Glen Foster is a Canadian singer songwriter, music producer, entertainer, multi-instrumentalist and president of his own companies Rescue Records, and Parent Publishing and Productions. In short he is a “do-it-all-myself” kind of guy.
He has been performing professionally for more than 40 years and has released 9 original albums featuring his own compositions, many of which include self-produced music videos. In 2021 Friends Like That single from Feelin' Alive! was playlisted on Cashbox Top 50 picks of 2021, and
Christmas In Vancouver from The Spirit Of Christmas was #3 Cashbox Top 20 Pick Hits Dec 2021.
Foster is no stranger to large crowds and the rigors of touring. He was front man of his own band called Falcon, signed with Quality Records in the 80s, and lead guitarist for several years with WEA’s Ray Materick of ‘Linda Put The Coffee On’ fame. Live appearances include The Ian Tyson Show, Tommy Banks Show, The Cave, P.N.E. Gardens, Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver, Ontario Place, Massey Hall, El Mocambo, and the legendary Riverboat in Toronto. He has toured Canada extensively from coast to coast on the same bill with Lighthouse, Sammy Hagar, Dr. Hook, Jose Feliciano, Valdy, Jesse Winchester, Stan Rogers etc., performed at the Richmond Ozone for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, and plays regularly at music festivals, pubs, concert and dance halls on the west coast with his band Glen Foster Group.
Foster was a professional music teacher for over 20 years. He has studied rock, jazz, Chet Atkins finger style, Hawaiian, and classical guitar, having been awarded two silver medals from the Royal Conservatory of Music.
Glen Foster is a “do-it-all-myself” kind of guy. He writes his own songs, sings, plays multiple instruments, books his own gigs, promotes and produces for his own record label and publishing company. He’s been an instrument repairman, salesman, music teacher and a student with two silver medals from the Royal Conservatory of Music.
Foster has been performing professionally for over 40 years and has released 8 original albums of his own compositions. His latest offering is a Holiday album entitled THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS which showcases his unique guitar arrangements of 10 traditional standards plus 2 original songs, along with several self-produced music videos.
“‘The Spirit Of Christmas’ song is the 45 rpm single on red vinyl that was released in 1986! It’s the very same song, re-mastered in 2011 for the 25th anniversary” said Foster. What better title for the new album? “The B-side of the 45 ‘The Twelve Guitars Of Christmas’ is also included, re-mastered but otherwise exactly the same”. Foster owns a copyright on the arrangement of the public domain song from 1780.
While discussing the new single ‘Christmas In Vancouver’ Foster said “I’d had the lyrics for a couple of years but had never written any music for it that I liked”. Band member, keyboardist Marty Steele composed the needed music and the arrangement in a jazzy, modern style, combining tenor saxophone with layered keyboards, guitars and harmony vocals. “The arrangement is a duet with me and Elise Boulanger, a trained soprano vocalist who adds a warmth and amazing dynamics to the song” said Foster.
What inspired you to make a Christmas Album? "I was a guitar teacher for many years so I had a repertoire of my own arrangements that I had never recorded. During the pandemic I had time to lay these down in my home studio. Several are solo guitar pieces, some classical, some Chet Atkins style."
What makes this album unique? "My wife Maggy sings harmony with me on a couple songs, and my son who was 4 at the time has a cute, little part. The melodies are mostly traditional but I’ve added some fresh new parts in the arrangements that I think folks will find quite interesting".
Is there anything else that makes this project special for you? "On 'Jingle Bells Jig' you'll hear some 100 year old sleigh bells from a horse drawn 'cutter' that my mother remembers taking her to school as a kid! I also used a cigar box ukulele on that song that I made from a century old cigar box that had been handed down in our family. It has quite a unique sound. So there’s some real authentic tradition built in there!"
Foster also had some heavy weight support on a couple of tracks. Blues/roots legend Ken Hamm played his 1920s National steel body guitar on 'The Twelve Guitars'. 'Christmas In Vancouver' features top shelf jazz players Marty Steele (keyboards), Larry Smith (tenor sax), James McRae (drums) and Marisha Devoin (electric bass). Veteran producer Rick Salt was behind the consul to assist with production.
