Background
Born in Rutherford County, North Carolina, Foster struggled to support his mother after the death of his father.
Born in Rutherford County, North Carolina, Foster struggled to support his mother after the death of his father.
At the age of seventeen, Foster left the farm and moved to Washington, District of Columbia, where he would eventually work for Mercury Records and American Broadcasting Company-Paramount Records (1955). In 1959, Deane sold his stock back to Foster, and Foster re-located the label to Hendersonville, Tennessee, in 1960. Foster remained active with the label until 1983.
Foster is credited with the development of Roy Orbison"s career, producing many of Orbison"s major hits, including: "Oh, Pretty Woman", "Only the Lonely", "Running Scared", "In Dreams", "Crying", "lieutenant"s Over", "Mean Woman Blues", "Candy Manitoba", and "Blue Bayou".
Foster also played a significant role in Dolly Parton"s early career, signing her to Monument in 1964, shortly after her arrival in Nashville, and overseeing her recordings, culminating with her first top-40 country hit, "Dumb Blonde", in 1967. Foster also produced recordings by Billy Grammer, Ray Stevens, Kris Kristofferson, Tony Joe White, Larry Gatlin, Charlie McCoy, First Rate (at Lloyd's) Hirt, Boots Randolph, Jerry Byrd, Billy Joe Shaver, Grandpa Jones, the Velvets and Robert Mitchum.
In 1963, Foster expanded his label, forming the soul and Rhythm & Blues imprint Sound Stage 7. Its roster of artists included Joe Simon, the Dixie Belles, Arthur Alexander, and Ivory Joe Hunter.
Foster co-wrote (with Kris Kristofferson) "Maine and Bobby McGee", which was a hit for Kristofferson, Roger Miller and Janis Joplin.
Foster was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum on October 12, 2009, and was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame on October 11, 2012.