In the past 10 years alone, he has been a part of more than 40 major motion pictures. Titles on the list range from animated hits such as “Monsters Inc.,” “Ice Age” and “The Emperor’s New Groove” to more grown-up films like “Chicago,” “Catch Me If You Can” and “Pearl Harbor.”
Additionally, Foster was, and still is, involved in a number of television series such as “Family Guy,” “American Dad,” “King of the Hill” and “The Simpsons.”
Add to that the fact that he has worked with a score of famous musicians like Liza Minnelli, Barry Manilow, Barbara Streisand, Robbie Williams and Michael Buble, and one starts to wonder why they’ve never before heard of Gary Foster.
How could a man who mixes and mingles with Hollywood’s finest, seemingly on a daily basis, remain so anonymous?
The answer lies in Foster’s profession, which is that of a studio musician. Foster is proficient on the clarinet, saxophone and flute. That “arsenal,” as he described it, makes him a very valuable commodity in show business.
According to Foster, his life consists largely of ping-ponging from stage to stage, orchestra pit to orchestra pit and studio to studio to serve as a background musician in the productions of others. The job offers him a chance to be a part of a world that most could only dream of, but it also keeps him out of the limelight — something Foster is very keen to stay away from.
“I don’t have any interest in fame,” Foster said during a phone interview.
Perhaps that modest attitude comes from his upbringing.
“I was born in Leavenworth in 1936,” Foster said.
It was here that he discovered his passion for music. Foster said that it was his middle school music teacher, Olin Parker, who first opened his eyes to the world of sharps, flats, melodies and harmonies.
“He just absolutely thrilled me,” Foster said.
At the age of 14, Foster befriended a group of older musicians who played weekly during dances at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post.
“I played there as a kind of breaking in,” Foster explained.
A few years later, the budding musician headed to the University of Kansas to study music in a more formal setting. There, he obtained two degrees.
“One of my degrees was in performance on the clarinet,” Foster said.
The second degree was in education.
“I think (that degree) was practical wisdom,” said Foster, who later in life would use his education degree to teach in a variety of places from the University of Missouri at Kansas City to the University of California at Los Angeles.
However, before teaching, Foster decided to chase a dream.
Immediately following his college graduation, Foster and his wife Peggy packed up their belongings and headed to the West Coast.
“I’ve been here (in Los Angeles) for 46 years,” Foster said. “I just moved here cold because I knew there would be opportunity.”
According to Foster, he knew there was a large jazz scene in Los Angeles and he wanted to be a part of it.
“I didn’t come here to be a studio musician,” he said.
Forty-six years later, Foster couldn’t be happier with the way things turned out.
“It feels like a real privilege,” Foster said of the opportunity to play for a living.
When he looks back on his life, Foster said he realizes just how naive he was to think he could make it in show business.
“If I would have been older, I would have known what the risk was,” Foster said.
He admitted that a more clear-sighted Gary Foster probably wouldn’t have taken the chance. However, he said that he remains a steadfast believer in the idea that dreams do come true for those who are willing to risk it all and pursue them.
With hard work and a little luck Foster said anything is possible.
While Foster worked hard to get where he is today, he acknowledged that fortune has undoubtedly been on his side all along.
“I think I’m the luckiest person in the world,” he said.
By DAYNE LOGAN, Leavenworth Times Staff Writer
No comments:
Post a Comment