Jacob Balshan

In addition to his original songs in Hebrew, Jacob sings popular songs in Hebrew and in many other languages, such as French, Spanish, Russian,Ladino and Yiddish.Jacob’s more than 120 original compositions draw from all his experiences in life, with many poetic references. His music and lyrics are influenced by the sounds and rhythms of the many cultures to which he has been exposed. He broadens the concept of contemporary Israeli music for most listeners . Jacob has had gigs on Israeli radio, including an appearance on “Open Door”; and later, his musical compositions: “Shir Ahava”, lyrics written by Natan Yonathan, and “Efo Zeh Shevedya”, lyrics written by Yonathan Geffen, were on the Israeli hit parade. He also composed the music to a French song: “Explique Moi, lyrics by Noel Duet, which was on the foreign hit parade of Israel. He was offered a recording contract from Phillips of Israel. While singing and acting in a musical with Shimon Yisraeli and Oshik Levy,among others, he received a contract to perform in a night club in Brussels, Belgium; and he thus began a seven year career in Europe.This led to performances in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Marseilles, and Paris, where he sang and played guitar at Le Theatre de Mogador and Olympia. Polidor Records in Paris, France offered him a contract, as a composer/songwriter. Jacob began by composing simple melodies as a young child in Casablanca, Morocco. He made “aliyah” to Israel at age 9. He built his first guitar at age 15, and quickly learned to play. The next year his performance career started at age 16 in his hometown of Ashdod,Israel, when he sang for Independence Day. He participated in Kibbutz community shows and later performed in clubs throughout Israel. When his army service as a paratrooper was completed, he was hired to entertain the troops.
In 1986, Jacob moved to New York, N.Y. where he sang professionally until 1990, when he moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His most recent appearances in the tri-state area have been at Gratz College; a program of Jewish Love Songs, performed at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa.; Steel City,in Phonenixville, Pa.; Klezmas Eve with Ken Ulansey at the Sedgwick Cultural Center; Andrea Clearfield’s Salon; The Grayboyes Music Festival;the Bat Ami Chapter of Hadassah dinner, at Beth Israel Synagogue,in Vineland, New Jersey; The Mermaid Inn; the Bux-Mont Jewish Community Fest; Arcadia University at the National Conference of Secular Jews; at the Philly song Shuffle (part of the Philly Fringe Festival); Concerts for the Philadelphia Songwriters’ Alliance; Ron’s Underground;Independence Day Celebration in Vineland, New Jersey; at the Kabalah Center in Philadelphia; and a performance for the Israeli Consulate for “Aliyah”.Jacob has had gigs on Israeli radio, including an appearance on “Open Door”; and later, his musical compositions: “Shir Ahava”, lyrics written by Natan Yonathan, and “Efo Zeh Shevedya”, lyrics written by Yonathan Geffen, were on the Israeli hit parade. He also composed the music to a French song: “Explique Moi, lyrics by Noel Duet, which was on the foreign hit parade of Israel. He was offered a recording contract from Phillips of Israel.
While singing and acting in a musical with Shimon Yisraeli and Oshik Levy,among others, he received a contract to perform in a night club in Brussels, Belgium; and he thus began a seven year career in Europe.This led to performances in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Marseilles, and Paris, where he sang and played guitar at Le Theatre de Mogador and Olympia. Polidor Records in Paris, France offered him a contract, as a composer/songwriter.
Jacob began by composing simple melodies as a young child in Casablanca, Morocco. He made “aliyah” to Israel at age 9. He built his first guitar at age 15, and quickly learned to play. The next year his performance career started at age 16 in his hometown of Ashdod,Israel, when he sang for Independence Day. He participated in Kibbutz community shows and later performed in clubs throughout Israel. When his army service as a paratrooper was completed, he was hired to entertain the troops.
In 1986, Jacob moved to New York, N.Y. where he sang professionally until 1990, when he moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His most recent appearances in the tri-state area have been at Gratz College; a program of Jewish Love Songs, performed at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa.; Steel City,in Phonenixville, Pa.; Klezmas Eve with Ken Ulansey at the Sedgwick Cultural Center; Andrea Clearfield’s Salon; The Grayboyes Music Festival;the Bat Ami Chapter of Hadassah dinner, at Beth Israel Synagogue,in Vineland, New Jersey; The Mermaid Inn; the Bux-Mont Jewish Community Fest; Arcadia University at the National Conference of Secular Jews; at the Philly song Shuffle (part of the Philly Fringe Festival); Concerts for the Philadelphia Songwriters’ Alliance; Ron’s Underground;Independence Day Celebration in Vineland, New Jersey; at the Kabalah Center in Philadelphia;