The Klezmorim, a klezmer band founded in Berkeley, California, in 1975, was credited with spearheading the global renaissance of klezmer music. The group initially featured flute and strings, evolving into a brass/reed/percussion ensemble fronted by Lev Liberman's saxophones and David Julian Gray's clarinets. They made a public debut at the Berkeley Public Library in April 1976 and were soon signed to Arhoolie Records. Their early albums East Side Wedding (1977) and Streets of Gold (1978) received airplay on listener-sponsored and college radio stations, leading to rigorous touring throughout North America. The Klezmorim achieved crossover success with the album Metropolis (1981), garnering a Grammy nomination and selling out major venues including Carnegie Hall in February 1983. They performed steadily until 1993, regrouping for a European tour in 2004.
