Foster, David (1st November 1949-Present)

He is an arranger, producer, musician and composer born in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

His early musical work was as a part of the group Skylark whose song “Wildflower” reached No. 9 in the US charts in 1973. He is a sought after session musician who is deemed one of the music industry’s premier keyboardists.

As a composer he wrote the score for the film St. Elmo’s Fire which produced two hit records: “St. Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion)” and the instrumental “Love Theme”. With his wife, Linda Thompson, he co-wrote the song “I Have Nothing” for the film The Bodyguard which won nominations for an Academy Award for Best Song and a Grammy Award, and with Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds they wrote “The Power of the Dream” which became the official song for the 1996 Summer Olympics. His composition “Winter Games” was the song chosen for the 1988 Olympics in Calgary, Alberta. He and his wife also won an Emmy Award for The Concert for World Childrens’ Day music and lyrics.

As a producer, arranger and/or keyboardist he has worked with numerous artists that include Air Supply, Paul Anka, Patti Austin, The Average White Band, Michael Bolton, Mariah Carey, Kim Carnes, Peter Cetera. Charlotte Church, Natalie Cole, John Ford Coley, Alice Cooper, Michael Crawford , Roger Daltrey, DeBarge, Celine Dion, Donovan, Sheena Easton, Randy Edelman, The Emotions, En Vogue, Aretha Franklin, Lowell George, Vince Gill, Jay Graydon, Faith Hill, Hues Corporation, Julio Iglesias, James Ingram, Janet Jackson, The Brothers Johnson, Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, John Lennon, Gordon Lightfoot, Little Feat, Kenny Loggins, The Manhattan Transfer, Steve Marriott, Richard Marx, Country Joe McDonald, Bette Midler, Keith Moon, Anne Murray, Randy Newman, Juice Newton, Stevie Nicks, Dolly Parton, Steve Perry, The Pointer Sisters, LeAnn Rimes, Smokey Robinson, Kenny Rogers, Brenda Russell, Carol Bayer Sager, Dan Seals, Seals & Crofts, Neil Sedaka , Sparks, Lisa Stansfield, John Travolta, The Tubes, Bonnie Tyler, Barry de Vorzon and Yes.

He has worked on literally thousands of recordings in many capacities with a very small selection including his own Dave Foster, David Foster’s The Christmas Album, Rechordings, River of Love, Symphony Sessions and Touch of David Foster as well as Still Waters by Bee Gees , Give Me the Night by George Benson, Bish by Stephen Bishop, Sogno by Andrea Bocelli, Italia by Chris Botti, Secrets by Toni Braxton, Southern Nights by Glen Cambell , In One Eye and Out the Other by The Cate Brothers, Chicago 16 by Chicago, Forgiven, Not Forgotten by The Corrs, Heartlight by Neil Diamond , I Am by Earth, Wind & Fire, Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 by Gloria Estefan, Along the Red Ledge by Hall & Oates, Lite Me Up by Herbie Hancock, Extra Texture by George Harrison , I Have Nothing by Whitney Houston, Don’t You Love Me Anymore by Engelbert Humperdinck, Off the Wall by Michael Jackson, This Time by Al Jarreau, 21 at 33 by Elton John, Dude by Quincy Jones, Love Makes the World by Carole King, All Our Love by Gladys Knight & The Pips, When I Look In Your Eyes by Diana Krall, Nuthin’ Fancy by Lynyrd Skynyrd, Something to Remember by Madonna, Complete Collection and The Some.. by Barry Manilow, That’s What Friends Are For by Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams , Flowers in the Dirt by Paul McCartney , Very Best Of… by Michael McDonald, Totally Hot by Olivia Newton John, Caricature: The Box by Gilbert O’Sullivan, Baby, Can’t Slow Down by Lionel Richie, Linda Ronstadt Box Set by Linda Ronstadt , It’s Me by Diana Ross , Hits! by Boz Scaggs , Duets by Frank Sinatra , Goodnight Vienna by Ringo Starr , Night on the Town by Rod Stewart, Time Was by Curtis Stigers, Lazy Afternoon by Barbra Streisand, Donna Summer by Donna Summer, He Who Rides the Tiger by Bernie Taupin, Friends by Dionne Warwick, Soul of Bobby Womack: Stop On By by Bobby Womack and the soundtracks/production recordings of Beverly Hills 90210, Casper, Dances With Wolves, Dreamgirls, Footloose, Ghostbusters, Made in America, Night Shift, The Rocky Horror Show, Secret of My Success, Stealing Home and The Wiz.

BMI have awarded him a “Songwriter of the Year”, he has received 47 Grammy Award nominations with 16 wins up until 2017, has had three Academy Award nominations for Best Song and won a Golden Globe for “The Prayer” from Quest for Camelot. He was honoured with the United States Children’s Choice Award for his work in supporting the research into children’s cancer and AIDS. The David Foster Foundation was established by him in 1996 and he regularly raises money to assist families in Canada with children who are in need of an organ transplant. He was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in recognition of his humanitarian work and achievements, was awarded the Order of British Columbia, and has a star on the Canada’s Walk of Fame.

He has been a judge on the show Celebrity Duets and a guest on Nashville Star and American Idol. His home life was featured in the TV reality show The Princes of Malibu. His daughters are the actress Sara Foster and the singer-songwriter Amy Foster-Gillies.

Glen Campbell Recordings
Southern Nights (Allen Toussaint)
Capitol 4376 S93475A

David Foster recordings
O Holy Night (Adolphe Charles Adam)
Interscope 0 7567 92295 2 6 (CD – The Christmas Album)
Vocals – Michael Crawford

Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams recordings
Emotion (Barry Gibb/Robin Gibb)
S CBS 6164B (UK 45)

Here is David Foster and Friends with Earth, Wind and Fire…

Sources:

Foster, David (1st November 1949-Present)

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