Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Up Close with David Foster & Friends


David Foster, the Canadian musician, record producer, singer, songwriter and arranger noted for discovering talents such as Michael Buble, Josh Groban and Charice Pempengco, and responsible for producing records for the likes of Celine Dion, Toni Braxton, Madonna, Air Supply and Michael Jackson, came to the Philippines in 2010 for a concert titled Hit Man: David Foster & Friends where friends were Peter Cetera, Natalie Cole, Ruben Studdard, the Canadian Tenors and Charice.



Hit Man Returns: David Foster & Friends
(standing l-r) Philip Bailey, Michael Bolton, David Foster
and Russel Watson; (seated l-r) Ashanti and Charice


The Hit Man returns for the second time in the Philippines, again with Charice, but this time with new friends -- Philip Bailey, American R&B and soul singer, and one of the longtime members of Earth, Wind & Fire; Michael Bolton, American singer and songwriter, best known for his soft rock ballads and the long curly blonde hair he used to sport way back; Ashanti, American R&B, hip-hop and soul singer and actress; and Russel Watson, English tenor who released albums with both operatic-style and pop songs.



Charice


At the press conference for the Hit Man Returns: David Foster & Friends last October 24 held at the Marriott Hotel Manila, Charice was the very first to arrive. She gamely posed solo and even called her mom to join her when a photographer requested it. Then the rest of the performers arrived with their entourage consisting of road managers and burly bodyguards and at once, the exchange of pleasantries with the press started.



Ashanti and David Foster


Opening the press conference, David Foster expressed that he brought back the tour in the Philippines,"It is only in the Philippines that I've experienced people singing every line of every song in the concert. It's just amazing!" But he also shared the news that he ended his long stint with Warner Bros. and signed up with Universal Records and since Charice stays on with Warner, David Foster will no longer produce songs for his protege and goddaughter. "December 1st will be my first day at Universal Records so come December 1st, I won't be able to produce for Charice anymore because I can't take her with me." However, he assured that he would continue to perform with Charice on stage, "As for touring, I hope for many years that we will always tour together as long as she has the time, " he adds, "I love having her and she loves being with me and that's not going to change."



Philip Bailey and Michael Bolton


Charice echoes the same sentiments, "I always tell David that I'm always here for him. He's always been there for me and if he needs me, I'm in. We're a team."

Charice's self-titled international debut album under Warner Bros has reached the Platinum level in the Philippines and a surprise awarding was done at the end of the press conference.



Platinum Record Awarding


The Hit Man Returns: David Foster & Friends took the Smart Araneta Coliseum by storm last October 25, even if two other concerts happened on the same night -- Black Eyed Peas in SM MOA open grounds and Libera at PICC.



Filed under SHOWS


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