He followed that up a year later by playing the Fender Rhodes and clavinet on Harrison's album Thirty Three & 1/3. In 1975, Foster played on George Harrison's album Extra Texture. When the group disbanded, Foster remained in Los Angeles and, together with Jay Graydon, he formed the band Airplay. The song " Wildflower" was a top ten hit in 1973.
Career Early years įoster was a keyboardist for the pop group Skylark, discovered by Eirik Wangberg. In 1974, he moved to Los Angeles with his band Skylark. In 1966, he joined a backup band for Chuck Berry. After one year there, he moved to Toronto to play with Ronnie Hawkins. Banks mentored Foster in jazz, producing records, and the music business. In 1965, he auditioned to lead the band in an Edmonton nightclub owned by jazz musician Tommy Banks. In 1963, at the age of 13, he enrolled in the University of Washington music program.
He has also chaired Verve Records from 2012 to 2016.įoster was born in Victoria, British Columbia, the son of Maurice "Maury" Foster, an office worker, and Eleanor May Foster (née Vantreight), a homemaker.
Often in tandem with songwriter Diane Warren, Foster has contributed to material for prominent music industry artists in various genres since then, and is credited with production on over 40 pop hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Foster's career began as a keyboardist for the pop group Skylark in the early 1970s before focusing largely on composing and production. He has won 16 Grammy Awards from 47 nominations. David Walter Foster OC OBC (born November 1, 1949) is a Canadian record producer, film composer, and music executive.