Hitman

by David Foster

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.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction, Autobiography, Memoir

260 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2008

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Canadian songwriter and producer. 15-time Grammy Award winner.

Reviews

[Jennie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was definitely interesting, not necessarily great, but interesting. Not only does the author do a colorful job of describing the music and entertainment industry from a perspective that I have not read about previously, but also he did it in a way that came across arrogant and slightly pompous. He bounced around with his stories and experiences within the chapters and paragraphs so it was hard to follow in places. Yet, the hardest thing to overcome in reading the book was his attitude and almost disregard for the negative things that have been said about him and his work. He did not completely disregard these comments, or he would not have added them to his book, but he dismissed them with much disgust that it was almost pointless to include them. In the end, this book was interesting to read for the perspective it provided on music writing, production and the industry in general but it is good it is a shorter book with large print, because the author’s tone is enough to turn a reader off.

[Laren · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was conflicted on whether or not to even read this because it bothers me that David Foster apparently has decided to become his own brand now instead of staying behind the scenes as most other producer/songwriters do. You can see he has a generally healthy ego in this book, but he also admits to self-doubt and being a generally crappy husband and father as a result of his work ethic. This is an interesting memoir of the music industry, but overall it is too short of a book for someone with such a long career, and the reader doesn't get a feel for anyone save the narrator.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

DAVID FOSTER, not to be confused with David Foster Wallace, is a Canadian musician and music producer with perfect pitch.

When he was thirteen, The Beatles' "She Loves You" changed his life.

His father passed away when he was eighteen, shortly after giving David his blessing to pursue a career in music.

"In one of the sessions, it suddenly occurred to me that my father had never told me that he loved me, and for some reason I found this devastating." (171)

David Foster has played and worked with Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Ronnie Hawkins, Tim Curry, Meatloaf, Dolly Parton, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Rod Stewart, Sonny Bono, Cher, Hall and Oates, Paul McCartney, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Clive Owens, Diana Ross, Celine Dion, Lionel Ritchie, Neil Diamond, Madonna, Barbara Streisand, Chicago, Earth, Wind & Fire, Michael Bolton, Andrea Bocelli, Luciano Pavarotti, Lisa Marie Presley, Kenny G, Stevie Wonder, Kenny Rogers, Chaka Khan, Josh Groban, and Michael Buble.

David Foster is friends with Bill and Hillary Clinton.

"Most people are lost in a bottomless black hole of self-absorption, but people like Oprah and Bill make you feel as if you are the most important and fascinating person they've ever had the pleasure of meeting." (171)

A collaboration with Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston on the film The Bodyguard lead to the 1993 Grammy for Record of the Year, "I Will Always Love You" and Album of the Year for its soundtrack.

"The biggest, richest check I ever got- up to that point anyway- was my first royalty check from The Bodyguard: It was for $1,000,000. I loved holding that check so much that for days on end I refused to deposit it." (126)

"To this day, I happen to think that my mix was superior. We'll never know, however. We mastered the original DAT and that became the record. The sax remained out of tune and there was no electric guitar tacked onto the end. And the vocals stayed the same." (16)

David Foster has a reputation of bringing Celine Dion to America, but made her wait forty-five minutes behind a microphone while he tried out his resurfaced tennis court with his friend Humberto. He also passed on "My Heart Will Go On." "I sure went wrong big on that one. But I dislike the song to this day, and the funny thing is I never stop hearing about it." (19)

David Foster had an affair with Caitlyn (Bruce) Jenner's former spouse, Linda Thompson, whom he later married (his third wife). Thompson had also dated Elvis. In the summer of 2005, David Foster's stepsons at the time, Brody and Brandon Jenner shot candid footage of him getting mad with their friend, Spencer Pratt, which turned into The Princes of Malibu reality show. According to Foster, "That was the biggest epiphany of my life. I don't know how to describe it exactly, except to say that it felt as if God was speaking to me." (175) The show gave him the courage to end his marriage.

