RebbeSoul

Bruce Burger (born July 11, 1958, Utica, New York), known by his stage name RebbeSoul, is an American-Israeli Jewish singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer. Performing since the early 1990s, he has released five solo albums and has recorded with the bands Hamakor and Common Tongue. He has also collaborated with singer Shlomit Levi of Orphaned Land for the world music duo Shlomit & RebbeSoul.

Early life

Burger was born in Utica, New York to a minimally observant Conservative Jewish family. When he was 12, his parents bought him a plastic guitar, not believing he would take the instrument seriously. He later began playing at local bars, despite being underage. He attended Syracuse University and graduated with a degree in engineering.

Career

Burger left home at 22 and moved to Los Angeles, where he worked as a session musician for various artists, including Barbara Mandrell, and provided music for shows like Baywatch and Cristal. During this time, he founded a jazz fusion group called Jazzburger with saxophonist Dave Koz, drummer Alex Acuña, and keyboardist Cornelius Bumpus.