01In brief
Ken Burgess is a musician, composer, and music arranger who converted to Orthodox Judaism and settled in Israel, where he worked extensively in Hasidic music production. After achieving commercial success in the 1960s with “My White Bicycle” — a song John Lennon called “the anthem of the psychedelic era” — Burgess redirected his career toward Jewish music and built a studio in Ramat Gan used by leading artists in the genre.
02Early Life and Career Beginnings
In the winter of 1966, Burgess was working at Abbey Road Studios on “My White Bicycle,” which he had written for the band Tomorrow, while the Beatles recorded in a neighboring studio. John Lennon entered Burgess's studio, listened to the song, and responded enthusiastically; shortly afterward, Lennon described it in Melody Maker as “the anthem of the psychedelic era.”[1] The song became a major success, and Burgess received a golden record.[1]
About ten years later, Nazareth released a new version of “My White Bicycle” that topped charts worldwide.[1] Burgess continued working on adaptations and productions for rock groups and other musical projects.[1]
At the end of the 1970s, Burgess released his first solo album, titled Ken Burgess.[1]
03Conversion, Aliyah, and Spiritual Journey
Burgess met Nava Baruchin, a former soloist with the group Pure Souls, in Paris in the early 1980s, when he was asked to produce an album for her.[1] The two became a couple, and Burgess, who was not Jewish, chose to convert. He first underwent a Reform conversion but later learned that the Israeli Chief Rabbinate did not recognize it.[1]
The couple then pursued an Orthodox conversion process, which Burgess began in Britain while Baruchin was becoming observant.[1] Difficulties with the process abroad led them to move to Israel.[1] Rabbi Israel Meir Lau referred Burgess to a conversion school, where he studied Jewish concepts and religious law for two years.[1] In 1995, he was declared a sincere proselyte.[1]
By the time of the 2008 profile, Burgess and Baruchin were married and living in Israel. Burgess said, “I have taken an oath to never leave the Land of Israel, and I won't violate it under any circumstances.”[1]
04Work in Hasidic and Jewish Music
After settling in Israel, Burgess established himself as a producer and composer within the Hasidic and Jewish music world. He produced albums for Doron Mazar and Danny Litani and worked with leading figures in Hasidic music.[1] Around 2003, he built a recording studio in Ramat Gan where artists including Mordechai Ben David, Yaakov Shwekey, and Yishai Lapidot recorded.[1] He also served as musical manager for Baruchin's solo album, Hold on to the Dream.[1]
Among his composing credits is “Blessed,” written and arranged by Burgess and performed by Yeedle Werdyger.[2] The recording appears on a 2004 album issued by Zohar Melody and catalogued by the National Library of Israel under the classifications of English songs, popular music, and Hasidic music, with associations to Ashkenazi and Eastern-European musical traditions.[2] The track runs five minutes and thirty-eight seconds.[2]
In 2008, Burgess was preparing a fourth Jewish music CD conceived as a reworking of his 1970s album, with lyrics he described as “kosher.”[1] He explained that the songs were personal in origin but carried a universal message centered on drawing closer to God, and he planned to release the album around Hanukkah.[1]
05Legacy
Burgess wrote “Cry No More” after being moved by news coverage of disasters around the world.[3] He recalled discussing with Yaakov Shwekey how the song could center hope for redemption rather than grief; Shwekey encouraged him to foreground comforting and hopeful words.[3] The song gained particular public attention in 2015, when it emerged that the seven Sassoon children — who died in a Brooklyn house fire — had recorded a rendition shortly before their deaths.[3]
Sources
- 1Ynetnews, 'I took an oath to never leave Israel', accessed on October 13, 2026.
- 2National Library of Israel, accessed on October 13, 2026.
- 3Ynetnews, The Sassoon children's will: Emotional song calling for unity, accessed on October 13, 2026.
IsraelPedia Question & Answers
Who is Ken Burgess the musician?
Ken Burgess is a musician, composer, and music arranger who converted to Orthodox Judaism and settled in Israel, where he worked extensively in Hasidic music production. He achieved commercial success in the 1960s with "My White Bicycle," a song John Lennon called "the anthem of the psychedelic era," before redirecting his career toward Jewish music and building a recording studio in Ramat Gan used by leading artists in the genre.
What was "My White Bicycle" and how successful was it?
"My White Bicycle" was a song Ken Burgess wrote for the band Tomorrow while working at Abbey Road Studios in the winter of 1966. John Lennon heard it in a neighboring studio and later described it in Melody Maker as "the anthem of the psychedelic era." The song became a major success and earned Burgess a golden record. About ten years later, Nazareth released a new version that topped charts worldwide.
How did Ken Burgess convert to Orthodox Judaism?
Burgess, who was not Jewish, initially underwent a Reform conversion, but later learned that the Israeli Chief Rabbinate did not recognize it. He and his partner Nava Baruchin then pursued an Orthodox conversion process. Difficulties with the process abroad led them to move to Israel, where Rabbi Israel Meir Lau referred Burgess to a conversion school. After studying Jewish concepts and religious law for two years, he was declared a sincere proselyte in 1995.
Which major artists recorded at Ken Burgess's studio in Ramat Gan?
Ken Burgess built a recording studio in Ramat Gan around 2003. Artists including Mordechai Ben David, Yaakov Shwekey, and Yishai Lapidot recorded there.
What is the story behind Ken Burgess's song "Cry No More"?
Burgess wrote "Cry No More" after being moved by news coverage of disasters around the world. He discussed the song with Yaakov Shwekey, who encouraged him to center it on comforting and hopeful words rather than grief, focusing on hope for redemption. The song gained particular public attention in 2015, when it emerged that the seven Sassoon children — who died in a Brooklyn house fire — had recorded a rendition shortly before their deaths.