Grammy Award-Winning Jazz Musician. A tenor saxophonist, arranger, and composer, he shall be remembered for his work with Count Basie. Raised in Cincinnati he took to music early and in high school had his own band which performed his first compositions. Foster attended Wilberforce University, moved to Detroit in 1945 where he built a solid jazz reputation, then served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Upon leaving the military in 1953 he joined Count Basie (deceased 1984) and was to remain with the great band leader's ensemble for about a decade. In 1955 his perhaps signature composition "Shiny Stockings" was included on Basie's "April in Paris" while some of his lesser known offerings such as "Blues in Hoss' Hat" were played frequently by amateur groups. After departing from Basie, Foster was a freelance composer and arranger while teaching for a time at SUNY Buffalo and at the New England Conservatory of Music; in 1986 he was to become leader of the Count Basie Orchestra and was to stay in the job until 1995. Early in his tenure he garnered two Grammys for his arrangements, in 1987 for "Deedles' Blues" (Jazz Vocal) and in 1988 for "Basie's Bag" (Big Band Instrumental). Following retirement he lived in Tidewater Virginia and though his mobility was limited after a 2001 stroke he did work on occasional projects such as the arrangements for Tony Bennett's 2008 "A Swingin' Christmas" which was recorded with the Basie Orchestra. Foster's honors were many including a 1987 honorary doctorate from Wilberforce University and 2002 designation as a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master.
Grammy Award-Winning Jazz Musician. A tenor saxophonist, arranger, and composer, he shall be remembered for his work with Count Basie. Raised in Cincinnati he took to music early and in high school had his own band which performed his first compositions. Foster attended Wilberforce University, moved to Detroit in 1945 where he built a solid jazz reputation, then served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Upon leaving the military in 1953 he joined Count Basie (deceased 1984) and was to remain with the great band leader's ensemble for about a decade. In 1955 his perhaps signature composition "Shiny Stockings" was included on Basie's "April in Paris" while some of his lesser known offerings such as "Blues in Hoss' Hat" were played frequently by amateur groups. After departing from Basie, Foster was a freelance composer and arranger while teaching for a time at SUNY Buffalo and at the New England Conservatory of Music; in 1986 he was to become leader of the Count Basie Orchestra and was to stay in the job until 1995. Early in his tenure he garnered two Grammys for his arrangements, in 1987 for "Deedles' Blues" (Jazz Vocal) and in 1988 for "Basie's Bag" (Big Band Instrumental). Following retirement he lived in Tidewater Virginia and though his mobility was limited after a 2001 stroke he did work on occasional projects such as the arrangements for Tony Bennett's 2008 "A Swingin' Christmas" which was recorded with the Basie Orchestra. Foster's honors were many including a 1987 honorary doctorate from Wilberforce University and 2002 designation as a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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