David Foster Does It All

By Kevin Zimmerman

Nov 30 2001

It's safe to say that, in the music business at least, David Foster has done it all.

The BMI producer/songwriter has been nominated for an impressive 42 Grammy Awards, taking home an astounding 14 trophies (including three for Producer of the Year). He also won a Golden Globe Award in 1999 for co-writing (with Carole Bayer Sager) and producing the hit song "The Prayer" from the animated film Quest for Camelot, was named Billboard's "Top Singles Producer" and "Top R&B Producer" in 1993, and has received three Academy Award nominations.

The list of musicians Foster has worked with during his career is a who's-who of talent, and includes John Lennon, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Madonna and Diana Ross. Small wonder, then, that he was named the "Person of the Year" at the 2001 edition of Midem in Cannes, France.

In addition, Foster is also connected to the reality show "Popstars," overseeing the formation of the group Eden's Crush and producing their first album on his own 143 Records, a joint venture with the Warner Music Group whose roster includes international sensation The Corrs (20 million albums sold worldwide) and Christian pop group Plus One. He has been the label's chairman since its inception in 1993.

Such a list of accomplishments, and the fact that his career dates back to 1973, has understandably left Foster feeling a bit fatigued. "I'm not sick of it, but I'm tired," he told the Vancouver Sun in January. "It's a little hard to get up in the morning, go to the studio and try to create music that's going to hit and sell. But I don't hate the industry at all."

Foster has even been flirting with the idea of running for Prime Minister of his native British Columbia, and told the Sun that he plans to spend the next four to five years learning about the job.

In the meantime, he is keeping plenty busy with other, non-music related projects. An avid advocate for children's rights, he has established the David Foster Foundation to assist families of children who need organ transplants, and in 1999 formed tonos.com with Sager and producer/artist Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds. The web site provides career advice and job listings for new songwriters and musicians.

Whether his future includes politics or not, Foster is secure in the feeling that he will do the right thing. "The worst thing for my musical career would be struggling, not having hits, not getting the right phone calls and still trying to be a record producer/songwriter," he told the Sun. "True champions try to go out on top or near the top."