Fred Luther Foster was an American record producer, songwriter, and music business executive who founded Monument Records and Combine Music.
18 Facts About Fred Foster
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Foster suggested to Kris Kristofferson the title and theme of "Me and Bobby McGee", which became a hit for Kristofferson, Roger Miller, and Janis Joplin, and for which Foster received a co-writing credit.
3.
Fred Foster left his family's farm in North Carolina at the age of 18 and moved near his sister's family in Washington, DC, where he got a job working for the Hot Shoppes restaurant chain.
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Fred Foster started recording local acts, and supervised Jimmy Dean's debut hit, "Bumming Around".
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In early 1959 Roy Orbison's manager and Acuff-Rose president Wesley Rose approached Fred Foster about signing the singer to Monument Records, and Fred Foster said yes.
6.
From Orbison's departure from Monument in 1965, Fred Foster worked mainly with country musicians.
7.
Fred Foster 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.
8.
Fred Foster produced recordings by Willie Nelson, Ray Stevens, Kris Kristofferson, Tony Joe White, Larry Gatlin, Charlie McCoy, Al Hirt, Boots Randolph, Jeannie Seely, Jerry Byrd, Billy Joe Shaver, Grandpa Jones, the Velvets, and Robert Mitchum.
9.
Fred Foster suggested to Kris Kristofferson the title and theme of "Me and Bobby McGee", which became a hit for Kristofferson, Roger Miller, and Janis Joplin, and for which Fred Foster received a co-writing credit.
10.
In late 1967 the studio's rental agreement was terminated when the Seventh Avenue building was sold and Fred Foster utilized Music City Records while securing a new location for his studio.
11.
Fred Foster found the ideal location for his company's new recording studios and offices.
12.
Fred Foster sold the Monument label to Sony in the early 1980s.
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Fred Foster's father was Vance Hampton Foster, and his mother was Clara Marcella Foster.
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Fred Foster married Carol Jean Wallace on December 17,1955.
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Fred Foster died in Nashville in 2019, aged 87, after a short illness.
16.
Fred 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.
17.
On March 29,2016, it was announced that Fred Foster would become a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
18.
Fred Foster was inducted alongside fellow North Carolinians Randy Travis and Charlie Daniels on October 16,2016.