A fantastic fête for Foster
Asold-out crowd of 640 admirers burst into laughter Thursday night when David Foster deadpanned: “I feel like I’ve just been to my own funeral.”
The Grammy Awardwinner’s quip punctuated a Hollywood-slick video tribute at the Victoria Conference Centre during a blacktie gala dinner honouring his being named 2015 Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year.
The award, presented by Curtis Kellar, a young heart-transplant recipient assisted by the David Foster Foundation, was established in 2004 by University of Victoria’s Peter B. Gustavson School of Business.
As befits a showbiz giant, organizers pulled out all the stops to honour Foster with a dazzling tribute propelled with flair and clockwork precision by its dynamic emcee, Pat Elemans, assistant dean of business.
Giant block letters spelling Foster’s name dominated a stage bearing two white leather chairs and a grand piano. Insite Display’s eye-popping art design included sculptures of wavy music bars and silver music notes, and circular piano-key floral formations. Even the program, Starmaker, was themed — a replica of a black vinyl hit single, with songs on the “hit list” on its sleeve representing milestones.
Decorations in the Ivy Room during a BMO reception beforehand included vintage microphones and small museum-like displays. They illustrated such things as Foster’s Auspicious Beginnings, in a display featuring a miniature music poster from the old Century Inn, where Foster played piano as a teenager; his favourite snack (milk and chocolate chip cookies); and favourite movie,
What About Bob?
Elemans said Foster should consider himself lucky he received a congratulatory letter from Prime Minister Stephen Harper to display “next to your 36 platinum and 40 gold records.”
She also recalled being dumbfounded when Foster gave her Josh Groban’s personal email address, joking she was “open to considering bribes” from women who wanted it.
Dennis Washington, the Montana construction magnate honoured last year, poked fun at his friend’s hometown popularity.
“I’m kind of a big deal in Montana, but I don’t have anything named after me,” joked Washington, commenting on the David Foster Way sign he noticed on the Inner Harbour.
Canada Wide Media founder Peter Legge also coaxed laughter during an onstage interview with Foster when he pulled out a 1962 report card.
“David is a bit of a showoff,” wrote Foster’s social studies teacher. Legge also produced an old Lansdowne Junior High School overdue-textbooks fine notice. Wondered Foster: “Was it for Catcher in the Rye?”
Foster, who recently scored a Betty Boop musical, also revealed: “I want that Tony [award] more than anything.”
When Legge asked what his worst business decision was, the musician with three ex-wives joked that, aside from his beautiful children, “getting married” was.
“I’m my dad’s biggest fan,” said Amy, his Portland, Oregon-based daughter, the novelist and songwriter who penned three of Michael Bublé’s biggest hits.
“He’s so supportive of everything we do, and I feel so honoured and blessed being able to support him.”
His daughters Sara and Erin, who co-star in VH1’s reality-TV satire Barely Famous, said they wouldn’t have missed this event because their father wants them to have a connection to his hometown.
“He rarely asks us to show up, but this is a big thing for him because Victoria is a huge part of who he is,” said Erin, a writer who just scripted a Meryl Streep film.
“He didn’t go to university and I think that was one of his biggest regrets, and I think having the university praise and honour him is a big deal,” added Sara ( 90210, The Big Bounce).