"I was impressed only once, in fact, and that was the day O.J. Simpson was there. O.J. and Cheryl had done a movie together a couple of years earlier, Jamaica Reef, and they were still friends, and shortly after I arrived at the party I actually went out of my way to shake O.J.'s hand." (66)

Mohammed Hadid, an architect and builder, set Foster up with his ex-wife, Yolanda (Foster's fourth wife).

"God, I wish I was that evolved." (183)

"I can only be who I am, and who I am is a guy who writes music that people make babies to- and I'm not going to apologize for it." (160)

David Foster almost got the Beatles back together! "But nobody got up to make the call, and the moment passed. Still, when you think about it, it would have been pretty cool to go down in history as the guy who brought the Beatles back together." (77)

"As any kid who has ever been in a similar situation will confirm, when one of the band members bails on you those are always the first words out of your mouth: Who can we get?" (103)

David Foster wrote the 1984 original score for Ghostbusters, for which he was nominated for a Grammy. Who ya gonna call?

"It took some convincing- I knew how much work it would entail- but in May 2008 we put together the concert, David Foster and Friends." (197)

David Foster met William Joseph in Phoenix while he was working on a fundraiser for Muhammed Ali. "William Joseph, a piano player with the fastest hands on the planet is a good example. I like to describe him as a younger, more handsome version of me- and a better piano player too." (191)

My youngest brother's name is William Joseph and he also plays piano.

"When he signed on, I approached Atlantic about making it a joint venture, and the result was 143 Records. (The name means 'I love you': one letter, four letters, three letters.)" (129)

143 is a commonly used phrase in the town I am currently residing in because of Minot's Lighthouse.

"Hunger. That's a huge part of the equation." (206)

"Maybe the David Foster Sound will rate a footnote or two in the history books. I hope so." (205)

When David Foster accepted the 1996 Grammy from Sting, Sting had no clue who he was.

I had no idea who David Foster was until I checked out this book on a whim from the library yesterday.

[Scarlett Loves Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being familiar with David Foster's body of work, I don't consider some of the famous people mentioned as "name dropping". It wasn't an exaggeration that he has worked with those artists and have been somewhat involved with the success of their music. In fact, they have been widely acknowledged by some of artists themselves. I do admit that he does come across as arrogant in certain parts of his memoir, or maybe it's just confidence? Sometimes, the two are interchanged when highly successful people are concerned.

I did find the book interesting. Being a music fan, I found it interesting getting a glimpse of the inner workings of the music industry and what was involved in making hit songs that most of us know today. What I also got from this book is that success isn't all that's cut out to be, which was glaringly obvious with his failures as a husband/partner and father.

One aspect that I didn't like is the jumbled stream of thought; he seems to jump from one stage of his life to years away. I get that he is trying to convey a certain life lesson, but It got confusing at times. Despite the negatives, I still found this book enjoyable and found David's life and accomplishments inspirational.

[Mediaman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gigantic ego, over-the-top name-dropping, constant self-praise, and a horrible family man who in the end claims he has "no regrets" makes this an audacious yet fascinating read.

Foster is a control-freak jerk who thinks he's one of the greatest men to ever live. Most people who work with him or have lived with him would disagree, but that doesn't stop him from using this book to try to claim his legacy and convince readers that he should be enshrined amongst the greats. He also claims to never had done drugs, a rarity in this profession and in any celebrity memoir, but that meant he put his energy into many other distractions.

What we get is a loser of a husband who ignored his wife and children (even revealing here about his out-of-wedlock baby conceived when he was young), a "perfectionist" musician who thinks as a producer he has the right to tell his singing stars what they can and can't do on an album, a horrible father who spends almost no time with his children but then claims he did a good job raising them since they turned out well (has he seen the Foster sisters reality show? They're kind crazy.), and ultimately a man who has met most of the important people in American music, and he makes sure you know about it.

