MEMPHIS TN (IFS) - Doo Woop pioneer, husband to Etta James, and the co-writer to "I'd Rather Go Blind" and arranger and co-producer of "I Got You Babe" from Etta's "IN THE BASEMENT ALBUM". Foster along with Monk Higgins wrote, arranged, and produced this album in eight hours. The Sony and Cher single rendition recorded by James is now one of the hottest marketing songs on radio and television selling everything from Banking to Baking and beyond.
The Rick Hall Muscle Shoals Sessions with Etta was more than something else. She was struggling very hard to keep up with a recording session while making all her appearances all over North America. Hall was always in love with Etta's voice and he wanted to produce her at his recording studio in Alabama. The songs were not coming together for Etta.
However, on the last day of recording, Hall asked Foster if he had any songs that he wanted his wife to record, not that he was planning on using any of them. Foster decided on Clarence Carter's "Tell Daddy", with a re-write of the lyrics to work with a female's voice. And of course, we know the other female vocalist that followed Etta to Muscle Shoals - Aretha Franklin.
Deciding on the old "Call and Answer" records of that time, Foster's lyrics perfectly matched the Carter Song, and Etta nailed it on the first take. Billy had sent the demo tape to Hall a couple of weeks before arriving, in the last couple of hours, recorded 'I'd Rather Go Blind", and as they say, the rest is history. When "Tell Daddy" was released and zoomed to the Number #1 Spot on Billboard.
In Los Angeles, KGFJ's King of radio Montique, the same one who coined the term "Burn Baby Burn" during the Watts Riots. While during a live commercial break, he flipped the 45 RPM single over by accident and qued up the song, and let it fly. Before he has realized what was playing, he could not retract the record and let it play all the way through. By the end of the record, their switchboard was lighting up wanting to hear that song again.
"... Billy Foster's latest single continues that treasured signature sound on a great recording." - SDC RadioWorks
Mr. Billy Foster is a Los Angeles, California native. Billy was discovered while singing at his grandfather’s church as a young boy. Billy’s first major role as a singer was in the Academy award-nominated musical “Carmen Jones.”
Mr. Billy Foster recorded 8 records with Vernon Green and The Medallions doo-wop group as 1st Tenor and Falsetto in 1956. Billy was featured on the songs “For Better or For Worse,” “Magic Mountain,” and “Behind the Door,” (where his voice was one of the highest Falsetto notes recorded by a male singer in that era). Billy has been an active member since 1956. Billy now manages the group known now as “The Original Medallions.”
Mr. Billy Foster was the companion and manager of Grammy award singer Etta James. Billy co-authored the hit “I’d Rather Go Blind,” along with Ellington “Fugi” Jordan which was recorded by Etta James and a host of other artists throughout the decades. Billy and Etta’s son Donto Foster James is also a Grammy award recipient.
Mr. Billy Foster is the director and founder of Chains of Love Sober Living for Women. Billy also has over 42 years of sobriety himself which he acknowledges as a gift by the grace of God. Billy has been recognized as a community leader and has received several awards from County, State and Governmental levels. Billy is still writing songs today. His newest song is titled “The Mountain.”
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| Beyonce Knowles and Billy Foster at Movie Opening of "Cadillac Records". |
Billy Foster written "I'd Rather Go Blind" and was recorded by Rod Stewart, Etta James, Beyonce Knowles (for the film "Cadillac Records" starring Adrian Brody). He has performed with The Coasters with Dick Clark's Good Ole Days of Rock N Roll Shows and with his group, The Vernon Greene Medallions who recorded the original single, "The Letter". Foster, still retains the crown as the only singer from the Antelope Valley to have had a song that has sold over 20 Million records to date. However, there are several AV artists that are closing the gap.
On the celebration of Glenn Records of Palmade California, Foster remembers cutting several demos at the studio that he would put on the plane to Muscle Shoals Alabama for his wife to record when she was in and out of the studio. Foster played many dates with Kenneth Howard Smith (Kenny Smith and Ricky Perrine, in their Purple Olive band from Rosamond.) Foster is the first cousin of The Charles Graves Family who founded the town of Rosamond and donated all the land that all the public schools are built on. Foster was raised in two cities, Los Angeles and the Antelope Valley.
There has been many popular people and groups that have come out of the Antelope Valley, including John Wayne, Judy Garland, Jane Reynolds, Frank Zappa, Don VanVliet (Captain Beefheart), Merrell Fankhauser, All 4 One, George Weston, Don Ramon G., The Others, Mallard, ? Mark and the Mysterians, The Dartells, The Chevels, HMS Bounty, The Bountys, Mothers of Invention, Chapter 17, Velvetones, The Flying Burrito Brothers, and the list goes on and on. . . from those golden days of the Antelope Valley.
There has been many popular people and groups that have come out of the Antelope Valley, including John Wayne, Judy Garland, Jane Reynolds, Frank Zappa, Don VanVliet (Captain Beefheart), Merrell Fankhauser, All 4 One, George Weston, Don Ramon G., The Others, Mallard, ? Mark and the Mysterians, The Dartells, The Chevels, HMS Bounty, The Bountys, Mothers of Invention, Chapter 17, Velvetones, The Flying Burrito Brothers, and the list goes on and on. . . from those golden days of the Antelope Valley.
Foster also is known for being the member of Vernon Greene and the Medallions with the hits "Buick 59" and "The Letter". Billy has recorded with the Medallions' since 1957. Billy's falsetto voice was one of the highest registered notes recorded in the song "Behind The Door", an original by the Medallions. He is currently the group's manager.
In 1948, as a child actor, he performed in the motion picture musical "Carmen Jones". He attended Idyllwild School of Music & Arts, in California where he additionally has written and produced shows with artists such as The Drifters, The Coasters, John Lee Hooker, Etta James, Mary Wells and comedian/talk show host, Rosie McDonald.
As the co-author of the hit song "I'd Rather Go Blind" recorded by previously mentioned world renown artists and many others. The most recent release of "I'd Rather Go Blind" will be released in the Sony Pictures release of "Cadillac Records" by Beyonce.
Foster's song of "High Low Low Road" depicts his experience with drugs and alcohol, which has lead to his miraculous recovery, spiritually mentally, emotionally, financially and in his relationships.
As a recovered champion after his close bout with the illness, Billy has lived on to help others with inspiration for both men and women who have suffered and are still suffering from similar experiences.
As the director of "Chains of Love" and Brother's Big House," Foster provides a drug and alcohol-free homes for men and women in Los Angeles.
Do you play live?
Yes. Japan, London, Germany, Korea and Thailand.
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