David Broza

Personal life

The son of an Israeli–British businessman and a folk singer, Broza was born in Haifa, Israel. He was raised and educated in England and Spain, where he was schooled at Runnymede College, in Madrid. Broza's grandfather, Wellesley Aron, co-founded the Arab-Israeli peace settlement, Neve Shalom – Wāħat as-Salām (The Oasis of Peace) and the Habonim youth movement. Young David Broza originally planned to become a graphic artist, and by age 17 he was selling his paintings in the Rastro, Madrid's Sunday flea market. Following high school, and while serving in the Israel Defense Forces, he began playing guitar in cafes to earn extra money. Eventually he was offered a record deal, but as he still hoped to attend the Rhode Island School of Design, he declined. He later recorded a tape to promote his live shows.

Broza was married to Ruti, from whom he is divorced. He has three children. He lived in Cresskill, New Jersey, United States for 17 years. He resides in Tel Aviv and is a member of Kehilat Sinai, a Masorti (Conservative) synagogue.

Musical career

Broza is considered one of the world’s most dynamic and vibrant performers. From his whirlwind finger picking to Flamenco percussion and rhythms, to a signature rock and roll sound, David Broza’s charismatic and energetic performances have delighted audiences throughout the world. His music reflects a fusion of the three countries in which he was raised: Israel, Spain and England.

More than singer/songwriter, David Broza is also known for his commitment and dedication to several humanitarian projects, predominantly, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Since 1977, when his hit song “Yihye Tov” first hit the airwaves, David Broza has been working to promote a message of peace. The song’s lyrics, roughly translated as “Things Will Be Better” struck at the heart of the issue – that people all over the world want peace. Now with a string of multi-platinum albums behind him, David Broza still strives to hone this message.

In 2013, Broza began work on a new project – bringing together Israeli and Palestinian musicians for 8 days and nights to work side-by-side in an East Jerusalem recording studio. The thrilling result is the new documentary and companion album, East Jerusalem West Jerusalem, a collection of thirteen songs that blends cultures, languages and styles into a powerful statement about collaboration and coexistence. The album, produced by Steve Earle, features a stirring duet with Wyclef Jean.

David Broza’s aspirations for East Jerusalem West Jerusalem reflect the lessons learned during its unprecedented creation—and from a lifetime dedicated to peace and greater human understanding.

Broza continues to tour and record with music luminaries from around the globe. In 2007, a concert at Masada featured Broza with special guests Jackson Browne and Shawn Colvin. David Broza has appeared as a guest and shared the bill with Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and many more.

A powerful musician, passionate peace advocate and music industry innovator, David Broza awes and inspires audiences with his sincere message and musical allure.

Musical collaboration

In 1994, David Broza performed with Texan singer Townes Van Zandt during a Writers in the Round concert in Houston. When Van Zandt died three years later, he left Broza a shoe box full of unreleased poems and lyrics with a request that Broza set them to music. The result was Night Dawn: The Unpublished Poetry of Townes Van Zandt," which was released in 2010.

In 2007, David Broza performed at his annual Sunrise at Masada concert in Israel where Broza collaborated with Shawn Colvin and Jackson Browne. The concert was filmed as part of a PBS special and was released in 2014 on DVD and CD by Magenta Label Group.

In early 2013, Broza recorded sessions at Sabreen Studios in East Jerusalem with a band composed of both Israeli and Palestinian musicians, including Mira Awad, Shaa'nan Streett of Hadag Nahash, West Bank rap duo G-Town and Wyclef Jean. The resulting album, "East Jerusalem/West Jerusalem," produced by Steve Earle and Steve Greenberg, was released in early 2014 on S-Curve Records.

Peace activism

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.

He toured the Middle East with Jordanian musician Hani Naser to promote peace through music. They were invited by the Israeli and Jordanian governments to perform in concert during the peace signing between the two countries.

Discography