Glen Foster was front man of his own band named Falcon, signed with Quality Records in the 70s & 80s, and lead guitarist for several years with WEA’s Ray Materick of ‘Linda Put The Coffee On’ fame. Live appearances include The Ian Tyson Show, Tommy Banks Show, The Cave, P.N.E. Gardens, Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver, Ontario Place, Massey Hall, El Mocambo, Mosport Folk Festival and the legendary Riverboat in Toronto. He’s no stranger to large crowds and the rigors of touring.
‘The Spirit Of Christmas’ is available in CD and Digital format at all major retail outlets for streaming and download. For the audiophiles, you might even be able to acquire a copy of the collectible red vinyl 45 rpm single on Rescue Records if you contact Foster on his website. https://glenfoster.ca
The Spirit Of Christmas Oct.15, 2021 Glen Foster. 12 tracks including the title track which was originally released with The Twelve Guitars of Christmas in 1986, 35 yrs ago , on a red vinyl 45 rpm record and re-released digitally in 2011. Also, there are instrumental tracks on solo guitar, and vocal arrangements of seasonal hits. Guests include Marty Steele, Ken Hamm, James McRae, Marisha Devoin.
Single: Christmas In Vancouver, with Elise Boulanger, placed #3 on CashBox Top 20 Pick Hits Dec 2021.
Feelin' Alive! July 5, 2021 Glen Foster and Friends. 14 tracks from a Live Concert recorded Feb 21, 2020 plus 2 Bonus tracks recorded in the Studio by Glen Foster Group in 2021.
Singles: Three Man Band and Friends Like That which placed on CashBox RadioTop 50 Picks for 2021.
Not Far Away Apr 24, 2020 Glen Foster Group with Featured Guests: Brent Boehler, Elise Boulanger, Thomas Neville, Jay Stevens, The Skallywag Skiffle Kings, The Cryptomnesia Choir
ROCKABILLY FEVER placed Top 16 finalist in The Rockabilly Rumble Original Song Contest 07/21
PARTY OUT THERE TONIGHT placed in Tinnitist Top Ten Music Videos of 2019
Singles: Party Out There Tonight, Rockabilly Fever, Feel Alright, Brains Brawn and Beauty
Party Out There Tonight Apr 9, 2019 Glen Foster Group 4 song EP. Includes Rockabilly Fever and the Title Song (co-written by Glen Foster the musician and Glen Foster the comedian 'That Canadian Guy')
Music Alchemy June 1, 2017 Featuring: Mark Crissinger, David Gogo, Paul Gogo (Trooper), Marty Shepard (REO Speedwagon)
Singles: Crashing Down, Cactus Whiskey, Stepping Out On Saturday Night
Leaving The Lagoon Dec 1, 2015 #1 on CHLY 101.7 Nanaimo Top 30 in Dec2015 and Jan2016, #13 on The Independent Radio Show Playlist (syndicated to over 3000 radio stations), added to CBC National Radio Virtual Music Library
The Reckoning Sept 1, 2012 Videos: Reckoning, This That These & Those, Someday (It’ll All Work Out), Easy Rolling. Single: Pixelated Man
Trusted Tried & True Feb 1, 2010 Guests: David Gogo, Gerry Barnum, The Turtle Doves. Destination Desolation Sound video appeared on BC Tourism website for the ‘Vancouver, Coast and Mountains Region’.
Walk Into The Mirror/The Falcon Apr 1, 2008 compilation CD of two previous albums, including the single Los Angeles winner of a 1980 talent contest on CKOC Radio Hamilton, as selected by Neville Grant.
The Spirit of Christmas and The Twelve Guitars of Christmas, a 45 rpm single on Red Vinyl was initially released in 1986 and received national airplay in Canada. The 25 year anniversary re-release of Nov 2011 features digitally re-mastered mixes.