David Foster

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Biography

David Walter Foster , Order of Canada|OC , Order of British Columbia|OBC (born November 1, 1949), is a Canadians|Canadian musician, record producer , composer , singer, songwriter, and arrangement|arranger , noted for discovering singers such as Michael Bublé , Josh Groban , and Charice Pempengco ; and for producing some of the most successful artists in the world, such as Mariah Carey , Whitney Houston , Céline Dion , Toni Braxton , Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna , Air Supply and Michael Jackson . Foster has won 16 Grammy Awards from 47 nominations. David Foster is the current Chairman of Verve Music Group .

Career

Throughout his career, he has produced recordings for a wide range of musical artists, including Bryan Adams , Tamia , Christina Aguilera , The Bee Gees , Andrea Bocelli , Boz Scaggs , Mariah Carey , Toni Braxton , Chicago (band)|Chicago , Destiny's Child , Neil Diamond , Céline Dion , Earth Wind and Fire , Gloria Estefan , Whitney Houston , Janet Jackson , Michael Jackson , Chaka Khan , Beyonce Knowles , Kenny Loggins , Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna , Olivia Newton-John , Nsync , Plus One (band)|Plus One , Charice Pempengco , Prince (musician)|Prince , LeAnn Rimes , Kenny Rogers , Barbra Streisand , Donna Summer , Shania Twain , Hall & Oates , Tim Feehan , The Tubes , and Jackie Evancho .

Foster was a keyboardist for the popular music|pop group Skylark (Canadian band)|Skylark discovered by Eirik Wangberg . The band's song “ Wildflower (Skylark song)|Wildflower ” was a top ten hit in 1973.

Together with Jay Graydon he formed the band Airplay (band)|Airplay , whose album of the same name is often labeled the most important within the Westcoast AOR genre.

He produced debut albums for The Corrs , Michael Bublé , Renee Olstead and Josh Groban , which were released under his own record label, 143 Records , and distributed through Warner Brothers|Warner Music . Foster helped launch Kevin Sharp (country music)|Kevin Sharp 's career after the two met through the Make-A-Wish Foundation and he produced David Hayes singing a song composed by Ed Scheid and Grammy nominated Laramy Smith title "Friend".

In 1985, Rolling Stone magazine named Foster the "master of ... bombastic pop kitsch."Shewey, Don. , Rolling Stone , 6 June 1985. That year, Foster composed the score for the film '' St. Elmo's Fire (film)|St. Elmo's Fire ,, Internet Movie Database including the instrumental "Love Theme from St. Elmo's Fire", which hit No. 15 on the US pop charts. Another song from the film, " St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion) ", recorded by John Parr hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 7, 1985. The following years, Foster continued turning out occasional film scores, including the Michael J. Fox comedy The Secret of My Success (1987 film)|The Secret of My Success and the Jodie Foster - Mark Harmon drama Stealing Home , both of which spawned soundtrack albums with prominent Foster-penned contributions. He collaborated with then-wife Linda Thompson (actress)|Linda Thompson on the song " I Have Nothing ", sung by Whitney Houston in the 1992 film The Bodyguard . The couple were nominated for a Grammy Award and an Academy Award for Best Song for the song.

He produced Japanese singer Seiko Matsuda 's 1988 album "Citron", also arranging and co-writing all the songs on the album, including the number one single "Marrakech".

In 1995 Foster signed a deal with Warner Brothers that enabled him to set up his own boutique label, 143 Records , as a joint venture with Warner. Foster gave the responsibility for running the label to then manager Brian Avnet. One of the label's first signing was little known Irish folk-rock band The Corrs , for whom he produced their debut album. By 1997 Foster had come to the realisation that, in the American market at least, "logo labels" like 143 were in a "bad spot" and as a result Foster sold the label back to Warner and became senior vice-president at the corporation.

Foster, along with Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds , composed " The Power of the Dream " as the official song of the 1996 Summer Olympics , with then-wife Thompson providing the lyrics (sung by Céline Dion). He also composed "Winter Games", the theme song for 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta . "Winter Games" is the soundtrack for a fountain show at the Bellagio (hotel and casino)|Bellagio resort in Las Vegas as well as a fountain show at Sea World Orlando . Also in 2001, he collaborated with Lara Fabian and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra to record the Canadian national anthem, " O Canada ", for an English version, a French version, and a bilingual (French/English) version, for a promotion of the Government of Canada. Foster, along with his then-wife Thompson, composed "Light the Fire Within" which was sung by LeAnn Rimes for the 2002 Winter Olympics . In 2003, Foster won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Music and Lyrics for '' . His song "I Will Be There With You" (sung with Katharine McPhee ) is being used by Japan Airlines to promote the introduction of new aircraft to its US flights.

