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Tag: 2018

SMALL HANDS REACH OUT

from LOVE LIGHTS THE WORLD
Written by David Foster & Janet Gretzky

In the spring of 1994, David Foster starred in a couple of Japanese concerts in Tokyo and Osaka to celebrate his glorious career. Those shows featured Celine Dion, Peabo Bryson, Japanese music star Anri, Color Me Badd, Jay Graydon and the late Warren Wiebe (1953-1998). Their performances of Foster’s most famous repertoire were backed by an all-star band directed by Foster who also performed on piano with Lee Sklar playing bass, Michael Thompson strumming his guitar, Chester Thompson on drums, the Jerry Hey horns and William Ross conducting the orchestra. Those special concerts resulted in a 90 minute TV special aired on Japanese TV.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, BABY

from MERRY CHRISTMAS, BABY
Written by Lou Baxter & Johnny Moore

“Merry Christmas, Baby” was a soul/r&b holiday standard supposedly written around 1947 by the late pianist and singer Charles Brown (1922-1999). Brown was a member of Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers who recorded the original version of the song. Eventually it was Johnny Moore (1906-1969), not Brown for unexplained reasons, who was credited for writing “Merry Christmas, Baby” with fellow songwriter Lou Baxter.

SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN

from THIS CHRISTMAS DAY
Written by Haven Gillespie & J. Fred Coots

 

In the new millennium, David Foster has quickly become the go-to producer when it comes to big-budget Christmas projects. The Hitman helmed a string of chart-topping, platinum or multi-platinum holiday albums for superstars Andrea Bocelli, Michael Bublè, Mary J. Blige, Josh Groban and Rod Stewart. Foster recently ended his hiatus from the recording studio by producing Bublè’s new #1 cd, Love cd and a track on Barbra Streisand’s recent, critically acclaimed Walls cd.

THROUGH THE FIRE

from ILLUSIONS
Written by David Foster & Tom Keane

Eliane Elias is a brilliant Brazilian jazz pianist, vocalist, arranger and songwriter who appears on the international music scene in the early eighties. To this day, she has released a long string of critically acclaimed records. Ms. Elias can attest to having a Grammy and Latin Grammy under her belt plus several deserved nominations. Ms. Elias is equally at ease playing straight jazz, fusion, classical or Brazilian music. She also delivers beautiful vocal performances.

PHANTOM WRITER

from THE LIGHT OF SMILES
Written by Gary Wright

Gary Wright’s The Light Of Smiles was released in January 1977 as the follow-up to the mega-successful Dream Weaver. Like its predecessor, The Light Of Smiles had a catchy collection of pop-rock anthems written by Wright. The album delivered songs with Wright’s trademark sound based on state of the art keyboards and synthesizers. After their winning collaboration on Dream Weaver, Wright again enlisted the young keyboard wizard David Foster and drummer extraordinaire Jim Keltner to help him out on the new recording.