
  • * 2. "Holding On"
  • * 3. "Goofy"
  • * 4. "Love Me Now"
  • * 5. "DND"
  • * 14. "Go"Harlem Shake – Nabate Isles The Sound of Luxury Vol. 1 – Olivia Pucci
  • * 1. "U Got It Bad"
  • * 2. "Are You That Somebody"
  • * 3. "Let Me Love You"
  • * 4. "Just Friends "
  • * 5. "It Was a Good Day"
  • * 6. "American Boy"
  • * 7. "Waterfalls"
  • * 8. "Gin & Juice"
  • * 9. "No Scrubs"
  • * 10. "Safe in Your Arms"Ice In The Clouds – No Xtra feat. Maiya Sykes
  • * 1. "Keep Holding On"
  • * 2. "Ice In The Clouds"
  • * 3. "Away To Nowhere"
  • * 4. "Summertime Habit"
  • * 5. "Over The Edge"Anxiety – Jervsalem S.S.A.B. – $tarborn
  • * 3. "We On"
  • * 4. "Hunnid Bands"Starborn – $tarborn
  • * 2. "Life Takes Time"
  • * 3. "Confiscate It"
  • * 4. "Pick Yo Head Up"
  • * 6. "9 to 5"Moments – Pono
  • * 1. "In The Middle"
  • * 2. "Mistakes"Ride Away – Genr8r feat. Nic Jackson Sticky Sauce – Sam Barsh
  • * 1. "Sticky Sauce"
  • * 2. "Go Against The Family"
  • * 3. "Drunken Noodles"
  • * 4. "Can't Tie A Tie"
  • * 5. "Tied Up In Trees"
  • * 6. "Lonely Dice"
  • * 7. "Leopard Prince"
  • * 8. "3 Bills And A Soda"
  • * 9. "Kev Infinity"
  • * 10. "FTSQ"
  • * 11. "Buona Sera"
  • * 12. "No Hateration"
  • * 13. "Lalana's Lament"Beat Tape, Vol. 13: To The Moon And Back – Sam Barsh
  • * 1. "Policy Wonk"
  • * 2. "Sue's Dark Side"
  • * 3. "Sully My Name"
  • * 4. "The Noble Man"
  • * 5. "The Sinmaster"
  • * 6. "Ticky Tack"
  • * 7. "To The Moon And Back"
  • * 8. "Warranty Sham"
  • * 9. "Wean At All Costs"Beat Tape, Vol. 12: Don't Look Twice – Sam Barsh
  • * 1. "20 Minutes from Stardom"
  • * 2. "Don't Look Twice"
  • * 3. "Event Planning"
  • * 4. "Our Bar"
  • * 5. "Out of Oranges"
  • * 6. "Pace of Life"
  • * 7. "Pezzo Novante"
  • * 8. "Pink Tiger"Beat Tape Vol. 11: Pay Patience – Sam Barsh
  • * 1. Layover Stayover
  • * 2. "Holding Courts"
  • * 3. "91 Degrees"
  • * 4. "Seal Sand"
  • * 5. "MRTS"
  • * 6. "Olive Sampler"
  • * 7. "Deceptive Dealer"
  • * 8. "Pay Patience"
  • * 9. "New Turf"
  • * 10. "Downdate"Steps Of The Stoop – Sam Barsh
  • * 1. "Smooth Perpetrator"
  • * 2. "Collateralized"
  • * 3. "Citizen Gee"
  • * 4. "Steps Of The Stoop"
  • * 5. "Stafford Infection"
  • * 6. "Still Damp"
  • * 7. "Green Shield"
  • * 8. "A Walk Through Midwood"
  • * 9. "Flight Night"
  • * 10. "13 Out 1 In"
  • * 11. "Benny's Drill"
  • * 12. "Clinkin And Clankin"Clouds of Violet – Sam Barsh
  • * 1. "LGB"
  • * 2. "Tai Chi Evenings"
  • * 3. "Praise Pays"
  • * 4. "Clouds of Violet"
  • * 5. "Window Pains"
  • * 6. "Lazy Evenings"
  • * 7. "Not On The Team"
  • * 8. "Bad Testing"
  • * 9. "Let's Be Three"

