David Walter Foster was born on November 1, 1949, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. A renowned musician, record producer, songwriter, arranger, and composer, Foster began his musical journey early. At just 13 years old in 1963, he enrolled in the University of Washington’s music program. He later formed a local band in Victoria called The Strangers, with whom he moved to England before returning to Canada, where he played with Canadian rockabilly artist Ronnie Hawkins.
In 1974, Foster relocated to Los Angeles with his pop-rock band, Skylark. The group had gained attention with their 1973 hit single, “Wildflower.” After Skylark disbanded, Foster collaborated with fellow musician Jay Graydon to form the band Airplay. During this period, he also expanded his studio work, contributing to George Harrison’s albums Extra Texture (1975) and Thirty Three & 1/3 (1976), playing instruments such as the Fender Rhodes and clavinet. In 1976, Foster also participated in Guthrie Thomas’s album Lies and Alibis, which featured guest appearances from artists including Ringo Starr.
Foster’s reputation as a top-tier producer solidified with his work on Earth, Wind & Fire’s 1979 album I Am. His contributions to the song “After the Love Has Gone” earned him a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song. In the early 1980s, Foster became a key figure in shaping the sound of the band Chicago. He produced three of their albums—Chicago 16 (1982), Chicago 17 (1984), and Chicago 18 (1986)—and co-wrote several enduring hits including “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” (U.S. #1), “Love Me Tomorrow” (U.S. #22), “Stay the Night” (U.S. #16), and “You’re the Inspiration” (U.S. #3).
In addition to pop and R&B, Foster achieved success composing for film. His scores include St. Elmo’s Fire (1985), The Secret of My Success (1987), and contributions to The Bodyguard (1992) soundtrack, which produced numerous chart-topping hits. He also composed “Winter Games,” the official theme of the 1988 Winter Olympics held in Calgary, Alberta—a composition that became an iconic part of Olympic history.
In 1995, Foster entered a joint venture with Warner Brothers to establish his boutique label, 143 Records. He sold the label back to Warner in 1997 and subsequently became a senior executive within the company. Under 143 Records, Foster played a critical role in launching the careers of several artists, including Josh Groban (2001), Michael Bublé (2003), Renee Olstead (2004), and Charice (2010). He also collaborated with Lara Fabian and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra to record Canada’s national anthem, “O Canada,” in both English and French in 2001.
Throughout the 2000s, Foster increased his presence on television. He made appearances in the reality series Popstars (2001) and The Princes of Malibu (2005), and took part in musical competition shows including American Idol and Nashville Star. In 2006, he appeared as a vocal coach on The View. A PBS special titled Hit Man: David Foster & Friends aired in 2008, showcasing his influence in the music industry. In 2005, he co-wrote the anthem for “World Children’s Day” alongside Beyoncé and his daughter, contributing to an international effort to raise funds for children’s causes.
In 2011, Foster became Chairman of the Verve Music Group, furthering his role in shaping musical talent. His production of Mary J. Blige’s holiday album A Mary Christmas (2013) and Andrea Bocelli’s Passione (2013) illustrated his versatility across genres. In 2015, Foster joined the judging panel of Asia’s Got Talent. The following year, he stepped down from Verve, closing another chapter in his leadership within the record industry.
| Birth Date: | 1 Nov, 1949 |
| Age: | 70 yrs |
| Citizenship: | Canada |
| Birth Place: | Victoria |
| residence: | Victoria |
| Education: | University of Southern California |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | Canadian musician, record producer, songwriter |
| Twitter Id: | Officialdfoster |
| Net Worth 2021: | 150 million |
