We turn to music for so many things – when we fall in love, when our heart breaks, when we have the urge to dance, when we need a good cry, when we need comfort. A good song can take us on an emotional journey. Musicians are lucky to have one hit when they share their music with the world, but to fill a 3-hour concert, with just a portion of their hits – that’s exceptional. And that is a perfect word to describe David Foster, a 16- time Grammy winning producer who is the genius behind countless hits. Foster likes to joke that he only creates ballads and his music is ideal for baby making, but during his 3-hour 75th birthday concert at the Hollywood Bowl on November 3, 2024, he proved otherwise.
If you turn on a radio station that plays hits from the 1980’s, 90’s and 00’s and listen for an hour, it’s likely you will hear multiple David Foster songs. The man is a true musical genius and has given us so many songs we know word for word, such as “You’re The Inspiration,” “All By Myself,” “The Prayer,” “Hard to Say I’m Sorry,” “Unforgettable,” “I Will Always Love You” and “St. Elmo’s Fire.” That list doesn’t even make a dent in his musical roster. What people might now know is that he not only creates hit music, he creates hitmakers. Foster has been credited with discovering Josh Groban, Michael Bublé and Celine Dion.
David Foster is an icon in his own right, and he celebrated his birthday and his contributions to the world of music at an equally iconic venue, the Hollywood Bowl, to a sold out crowd of 18,000 fans. Foster has built incredible friendships with musicians from all over the world, and they came to the Bowl to sing his praises, literally. Foster himself played the entire show, and welcomed talented guest after guest to the stage, including his wife Katharine McPhee, his proteges Josh Groban and Michael Bublé, Brian McKnight, Andrea and Matteo Bocelli, Tori Kelly, Jennifer Hudson, Charlie Puth, Pia Toscano, Chris Botti, Sydnie Christmas and more. Each artist cheered David, wishing him well on his birthday, but also thanking him for all he has done for them. It’s clear he has made an impact on the world with his music, but also an imprint on the hearts of those he has worked with.
While each song had the audience singing along, sometimes laughing and sometimes crying, a highlight of the night was Broadway sensation Kristin Chenoweth’s roast of the birthday boy. He sat atop a gold throne while the singing soprano recapped Foster’s life with humor and wit. In a matter of 7 minutes she took us through 7 decades of the producers life. Foster joked that the whole evening felt a bit like attending his own funeral while he was alive.
What a gift to be able to hear from those you have impacted, and to look out into a crowd of thousands who adore your music. He acknowledged that his fans are often of an older age range, but appreciates that he has young fans too, and jokinly said “it’s a testament to…me.” But Foster is right. During his touching performance, Josh Groban said he “owed so much to this man, and I am lucky to be among the talent he has discovered and to be her tonight celebrating him.” Among thunderous applause, it was clear all 18,000 attendees felt the same.
For more information on David Foster and his incredible work, visit DavidFoster.com and DavidFosterFoundation.com. To learn more about the Hollywood Bowl and upcoming shows, visit HollywoodBowl.com.
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