David Foster, Other Luminaries Come Together for Jordan Smith PBS-TV Special at L.A.’s Evergreen Stage

If you’ve listened to records, CDs or streaming media, or watched movies or television over the past four decades, you’re well-acquainted with the work of David Foster, the legendary Grammy®-winning composer, songwriter and music producer who’s worked with everyone from Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion and Chicago to the late Whitney Houston.

Four years ago, the highly regarded Foster added a new name to his roster of recording artists: Jordan Smith. Following Smith’s run during the ninth season of NBC-TV’s popular vocal competition “The Voice,” which culminated in winning that season’s competition, Foster produced “Something Beautiful,” the Harlan Kentucky natives debut album.

Not long after that, he also produced “Jordan Smith: ‘Tis the Season,” Smith’s second album, which featured mostly traditional holiday songs. Then came the kicker: Foster played piano as a special guest during the taping of Smith’s first television special since “The Voice,” a holiday-themed PBS special, also entitled “‘Tis the Season,” that featured a selection of songs from the album performed by Smith and backed by his band, a string and horns/woodwind section and background vocalists. Musical director was veteran industry figure and Grammy and Latin Grammy winner Ezequiel “Cheche” Alara.

The television show, which included Smith performing such songs from his Christmas album as “Silent Night,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” and “O Holy Night,” was taped at the Evergreen Stage in Burbank, a popular recording studio used and preferred by recording artists of all types.

David Foster, OC, OBE has been a leading figure in the music industry for many years. His story began as a 13-year-old in 1963 when he entered the music program at the University of Washington. Two years later, in 1965, he was hired to lead the band in an Edmonton nightclub owned by well-known jazz musician Tommy Banks, who mentored Foster in jazz, record production and the music business in general.

After a year, Foster relocated to Toronto to play with noted rock musician Ronnie Hawkins, then one of the city’s top rock acts and leader of the band the Hawks. In 1974, after joining the band Skylark -- which had a top ten hit a year before with the song “Skylark” -- Foster and the band moved to Los Angeles.

After the band broke up, Foster opted to remain in L.A., where he and guitarist-producer Jay Graydon formed the group Airplay. Although the band didn’t last long, it did record a cover of the Foster-Bill Champlin-penned “After the Love Has Gone,” a song that was a hit for Earth, Wind and Fire. In the 1980s, Foster embarked on a career as a producer, and in the years that followed, he would work behind the scenes with many of the top names in music. He would be honored with 47 Grammy nominations and 16 awards.

In addition, he would earn a reputation as a go-to producer of Christmas albums, producing several best-sellers. His projects have included Celine Dion's “These Are Special Times” in 1998, Josh Groban's “Noël” in 2007, Andrea Bocelli's “My Christmas” in 2009, Michael Bublé's “Christmas” in 2011, Rod Stewart's “Merry Christmas, Baby” in 2012, Mary J. “Blige's A Mary Christmas” in 2013, all before working with Jordan Smith. Foster also composed the song "Grown-Up Christmas List" in 1990.

In the 2000s, Foster, while still active in the studio, began turning his attention toward television. In December 2008, he was featured in “Hit Man: David Foster & Friends,” a program filmed for PBS that featured live performances by Foster and several other performers.

Three years later he was featured on “Concerto: One Night in Central Park” by Andrea Bocell as well as in four Bocelli PBS Specials. 

In 2015, 2017 and 2019 Foster appeared as a judge on the television program “Asia's Got Talent.” In 2019 he joined “America's Got Talent” as judge for the show’s 14th season.