During the 1990s he often featured vocalist Warren Wiebe in his performances. He discovered Wiebe in 1987, and in 1994 formed a group called Millennium featuring Wiebe, Nita Whitaker , Wil Wheaton and other vocalists; an album was recorded but never released. Wiebe was Foster's "mouth" on many of his videos but committed suicide before he could release a solo album.

The 2001 Movie “The Score” (U.S.A. and Germany) starring Robert De Niro and Marlon Brando has one of the finest recordings of Diana Krall entitled: “I’ll Make It Up As I Go. ” This song accompanies the film’s ending Credits (Chapter 12) and was composed by David Foster (together with his daughter Amy Foster-Gilles), and was used in the film courtesy of the Verve Music Group. This song is unique and a real “find” for Diana Krall fans since it does not appear on any of her Albums and it is not listed on David Foster’s (together with Friends) Albums.DVD (ending Credits), Universum Film GmbH & Co. KG., Constantin Films and BMG Video, Germany, 2005

In 2005, record producer David Foster, his daughter Amy Foster-Gillies and Knowles wrote "Stand Up For Love" as the anthem to the World Children's Day , an annual worldwide event to raise awareness and funds for children causes. Over the past three years, more than $50 million has been raised to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities and other children's organizations. Destiny's Child lent their voices and support as global ambassadors for the 2005 program.

In 2009 it was revealed that Foster had worked with songwriter Diane Warren to produce records for Whitney Houston 's upcoming album. It was then announced that her comeback single would be the Foster-produced "I Didn't Know My Own Strength".

He recently collaborated with American Idol finalist Michael Johns (singer)|Michael Johns on the re-write of his popular 1980s hit "St Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)."

On December 15, 2011 it was confirmed that David Foster would become the Chairman of Verve Music Group .

Television appearances

In early 1992, the national television station RCTI , David Foster came to Indonesia for the TV show ''David Foster's Twilight Orchestra .

In early 2001, Foster was in Popstars , a reality series that aired on The WB Television Network|WB . The series aimed at coming up with the next girl group and eventually became Eden's Crush (featuring Nicole Scherzinger ). David Foster and Linda Thompson wrote and produced several songs on their album.

Foster's home life was featured in a Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox staged reality television|reality TV show called The Princes of Malibu , in which he attempts to force his two spoiled stepsons, Brandon and Brody Jenner (the children of Thompson and Olympian Bruce Jenner ), to straighten their lives up and earn their own way.

In late April 2005, Foster appeared as a special guest on both American Idol (as a mentor) and Nashville Star (as a judge) two weeks apart. He was also a judge on Celebrity Duets , a FOX TV show, and appeared on Star Tomorrow , where auditions were held in Los Angeles and New York for undiscovered talent. It aired only one episode on NBC .

In July 2006, Foster made a brief appearance on The View (U.S. TV series)|The View as Star Jones 's vocal coach. In August 2006, he was the musical director for : The Concert For American Kids, which aired on CBS and was later released in CD / DVD format. In November 2007, Foster appeared in Oprah's annual "Favourite Things" episode, performing with Josh Groban.

In September 2008, singer Charice joined Foster on The Oprah Winfrey Show with Celine Dion via satellite; and later on October 31, he and Andrea Bocelli appeared on Oprah again together, where he stated that Bocelli was his "favourite singer on the planet".

In December 2008, Foster was featured in a PBS special titled Hit Man: David Foster & Friends , a concert featuring live performances by Foster and numerous other performers. Foster was also featured in Under the Desert Sky in 2006, Vivere Live in Tuscany in 2007, and the My Christmas Special , in 2009, Andrea Bocelli 's three latest Public Broadcasting Service|PBS Specials. Bocelli also performed during Foster's Hit Man special.

In late 2009, he also appeared on a number of TV shows to promote Bocelli's My Christmas album, which he produced, including The Oprah Winfrey Show , The Tonight Show with Jay Leno , Dr. Phil (TV series)|Dr. Phil , The Early Show and Fox & Friends . He also made a number of appearances in 2010 with Filipino singer Charice , to promote her album.

