Foster began his career in music with piano lessons at the age of 5 in his native Victoria, British Columbia, Canada and eight years later, he enrolled as a student in the University of Washington's music program. He began his professional career when he was 16 as a member of Chuck Berry's backing band. Relocating to Los Angeles in 1971 with his group Skylark, he scored a major hit the following year with the single "Wildflower". Throughout the early '70s he built a solid reputation as one of the best session keyboard players in the business, performing with such greats as John Lennon, Diana Ross, George Harrison, Barbra Streisand and Rod Stewart.
With vast production credits including Donna Summer, Julio Iglesias, Lionel Richie, Natalie Cole, Dionne Warwick, Olivia Newton-John, Al Jarreau, Richard Marx, Celine Dion, The Corrs, Whitney Houston, N'Sync, Toni Braxton, Michael Jackson and many others, he is among the most acclaimed producers of our time. There is also a long list of songs composed by Foster: "After The Love Has Gone" (Earth Wind & Fire), "To Love You More" (Celine Dion) and "Hard To Say I'm Sorry" (Chicago), just to name a few.
Today Foster enjoys continued success with hits such as "It's Your Song" (Garth Brooks), "Have You Ever" (Brandy) and "Tell Him" (Celine Dion and Barbra Streisand). He has recently worked with 'N Sync (featuring Gloria Estefan), Andrea Bocelli, Diana Krall, Dru Hill, Mariah Carey, Toni Braxton, Michael Jackson, Lace, Laura Pausini, Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, Monica and Madonna.
Despite multiple ongoing projects, he still finds time to pursue a solo career (releasing albums for Atlantic Records) in addition to collecting numerous awards and nominations and he frequently lends his musical skills to charitable foundations and organisations.
A long time advocate of children and their rights, Foster established the David Foster Foundation to assist families of children in need of organ transplants. To date the foundation has raised several million dollars and assisted numerous children throughout North America. To aid African famine relief he co-wrote "Tears Are Not Enough" with fellow Canadian Bryan Adams, in addition he produced and wrote the music to his wife Linda's lyrics for "Voices That Care", which to has already donated over one million dollars to the Red Cross and U.S.O. of America.
Foster was named "Person Of The Year" at MIDEM 2001, the world's leading music market, in Cannes, France. He is married to sometime co-writer/lyricist Linda Thompson.
Nominated for Music (Best Song) 1986: THE KARATE KID PART II "Glory of Love" - Music (w. Peter Cetera)
Nominated for Achievement in Music (Original Song) 1992: THE BODYGUARD "I Have Nothing" - Music
Nominated for Achievement in Music (Original Song) 1998: QUEST FOR CAMELOT "The Prayer" - Music & Lyric (w. Carole Bayer Sager and Tony Renis & Alberto Testa - Lyric)
3 nominations