2023

Scarlet – Doja Cat
  • * 6. "97"En Motion – Nabate Isles
  • * 1. "The Jump Off" 
  • * 2. "Black Girl Magic"  
  • * 3. "Harlem Shake"
  • * 4. "Bate's Letter from MistaChuck"  
  • * 5. "Reality"
  • * 6. "Perfect Cadence"
  • * 7. "Septune"
  • * 8. "Cristo Redentor"
  • * 9. "Iso"
  • * 10. "Lush"
  • * 11. "The Smoke"
  • * 12. "La Fiesta"
  • * 13. "Fatherly Bond" 
  • Love Without Conditions – Zombie Juice
  • * 3. "Terpalation"
  • Red Moon in Venus – Kali Uchis
  • * 15. "Happy Now"Falls to Pieces – Pat Van Dyke
  • * 6. "Shine" feat. Sam BarshTrip. – Kemi Ade Love You Forever – Vérité
  • * 8. "I Thought I Was Waiting"
  • They Cloned Tyrone (Music From and Inspired by the Netflix Film)
  • * 9. "Feelin' Good" Cool Girl – Bente Violet Missing Piece – Bente Violet I'm Her – Princess Chloe and Becca Brazil LOBA Vol. 1 – Loyal Lobos
  • * 1. "Tengo Sed"Typical Day – Jesse Palter and Sam Barsh Alma Perdida – Nancy Sanchez
  • BNG TENNIS CLUB – Tom Ford and Phundo Art
  • * 3. "Letter4"Sounds Like Home – Captain Planet
  • * 8. "Break Through To My Heart"

2024

i thought i was waiting – VÉRITÉ and Bronze Vases Ignore The Comments – Sam Barsh Ferrari – Jervsalem Partition – Sam Barsh Trio DON'T GROW UP TOO SOON – Nascent
  • * 3. "U Shoulda Been There" feat. SabaCafe's Closed – Sam Barsh Don't Forget to Breathe – Buddy
  • * 6. "Get It All" Areas of Focus – Sam Barsh Without You – Andy Grammer
  • BLUE LIPS – Schoolboy Q
  • * 15. "Germany 86'"Institutionalized – Sam Barsh Trio Honey Don't – Skylet Gunner and Sam Barsh Straight, No Chase – Jourden
  • * 4. "Picture Perfect"Dust on the Desk – Sam Barsh Demetri Deconstructed Comedy Special – Demetri Martin Phitt Cheque – Sam Barsh J.PERIOD Presents...Story To Tell
  • * 2. "Hot Sauce" feat. Andra Day and Aloe BlaccCloud Lifter – Sam Barsh elvis, he was Schlager – Church Chords
  • * 4. Alone Under the Water feat. Kristin Slipp
  • * 10. Man on Wire feat. Kristin SlippBad Headlines – Sam Barsh Hyper Realist – Sam Barsh

Awards and nominations

Barsh was a nominee for the 2021 GRAMMY Award for Best R&B Song for co-writing the Tiana Major9 feat. EarthGang single "Collide."
He was nominated for the 2022 Grammy Award for Album of the Year for his work on Kanye West's Donda. Barsh co-wrote the Kanye West song Hurricane feat. The Weeknd and Lil Baby, which won the 2022 Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance.
In 2024, Barsh was inducted into New Trier High School's Alumni Hall of Honor.
He was the recipient of two 2015 BMI Awards, the US R&B Hip-Hop award and the London Pop Award.
Barsh was a nominee for the Ashford and Simpson Songwriter Award at the 2014 Soul Train Awards.
His composition Black Spiderman was Awarded a 2017 MTV Video Music award for "Best Fight Against the System."
Barsh's work as a composer and keyboardist has received 3 additional GRAMMY Awards out of 9 nominations.
He was awarded a 2000 Downbeat Magazine Student Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Soloist.