Rare is the man who married a woman who was Elvis's lover, then married a woman who used to be the wife of one of the richest men in the world and had famous model daughters, who produced for Sinatra (who Foster didn't like) and Streisand (who Foster did like), and who rubbed shoulders with world leaders and celebrities (his telling Madonna that two men kissing in her video gave him the creeps just about mad her go berserk). But he comes across in the book as a hick Canadian that loves game shows and reality TV (his claim that Princes of Malibu was a hit is hilariously wrong), is scared to ride in elevators, says inappropriate things (his comment to Hillary Clinton is a whopper) and isn't afraid to tell highly-successful people like Stevie Wonder that he thought their albums were crap.

Some of his stories are actually pretty good and he does give enough detail about a few of his projects. But many other times he glosses over famous people he met or worked with, or ignores his faults when his projects bomb (and there are many of them). If something doesn't work Foster takes a jab, even at the big names like Streisand or Celine Dion or Michael Buble. And he does a lot of humble bragging about what he has done for non-profits (wish he would have used some of that energy on his wives and kids instead).

This guy will do and say anything to make himself the hero. But ultimately he's not. He grossly overestimates his value to music history and others' lives. He was a "hitman" with some Grammys and chart-toppers, but there were many that were much greater and in the scheme of things David Foster should have worried about becoming a better man in general, not one just constantly thinking about scoring another hit.

[Jim Anderson-Greenover · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Foster’s journey through the music industry is nothing short of inspiring, and as a fellow musician, pianist, and composer, I found myself gliding beautifully through his story, soaking up his experiences and insights. The connections he’s built resonate deeply, especially his work with icons like Céline Dion, Andrea Bocelli, and Josh Groban. One particularly memorable moment was when 17-year-old Groban had to step in last-minute to sing The Prayer with Dion after Bocelli was unable to arrive in time. Groban learned the song overnight, a testament to his talent and Foster’s belief in nurturing young artists. Hits like The Prayer, You Raise Me Up, and Because You Loved Me showcase Foster’s unparalleled ability to bring out the best in his collaborators. His relentless pursuit of excellence and his gift for creating music that transcends generations felt like a conversation with a kindred spirit. This experience opened a new page for me, reinforcing the magic of music as a universal language, connecting people across time and space. Foster’s life isn’t just a journey; it’s a masterclass in creativity and perseverance, leaving me inspired to push boundaries in my own musical endeavors.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really didn't know who David Foster was, although I'm sure from watching American Idol, etc. I had heard his name. This was a great, straight to the point, autobiography. The co-author did a great job of keeping Foster's story flowing and keeping it from not being overly detailed. The stories chosen to be added about the different artists he has worked with was really interesting to me because I am a big fan of some of the artists (Josh Groban, Michael Buble, Celine Dion, etc.)

Several other reviews comment on how arrogant he sounded, I guess I didn't get that vibe, and I feel I'm usually one of the first people to notice this especially in a book. He's confident, but open about his mistakes and short comings. At the end of the book I just ended up wishing Foster continued success despite his admitted flaws.

*In retrospect, my observance of the author not seeming to be conceited could be due to listening to the audio version of the book in which he personally reads what is written. This, most likely, gives the ability to hear his tone of voice and his emotion when reading the story which directly affected how I perceived what he said.

[Piepie | The Napping Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think my first exposure to David Foster was seeing him in the several Andrea Bocelli concert DVDs that I own. But I didn't realize that he has been around for a long, long time and has worked with so many big names and basically "created" such big names.

In the book David ultimately marries Yolanda (wife #4), but last month he married his 5th wife, Katherine McPhee, who he actually mentions several times in this book, written about 10 years ago.

Of course I loved all the bits about Bocelli, and Celine Dion and Josh Groban.

This is a funny and heartwarming memoir. A quick read, and it made me reconsider my original thoughts on Foster (I thought he was arrogant and self-centered on the Andrea Bocelli dvds I own) and appreciate and like him even more.