Personal life

Foster has been married four times, has five biological daughters, an ex-stepdaughter, two ex-stepsons, and six grandchildren. Foster has a daughter, Allison Jones (b. April 6, 1970). His first marriage was to singer/writer B.J. Cook. She already had a daughter, Tamre Winger, whom he raised. Together, B.J. Cook and Foster had one daughter, Amy Foster (b. July 29, 1973), a songwriter who has collaborated with classic artists such as Andrea Bocelli , Michael Bublé , and Josh Groban . His second wife was model Rebecca Dyer . They had three daughters: Sara Foster (b. August 24, 1981), Erin Foster (b. August 24, 1983), and Jordan Foster (b. September 1986). at the Internet Movie Database Foster married third wife Linda Thompson (actress)|Linda Thompson on June 27, 1991. The two became a songwriting team, collaborating on several songs including " I Have Nothing " performed by Whitney Houston in The Bodyguard , and " Grown-Up Christmas List ". Thompson filed for divorce Monday July 11, 2005, the day after her short-lived reality series, The Princes of Malibu , premiered. Thompson is the mother of Brody Jenner and Brandon Jenner from her previous marriage to former Olympian Bruce Jenner .

He married model Yolanda Hadid in Beverly Hills on November 11, 2011 in a star-studded 11/11/11-themed ceremony with food by guest Wolfgang Puck and music by many of Foster's friends, including 11-year-old Jackie Evancho , Andrea Bocelli , Michael Bublé , Natalie Cole , Donna Summer , Peter Cetera , Baby Face , Kenny G , the Canadian Tenors , Neil Sedaka , Avril Lavigne , qne Kate Hudson . Other guests included Barbra Streisand , James Brolin , Oprah Winfrey , Muhammad Ali , Bo Derek , Suzanne Somers , Steve Wynn and Brian Mulroney .Leach, Robin. , Las Vegas Sun , November 16, 2011

Foster's sister, producer Jaymes Foster, is the mother of Clay Aiken 's son Parker Foster Aiken., People , 8 August 2008 David's cousin, Billy Foster , died in a race car accident in 1967.

In 1992, David Foster was driving on the Pacific Coast Highway (California)|Pacific Coast Highway when his car struck actor Ben Vereen , who had been on the road because he had crashed his car and was in a daze. Despite being thrown 90 feet, Vereen survived. Vereen also went on record to say that it probably saved his life: he had a serious drinking problem caused by the death of his daughter., Huffington Post , 2 December 2008.

Discography

In addition to the numerous albums he has produced, the following are Foster's own solo or band works:

1972: Skylark (Canadian band)|Skylark (self-titled)

1974: 2 Skylark

1976: Attitudes (band)|Attitudes (self-titled)

1977: Good News Attitudes

1980: Airplay (band)|Airplay (self-titled)

1983: The Best of Me

1986: David Foster (album)|David Foster (self-titled)

1988: The Symphony Sessions

1989: Time Passing

1990: River of Love

1991: Rechordings

1993: The Christmas Album

1994: Love Lights The World

2008: Hit Man: David Foster & Friends

2011: Hit Man Returns: David Foster & Friends

Singles

1985: "Love Theme From St. Elmo's Fire (For Just a Moment)" (US #15)

1986: "The Best of Me" (Duet with Olivia Newton-John) (US #80)

1988: "Winter Games (Can't You Feel It)" - Official theme song for the Calgary 1988 Winter Olympics (US #85)

2001: O Canada (with Lara Fabian )

2003: Teko’s Theme - with Nita Whitaker

Compilations

1992: A Touch Of David Foster

2000: The Best Of Me: A Collection of David Foster’s Greatest Works

2002: Love Stories

2010: The Magic of David Foster & Friends

Awards and Honours

In 1995, Foster received the Order of British Columbia , the highest honour awarded in his native province of British Columbia . Foster became an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2006.

Foster has won 16 Grammy Awards , including three Grammy Award for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical|Producer of the Year award and has been nominated a total of 47 times.

He has been nominated three times for an Academy Award for Best Original Song and won the 1999 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song for the song " The Prayer (Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli song)|The Prayer " (sung by Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion ) from the film Quest for Camelot . He has been named Broadcast Music Incorporated|BMI's "Songwriter of the Year". In June 2010, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame .

Pop & Rock Music Artists

David Foster

Biography

Career

Television appearances

Personal life

Discography

Singles

Compilations

Awards and Honours

See also

References

Further reading

External links

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