Listen to the theme from 'St. Elmo's Fire' by David Foster

To say that everything David Foster touches turns to gold -- and usually platinum -- would be an understatement. This stunningly talented producer and songwriter is a 14-time Grammy Award winner with an unprecedented 43 nominations, a recipient of 7 Juno Awards, an Emmy Award in 2004 and a three-time Oscar nominee, all over the course of three extraordinarily successful decades. His newest accolade was his induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2007. He has worked with the biggest and best talents in the music industry, including Barbra Streisand, Josh Groban, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Buble, Madonna, N’Sync, The Corrs, Natalie Cole, and many more. The good news for the music industry and his followers is that he’s just getting started.

Foster entered the music scene in 1973, quickly establishing a reputation as the industry’s premier keyboardist, and soon became one of the most sought-after session musicians. He performed alongside such musical icons as John Lennon, Diana Ross, George Harrison, and Rod Stewart. Toward the end of the 1970’s he ventured into writing and producing, and almost immediately worked on such classics as Earth, Wind and Fire’s “After the Love Has Done” and the hugely successful “Got To Be Real.”

Foster’s new career path began to soar in the 1980’s as he produced and wrote an extraordinary lineup of No.1 singles, including Chicago’s “Hard To Say I’m Sorry,” Peter Cetera’s “The Glory of Love,” and John Parr’s “Man in Motion” (St. Elmo’s Fire soundtrack, while producing multi-platinum-selling songs on the Ghostbusters and Footloose soundtracks and Chicago’s 16, l7 and l8 albums. Other production and writing credits followed with hits for Alice Cooper, Al Jarreau, Hall and Oates, Kenny Rogers, Kenny Loggins, Boz Scaggs and Olivia Newton-John.

The 1990’s producing credits for Foster included Celine Dion’s first No.1 hit, “The Power of Love,” Natalie Cole’s “Unforgettable,” “Have You Ever” by Brandy, “Music of My Heart” by Gloria Estefan with N’Sync, Barbra Streisand’s haunting single “Somewhere,” and Streisand’s entire Back To Broadway album.

In l993, Foster enjoyed a momentous year as he was crowned Billboard Magazine’s "Top Singles Producer,” "Top R&B Producer," and was the year’s top Grammy nominee with an astounding seven nominations. To top it all he, managed to take home his third "Producer of the Year" award for The Bodyguard soundtrack.

After such an incredible year in 1993, Foster kept creating, reaching unprecedented levels of success in the next few years (’94-’97) with “Unbreak My Heart” (Toni Braxton), “I Will Always Love You” (Whitney Houston), “I Swear” (All-4-One), and “Because You Loved Me” (Celine Dion). These singles collectively reached No.1 on Billboard’s pop singles’ chart for a record-breaking total of 42 weeks.

As the decade came to a close, Foster founded 143 (I Love You) Records, in partnership with Warner Brothers. Under his new label he began to recruit an impressive roster of diverse and exceptional talent. Included in this pool were the Irish singing group, The Corrs, who sold an astounding 30 million records, Christian Pop sensations Plus One, platinum-selling country artist Kevin Sharp and the Popstars television show.

The turn of the millennium was a welcome sight for Foster and 143 Records as he began to thrive at a newfound passion; discovering new talent. Foster and 143 first signed and produced pop sensation Josh Groban, whose critically acclaimed albums have sold over 17 million copies. Next, Foster set his sights on fellow Canadian Michael Bublé, a modern day crooner whose new album, Call Me Irresponsible, debuted at #2 on the Billboard charts and took over the number one position the following week. The album has already sold over 2 million copies worldwide. Foster’s newest project is the profound and evocative storyteller and musician Peter Cincotti. His second album, East of Angel Town, full of masterful, intriguing and captivating stories, is a catchy blend of jazz-based funk, rock and blues, and is due out this fall.

Aside from his new discoveries, Foster continues to work with some of the biggest names and veterans of the music industry. He produced Andrea Bocelli’s platinum record Amore along with his DVD/CD combo, Under the Desert Sky. He also wrote and produced the Golden Globe winning song “The Prayer” for Celine Dion and Andre Bocelli, produced the Nicole Kidman duet, “Come What May,” from the Moulin Rouge soundtrack, produced hits for Madonna and Michael Jackson, produced Celine’s new multi-platinum album Miracle, and was even given the honor of writing and producing the closing ceremonies of the 2006 Winter Olympic Games.

David Foster’s wild success in the music industry over the last three decades, has also allowed him the opportunity to give a great back to his community and reach out to children. In 1986 he established the David Foster Foundation, based primarily in Western Canada, which has raised millions of dollars to assist families with children in need of organ transplants. He has also lent his musical talent to well over 300 charitable events and organizations, including the Andre Agassi Foundation, Race to Erase MS, Muhammad Ali’s Fightnight Foundation, Cap Cure Prostate Cancer Research Foundation, Malibu High School Scholarship Program, The Carousel Ball, and Cedars-Sinai Research Center for Woman’s Cancer, among many others.

Throughout David Foster’s illustrious career he has shown himself to be extremely versatile, creative, caring and hard working. He achieved early success as a brilliant keyboardist, mingling with some of music’s all-time greats, but had the drive to delve further into the music industry. He rapidly ascended as one of the music industry’s top writers and producers, making contacts early on with some of the biggest stars of the music industry, and joining forces with them to make some of the greatest hits of the ‘80s ad ‘90s. As a producer and writer he has been able to shape and mold the careers of many promising young stars, as well as help advance and sustain the careers of the classic stalwarts. His penchant for finding new talent, along with his dedication and success over the past three decades are proof that in the coming years he will add more achievements, discoveries, awards and recognitions to his already staggering life’s work. We will literally be hearing much more from David Foster for many years to come.

www.davidfoster.com

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