[Jeremiah · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with the more recent of Clive Davis' autobiographies, David Foster comes off as a bit too self-congratulatory at times, but you cannot dismiss his string of successes in the early 80s and 90s. My only wish is that the book had been a little more dense. Whole eras as glossed over, and there is a general lack of detail about some of his landmark projects.

[Les · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some interesting stories. He comes off a little egotistical and does a lot of name dropping but I guess he earned that right considering how hard he worked and what he accomplished. Despite a few insights in to his life and work ethic, I kinda think I could have just read his Wikipedia page.

[M. Lomeli · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s exactly what a book written by David Foster would be like. I cant say I was surprised, but it’s still an interesting book if you like to hear stories with lots of name dropping of famous celebrities. The book is thin on life stories but full of all the stories where David brushed elbows with anyone famous. I’m surprised he didn’t forget to mention he had several wives and children.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading about David Foster's musical work was absolutely fascinating to me, he has an immense gift. I wasn't crazy about the trashing of the ex wives, nor was I crazy about his self importance. if you can look past these things it was an interesting read.

[Marisela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, I just wished for more details about his divorce to Linda as well as the others.

[Aaron Badgley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very honest, and sometimes very enteraining.

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

So talented. Big ego.

[Robert Palma · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Foster is an amazing songwriter and even better storyteller.
I enjoyed the Audible version of this narrated by David Foster.

[Toni Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a highly entertaining memoir of the multi talented David Foster. The autobiography relates to his 40 years plus creating hits and winning awards (Grammy, Emmy, Golden Globes, Academy and Juno).In his book he describes the ups and downs working with accomplished artists, like: Madonna, Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Céline Dion, Josh Grogan and Michael Bublé, Whitney Houston and many others.

Raised on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, he became fixated at the age of five on playing the piano and eventually with the strong encouragement of his music teachers many other instruments. Dropping out of high school, he and some band buddies decided they could make it in the music business and headed for London UK. There he gained some exposure playing different music groups, such as Chuck Berry. Unhappy with his success and lonely, David returns to Canada. Several chapters relate his experiences and the people he met while in London.

Back in Vancouver, his big break came with the hit "Wildflower" that brought him to the real music town of Los Angeles; there he hit the big time as a session player, songwriter, producer and became known world wide. Foster's success came from a life time of dedication, a passion for music, self-confidence and sheer audacity, a dedicated perfectionist. He writes about the many hours working with artists and bands in order to have extraordinary results and be recognized by his peers. Interweaved in his narration are bits of his personal life making his autobiography ever so touching. This success came at a price, three failed marriages and five daughters (which he loves deeply).

There are many things I loved about this book, an inspiration in some ways and a life lesson. More is required than a gifted talent in life: you need tenacity, dedication and passion for what you do. Foster credits part of his success to the fact that he stayed clear of drugs.

His novel ends with a long list of acknowledgments done in a very touching manner.

[Ken · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Foster and I both play keyboards. He and I both arrange music. I like the group Chicago, he produced three of their best selling albums. He and I have a lot in common, but we also don't have some things in common. He made millions producing albums for major music stars. He has a multitude of Grammies on his piano. My piano has a couple of harmonicas on it.
One thing Foster said that stuck with me is that he "can only be as happy as my unhappiest child." I think that is a natural feeling, but I think it is worth challenging. As a parent, it is easy to get caught up in that trap. He had children that he admittedly, ignored a lot, while he was putting his career first. I just think it is a burden on your kids. They are in charge of their father's happiness. Well, anyway, with the stellar music career Foster made for himself, you'd think that he'd name drop like Johnny Appleseed, and he does. Barbara Streisand to Celine Dion and many, many others, but he conducted business with almost all the names he dropped.
He also shares his work ethic, which he applied to the end of making superior music, but also peeved some of his 'stars' in the process.
Regarding my favorite group growing up, Chicago, he took the 'power ballad' to new heights, selling a multitude of records, but the group had unkind words for him being overbearing in liner notes of a greatest hits album, but David points out that the album they did just before his sold in the hundreds of thousands and his, for them, sold millions.
To his credit he doesn't deny that he was difficult and upsetting to people. He does justify his means with his ends, though.
He was an interesting character.

