Legendary Producer Fred Foster Has Died

Fred Luther Foster passed away peacefully last night following a short illness with his family at his side. Foster was born July 26, 1931, in Rutherford County, North Carolina, the youngest of eight children. He was preceded in death by his parents, Vance Hampton and Clara Marcella (Weaste) Foster, and siblings Albert Glen, Estelle, Charles Vance, Ray, Pauline, Ethel Lou, and Ann. He is survived by his son Vance Foster, and daughters Micki Foster (Greg) Koenig, Leah Foster (Dillon) Alderman, Brit Foster (Judd) Rothstein, and Kristen Foster and grandchildren Rachel DiGregorio, Rhys and Tess Rothstein, and Penelope Kirschner. He is also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews.

Foster formed and helmed Monument Records, the broad-minded independent label that released classic recordings by Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, Ray Stevens, Boots Randolph, Charlie McCoy, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, Jeannie Seely, and many more. He founded Combine Music, which published classic hits including Kristofferson's "Me and Bobby McGee" and "Help Me Make It Through the Night," the Orbison smash "Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)," and Tony Joe White's "Polk Salad Annie."

He produced Parton's and Jimmy Dean's first singles, Kristofferson's first album, and the early 1960s records that landed Orbison in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He produced the Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Ray Price album, Last of the Breed (2007), which featured Price and Nelson's Grammy-winning "Lost Highway." Foster also steered Nelson'sYou Don't Know Me: The Songs of Cindy Walker, and he produced Ray Price's final album, Beauty Is. His last project was the well-received 2018 Dawn Landes' album, Meet Me At The River.

He was a member of the North Carolina Hall of Fame, the Musicians Hall of Fame, a recipient of the Leadership Music Dale Franklin award, and a 2016 inductee of the Country Music Hall of Fame.

A man of strong faith, Fred was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Nashville. His generous spirit, magical green thumb and far-reaching vision will be sorely missed. A memorial service is being planned for March, and details will be announced in the near future. 

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