Conversations with Steve Hartline: David Foster

From the Studio to the Stage: Music Icon David Foster Opens Up About Career, Legends, and His First Trip to Chattanooga

The word "legend" is often overused in the music industry, but few individuals embody the title quite like David Foster. With 16 Grammy Awards, an Emmy, and a Golden Globe to his name, Foster has spent the last four decades shaping the soundtrack of our lives.

Recently, the man known as "The Hitman" joined Steve Hartline on Mix 104.1 to discuss his upcoming tour, his storied history with the world’s greatest voices, and why he’s finally stepping out from behind the producer’s desk.

Leaving the Studio for the Spotlight

For most of his career, Foster was the architect of hits in a windowless room. "I’d make the music, I’d throw it under the door, they’d push food under the door, and I’d make more music," Foster joked.

While artists like Michael Bublé and Celine Dion took those songs to the masses, Foster remained in the shadows. That changed about 15 years ago when he discovered the joy of live performance. Now, he’s bringing that experience to Chattanooga for the very first time. Along with his wife, singer and actress Katharine McPhee, Foster is touring their hit show, "An Intimate Evening with David Foster and Katharine McPhee."

Working with the Greats: Streisand, Houston, and Dion

The interview served as a masterclass in music history as Foster revisited his time with iconic collaborators:

Barbra Streisand: Foster recalled the intense labor behind the song "Somewhere" from The Broadway Album. "She wanted it to sound like it was not made on this planet," he remembered. In the 1980s, before modern software, Foster spent a full month programming synthesizers to achieve that otherworldly sound.

Whitney Houston: Calling her a "racehorse," Foster described the "peak vocal prowess" Houston displayed while recording The Bodyguard soundtrack. Despite a famous production disagreement with Clive Davis over "I Will Always Love You," Foster views the record as a "slice of history."

Celine Dion: Foster expressed his awe at Dion’s recent surprise appearance at the Grammys. Having worked with her since she was 19, he described the moment as "breathtaking," noting that she looked and sounded iconic despite her health struggles.

When asked which record stands above the rest, Foster pointed to Natalie Cole’s "Unforgettable." The technical feat of pairing Natalie with her late father, Nat King Cole, remains the achievement he is most proud of.

The "Smooth" Sound of Chicago

Foster also touched on his complicated but successful history with the band Chicago. He admitted to being "young and arrogant" when he pushed the rock-jazz group toward power ballads like "You’re the Inspiration."

"They were in a slump," Foster explained. "I smoothed them out to my taste. They didn’t like the direction, but they’re still enjoying that [success] thirty odd years later."

The Future of Music

Despite concerns about the modern era, Foster remains an optimist. He believes the music business is in "great shape," citing Taylor Swift, Drake, and Ed Sheeran as the new standard-bearers. "Every decade has great songs and terrible songs," he said. "Your 14-year-old daughter, when she turns 40, is going to play Taylor Swift and say, ‘Don’t you remember? It was amazing.’"

A Night of Music in Chattanooga

As Foster prepares for his debut at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium this Tuesday night, he promises fans more than just a concert. The show is packed with storytelling, humor, and a bit of unpredictability.

"If you're a singer, come on out," Foster challenged. "Every night, I go to the audience and get people to sing. Sometimes we get great singers, sometimes terrible, but the spirit is always fun."