[Rahmadiyanti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saya ngefans Om Foz sejak sobat saya di SMA demen banget dengerin musik garapan si Om. Waktu opspek ala jurusan di kampus, pas jurit malam saya disuruh nyanyi. Mau tahu saya nyanyi apa? The Best of Me-nya Foz & Olivia Newton John, hihihi. Tapi kayaknya kakak kelas asyik aja tuh dengerin, mungkin karena suara saya bagus *bletak!*. So, bener-bener suka garapannya si Om, apalagi kalau yang nyanyi Om Peter Cetera, huah!

Saat Oktober lalu Foz konser di Jakarta, aduuuh rasanya mimpi sudah di depan mata. Tapi, masih sayang sama duit buat beli tiket, apalagi kan waktu itu lagi banyak bencana *cieeehh*. Jadi say goodbye saja mau lihat Foz langsung. Kutemui saja si Om melalui memoarnya ini. Aih, baru tahu kalau si Om punya klaustrofobia. Pengalaman bermusiknya juga sudah ngelotok. Sejak usia remaja (15 thn) Foz sudah bikin grup musik dan memperoleh penghasilan yang ia simpan kepada ibunya. Pengalaman Foz bersentuhan dengan para penyanyi juga menarik. Dari Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, Celien Dion, Josh Groban, hingga MJ! Tangan dingin Foz telah melahirkan banyak hit, tak heran dia digelari "Hitman".

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

David Foster is a Canadian music producer who has been in the business for over 40 years. He's had success writing for and producing such artists as Whitney Houston, Chicago, Boz Scaggs, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, Michael Buble, The Corrs, etc. He's won many Grammys and other awards and is also deeply involved in charity work for his David Foster foundation. This book provides a glimpse at his life and his involvement with the music world. It's not overly deep; you won't find out many secrets about his life or his way of thinking, but the bit he shares is interesting. It's obvious, from reading this that he is in the life that he wanted to be in and it's also evident that for a long time his work took a front seat over family and relationships, hence his various marriages and relationships. At the same time, he has tried to be involved with family and over the years, has tried to make amends and develop stronger relationships with his children. It was enjoyable to read and to find out some of the things that have made this talented producer tick. (3 stars)

[Rhonda · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was an interesting look into the music industry and one man's journey. it was funny to see how foster made it through the ranks and how stars were so accessible "back in the day" - unlike today, with the armys of security etc. foster can write songs, but he's no author, and the book was fairly self-indulgent ( as memoirs are wont to be), but i still found it interesting. his success has come at a price. he's on his 4th wife and keeps mentioning his failures as a father, but he has certainly made a stunning contribution to the music and film industry. his "winter games" ( from the symphony sessions) is a favorite of mine. it's one i love to put on and crank up and get swept away with. i also really like josh groban, who foster basically discovered and catapulted to stardom...oh ...and his youngest sister gave birth to clay akin's baby!!!! what a hoot!

[Liam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad; I actually enjoyed this much more than I expected, and found it far more interesting than I initially thought I would. Even though it was only a dollar, I nearly passed on this book when I found it on the discard sale cart at the library. I'm glad I had enough common sense to spend that dollar just in case. I am not a big fan of David Foster, nor do I find most of his work to my taste. I do, however, respect him for his ability & skill, his work ethic, and especially his commitment to excellence. Far too many musicians and others in the field of music (particularly pop, rock and r & b) either let their standards slip out of laziness ("we'll fix it in the mix") or simply have none from the beginning ("it's close enough, man, it's only ___, not jazz- besides, nobody will ever notice").

