BMI celebrated songwriter, composer and producer David Foster at the 74th Annual BMI/NAB Dinner held on Tuesday (April 16) at Encore Las Vegas. The private event was sponsored by Xperi.
BMI President and CEO Mike O'Neill presented Foster with the award, praising Foster's “extraordinary creativity and unique impact as a songwriter, producer, artist, mentor and philanthropist.” Foster joined BMI in 1978.
The annual BMI/NAB dinner recognizes the mutually supportive relationship between the songwriting community and the broadcast industry. Past recipients of the BMI Award include Paul Anka, John Fogerty, Graham Nash, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Mike Post, Carlos Santana, Paul Simon, Carrie Underwood and John Williams.
After a video of his career highlights, Foster appeared. He was joined on stage by his wife, singer-actress Katharine McPhee, and classically trained singer Daniel Emmet.
Foster has received numerous accolades over the years, including 16 Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy and three Academy Awards for Best Original Song.
His Grammys include three wins for Producer of the Year (non-classical), three for album of the Year and two for Record of the Year. He has won 11 of his 16 Grammys for production, four for arrangement and one for songwriting (his first Grammy, for co-writing Earth, Wind & Fire's 1979 “After the Love Has Gone,” voted as Best R&B Song). The other Grammys are for work with Jennifer Holliday (at Dream girls album cast), Chicago, Barbra Streisand, Natalie Cole, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston and Michael Buble.
His Emmy was for co-writing a song Concert for International Children's Dayan ABC special in 2003. It has been nominated three times for outstanding musical direction for those who repeat endlessly Great Performances specials on PBS.
Foster was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2010. He was honored as a BMI Icon the following year. He has won 42 BMI Awards and was named BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year three times.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/david-foster-2024-bmi-nab-dinner-honoree-1235658877/