Hitman: Forty Years Making Music, Topping the Charts, and Winning Grammys (Hardcover)

by David Foster (Author)
Key Phrases: David Foster, Los Angeles, Celine Dion (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
After almost four decades in the music business, David Foster -- producer, arranger, songwriter, performer -- is finally ready to talk. In this compelling and outspoken memoir, Foster shares some of his incredible stories: the first time he met Barbra Streisand, as a young session player in Los Angeles; his first of 15 Grammys® for "After the Love Has Gone," Earth, Wind & Fire's memorable hit; the making of Unison, Celine Dion's English-language debut; the challenges he faced on his way to putting the group Chicago back on the charts; his award-winning contribution to Unforgettable: With Love, Natalie Cole's comeback album; those back-to-back recording sessions with Madonna and Michael Jackson; and the incredible chain of events that spawned Whitney Houston's historic blockbuster, "I Will Always Love You."

Foster has worked with superstars of every decade, including:

Celine Dion - Josh Groban - Whitney Houston - Michael Bublé - Barbra Streisand - Andrea Bocelli - Madonna - Michael Jackson - Natalie Cole - George Harrison - Earth, Wind & Fire - *NSYNC - Chicago - Paul McCartney - All-4-One - Katharine McPhee - Toni Braxton - Alice Cooper - Olivia Newton-John - Michael Bolton

...and many more.

From his unique and privileged vantage point, Foster describes the delicate balancing act between artist and producer, offers revealing portraits of some of those artists at work, and shares his secrets for success in the maddeningly fickle music industry.

At its heart, this is the story of a boy with perfect pitch who grew up to become one of the most influential musical forces of our time -- the solid gold hitman who produced the soundtrack of our lives.

About the Author
David Foster is a 15-time Grammy Award winning composer, songwriter, arranger, and record producer whose career began in the early 1970s, with the group Skylark. He then went on to become one of the most sought-after session players in the business, working alongside such musical legends as Barbra Streisand, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Diana Ross, Rod Stewart, and many more. In 1990, Foster met Celine Dion in Quebec, singing under a tent in the rain, and shortly thereafter he introduced her to American audiences. A few years later, he was recruited by Atlantic Records, paving the way for the creation of his own successful label, 143 Records, and in the years since he has discovered a roster of diverse and exceptional talents, including, most recently, Josh Groban and Michael Buble. In addition to his work in the music business, Foster spends much of his time raising money for charity.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (November 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439103062
• ISBN-13: 978-1439103067
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #19,982 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST read book for anyone interested in "pop" music! , December 31, 2008

By	kooky Kid "Bookfiend1818" (east coast) - See all my reviews

I have always known little about David Foster except that he is "that Canadian guy who worked with Celine Dion et al" I truly enjoyed and appreciated that this man wrote such a revealing but balanced personal history of his years in show business from the humble beginnnings in dreary 60's london to the glitzy over the top L.A. scene in a heyday never to be repeated- Marvin and Barbara Davis' circle. This book is not about parties or excess though. David clues us in early on about his large wholesome Canadian family, he is the only boy in a brood of seven children and he keeps his values throughout his life.He said he knew from the beginning that he would never get involved in the drug scene- and aren't we grateful that he didnt become a casualty like so many?
The only disclosure that he rues is his complicated family life as he has several marriages and many gorgeous girls and stepchildren he must manage ; he is very upfront that this has been a checkered path.
Most of the book is the meat- his hitmaking ability and his interactions and collaborations with the celebrities he has worked with ,from the gracious and sublimely talented to the rude and dismissive. I found David to be extremely modest and grounded and generous when describing most of his professional relationships. He also explains total unsnobbery as regards those who diss his work, explaining "popular" music is named as such because it is - POPULAR .Just because one may have Miles Davis on the turntable doesn't mean they cannot find something to appreciate about a singer selling millions of records. I found Mr. Foster very refreshing and rational, and lets face it , he is an uber star himself, dong what he does brilliantly.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good quick read....., February 8, 2009

By	David Carlin (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have always been fascinated by Foster's work with Chicago. I believe his work with Peter Cetera was unbelievable.

The book hits the ground running. Don't expect long drawn out stories. He has many experiences to share and recounts them. When an artist was difficult to work with, he shares it. Foster likes to explain in the book that he was great at helping existing artists reach for something higher. He also found new talent and tells of the story of discovering Celine Dion and Josh Groban. He enjoys producing. His experience with playing a variety of instruments and early experience doing session work led to this.

One of the memorable stories for me early on the book came when he told of being left in London after his band abandoned him. He stayed there without any contacts or friends, surviving on one main meal per day. The day he left to come back home, Cat Stevens offered him a job but he was home sick and left. He later regretted that, but still had a great career after.

Foster believes in his gifts and one never forgets this while reading. He doesn't have much humility, but his enthusiam for his projects is infectious and probably one of the hallmarks of a great producer. I also enjoyed learning about his charity work. The book was a great read.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good read, could have added more, December 19, 2008

By	Catherine Goltz "a music lover" (Washington DC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

David Foster gives us the first ever account of his successful career. But he doesn't mention more of his work with Bill Champlin. Nothing on Warren Wiebe (how could he he was his "voice" for ten years or so) and it doesn't have a discography of his many works. Perhaps he couldn't fit in into one book.