David Foster to Celebrate 75th Birthday with Star-Studded Bash at Hollywood Bowl: 'Going to Be a Big Blow Up!'
The songwriter and producer is putting on a big birthday performance filled with famous artists he's worked with over the years, including Katharine McPhee
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David FosterThe stars are lining up to celebrate revered songwriter David Foster's birthday on Nov. 3 with a big performance at the Hollywood Bowl — and Foster tells PEOPLE he couldn't be more thrilled about it.
The lineup includes singers like Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, Jennifer Hudson, Michael Bublé, Kristen Chenoweth, Charlie Puth, Kristin Chenoweth and his wife Katharine McPhee, to name a few.
"You know how some ideas just come up at a restaurant or whatever? I think it was my manager Mark who said, 'We should do something for your birthday!' " says Foster, who is dad to five daughters, including Sara and Erin Foster, and shares son Rennie with McPhee.
"He started asking people if they'd come and gosh, they all started saying yes. It's a big deal for them to do this and it's still taxing on their schedule so I appreciate it very much," he adds. "So it's going to be the big blow-up."
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David FosterFoster, who has won 16 Grammys in his life, also produced jazz legend Chris Botti's newest album and is currently on tour in Asia. Some of his greatest hits include co-writing Chicago's mega-hits like "You're the Inspiration" and "Hard to Say I'm Sorry," and Peter Cetera's number one smash "Glory of Love."
Despite years of success working as a songwriter and producer (he also produced hits like 'I Will Always Love You" by Dolly Parton and "Because You Loved Me," by Céline Dion), Foster himself didn't start performing until later in his career.
"I made records for so long and I was in a bubble in the studio, in this little submarine with no windows and just made music and more music, and the artists got to go out and see the effect the songs had on live audiences. I never got that," he says.
"So around 15, 20 years ago, I was hanging out with Kenny Loggins because we were writing songs together, and I'd written the love theme for St. Elmo's Fire, which was this huge instrumental hit and he was playing in Santa Barbara and said, 'Why don't you come out and play your song?' "
"So I did and, I'm not going to lie — it was great. The feeling was great. I know people might rather see Céline Dion or Josh Groban or any of the singers I've written for, but they also seem happy to just hear the songs I've written or produced."
Foster knows he's the king of love songs, and he's just fine with that.
"I don't write lyrics so I can't lay any claim to that, but when I lay my hands on the piano it's just what comes out," he says of crafting his romantic melodies.
"It's like when Eddie Van Halen picked up a guitar, hard rock came out," he adds. "I love hard rock, but I can't do it. What comes naturally to me is that sort of soft, corny, mushy stuff. So that's where I sit."
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David FosterFoster continues, "I'm totally happy with the music I make and I don't apologize for it. It's legitimate and it's for real. I just make the music that feels good to me when I lay my hands on the piano."
As for what's happening next in his career, the star isn't slowing down despite the milestone birthday.
"I wrote a Broadway musical called Boop and we had a great run in Chicago, so we're going to fine-tune it this year and hit Broadway in February," he explains. "So that's really exciting. It's my first musical. Well, I wrote another one that failed, so I guess technically it's my second one."
Related: David Foster's 6 Kids: Everything to Know
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He's also enjoying being dad to Rennie, who is currently on tour with him and just turned 3. Earlier in the year, Rennie made headlines for his incredible drumming talents, but Foster says he's currently taking a little break from the sticks.
"He's in retirement," he jokes. "No, he hasn't really drummed in the last month or two. Of course, as a parent you can't push them, right? But he still loves to watch and come to the rehearsals and he's on the road with us of course."
Foster adds that it's special being an older father, noting, "I love all my children equally, but there's a different focus this time. I'm really enjoying it."
He's also simply looking forward to seeing and spending time with so many people he knows at the show in November.
"It was a good excuse to see old friends," he says. "And it's going to be just thrilling for people to see all those artists on one stage in the Hollywood Bowl. It's going to be really special."
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