[more to follow...]

[Rich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this in audio book format to take advantage of an Audible.com 3 for 2 deal. The title was simply "Hitman" and with a 4+ rating, I thought "why not". I was more than disappointed when I learned that this was in fact, as the title here in GoodReads states, that it was actually about the life of a record producer. I was determined to get my money's worth and so I soldiered on. I was pleasantly surprised to find it quite enjoyable. Despite his several acknowledged shortcomings (divorced 3 times, children with 4 different women, always putting work first), he has probably accomplished more than any other producer ever. If you like music, and are interested in some interesting stories about how some of it gets made, this is for you...

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short, easily read memoir by the musician, songwriter and producer, David Foster. Foster is the man responsible for introducing Josh Groban and Celine Deion to the American pop market. Foster realized at a very early age that he has perfect pitch. He was the only male in a household with six sisters. His dad died when he was a teenager. He was able to make money with his music early in his preteen years. Possibly with this success, Foster does not lack in his sense of self-worth or his gifts as a hit maker. Not a lot of substance here, but for a book with a lot of references to "my good friend…" before the dropping of a familiar name, this is the book.

[Julie Reade · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love biographies. This was no exception. I loved reading about David Foster's life and all the influence he has had on so many famous artists. The only part that was less that exciting for me was the beginning, where he discussed a lot of artists who he referred to as 'major' in the business. But it was a long time ago and I'm not that old. Mention Stevie Wonder and I'm okay but go back further than that and mention specific keyboardists, and I am lost!

What I did love what his tenancity and frailty. He talks at length about thinking that every hit he makes will be the last. He also talks about 3 failed marriages and an insane fear of elevators. Very open!

[Arrial · Rating 2 out of 5]

The best producer in the music business has written a memoir . Too bad his talent in the music industry did not transfer as well to paper. This comes across as a name dropping, love fest in which he is constantly beckoning the reader to acknowledge his accomplishments.
The best part of this memoir is the last chapter , where he stops feeding his ego and talks openly about making it in the music industry.
On the positive side he shares with us the valuable life lessons he has learned from various people which can be applied to everyday life.

[W. Frazier · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun read. This book is refreshing, candid and clear. David Foster is a music producer with a clear sense of self. His anecdotes are honest. His work with some of the greatest names out there -- Barbra Streisand, Earth Wind & Fire, Whitney Houston, Chicago, Celine Dion, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Buble, Josh Groban, Lionel Ritchie, Michael Jackson, Boz Scaggs, Kenny Loggins, Kenny Rogers and more -- make his story a scrapbook of great memories. The book probably resonates best with readers whose go-to playlists are 80s and 90s pop (with some 70s and 00s in there too).

[Timothy Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

It takes me awhile to read, but I'm a musician and a huge music-lover and hearing his story and about his relationships with others in the business is not to be over-looked by a fellow musician, musical performer, or music-writer... It's first-hand accounts of lots of laughs, music-writing and performing greatness.
There's some swearing and though he's gone through a few marriages, and other turmoil, I would still take all advice strewn throughout the book with a grain of salt as per usual. But that's in everything. Overall, wonderful stuff in this thing. Plenty of surprise and laughs.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worth the read if you are interested in the music industry, in producing, in a side-history of pop songs of the 70's - now.
Foster has had quite the life in music and I enjoyed the anecdotes and the insights. I don't love all his music (some of it is fab like "To Be Real" and love his arrangement of Buble's "Feeling Good". Quick and fun and love some of the dirt on folks when he worked with Earth Wind & Fire, Chicago, Michael Jackson, Barbara Streisand.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

The companion piece to the CD/DVD, "Hitman" is David Foster's account of his rise from a humble childhood in Canada, to super-stardom as an arranger, producer, songwriter, and performer. A very quick and interesting read, "Hitman" left me in awe of Foster's musical legacy, working with artists such as Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, and Michael Buble among many others. Great read, and great concert.