Lineup

David Foster is one of the most illustrious composers of our time. With 16 GRAMMY®  Awards, including three for Producer of the Year, an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe, and three Oscar nominations for “Best Original Songs,” Foster has earned a reputation as a keen spotter of new talent, playing a key role in the discovery and career launches of Celine Dion, Josh Groban and Michael Bublé.

Few other individuals can claim to have their fingerprints on more major moments in all of popular music than David Foster. He has created hit songs for a diverse array of artists including Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, Chicago, Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind Fire, Tony Braxton, Natalie Cole, Michael Bolton, Seal, Chaka Khan, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Hall Oates, Brandy, ’N Sync, Boz Scaggs and Gloria Estefan.

In 2008 and 2011, Foster stepped out as a performer in his own right with Hitman, David Foster and Friends PBS specials which became PBS’ highest-rated shows in decades. In 2018/19 Foster started touring with his show ‘An Intimate Evening with David Foster’. The shows garnered rave reviews and were so successful that he now devotes much of his time to selling out concerts around the world. Foster composed the scores to “Boop!” a new Broadway musical about the iconic animated character Betty Boop. In 2023 David released a Christmas album with Katharine McPhee, titled Christmas Songs. Foster has made charitable work his life’s other priority.

Meeting with a young girl from his hometown who was awaiting a liver transplant had a profound impact and led him to create The David Foster Foundation in 1986. Its mission is to provide financial support to Canadian families with children in need of live-saving organ transplants, along with a new focus on organ donor awareness.

With a career distinguished by five GRAMMY Awards, numerous chart-topping hits and collaborations with some of the most celebrated names in music, Michael McDonald remains one of the most enduring and influential figures in popular music.

A native of St. Louis, McDonald moved to Los Angeles in the early ’70s, quickly establishing himself as an in-demand studio musician before joining Steely Dan. In the mid-’70s, he became a pivotal member of the Doobie Brothers, helping to define the band’s iconic sound as a vocalist, keyboardist and songwriter. His contributions to timeless hits such as “Takin’ it to the Streets,” “It Keeps You Runnin,” “Minute by Minute” and the GRAMMY winning “What a Fool Believes” cemented his status as a musical powerhouse.

Launching a highly successful solo career throughout the ’80s and ’90s, McDonald delivered a string of hits including “I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near),” “Sweet Freedom,” “On My Own” with Patti LaBelle and the GRAMMY winning duet “Yah Mo B There” with James Ingram, in addition to co-writing Van Halen’s smash hit “I’ll Wait.”

In 2017, McDonald released Wide Open, his first album of all new original material in nearly a decade to widespread critical acclaim. In 2020, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Doobie Brothers. McDonald will shortly be inducted in the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He continues to tour extensively worldwide, both as a solo artist and with the Doobie Brothers.

Babyface is a 13-time GRAMMY Award-winning recording artist, songwriter, producer, and one of the most celebrated creative forces in music history. He is the only producer to win the ‘Producer of the Year’ category four times, three times of which was in consecutive years (1995-1997); a record he holds to this day. Kenny is also co-founder of the legendary record label LaFace, which launched the careers of artists like Usher, Toni Braxton, TLC, Outkast, and P!nk.

From humble beginnings in Indianapolis, Kenny developed his love for music early on when he began songwriting at the age of 12. Upon graduating high school, he got signed to his first record deal after joining the band, Manchild. In the 1980s, he broke into the music world as guitarist and songwriter for the R&B band, The Deele.

Artistry: Over the past five decades, he released three consecutive multi-platinum albums: Tender Lover (1989), featuring the #1 “Tender Lover”; For the Cool in You (1993), which included “Never Keeping Secrets” and “When Can I See You”; and The Day (1996) featuring “Every Time I Close My Eyes.”

In 2014, he collaborated with Toni Braxton and released the GRAMMY Award-winning album Love, Marriage & Divorce. Babyface has written and produced hits for artists like Bobby Brown, Boyz II Men, Eric Clapton, Madonna, Beyonce, Bruno Mars, Ariana Grande, Mary J Blige, Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin, George Michael, Michael Jackson, Justin Bieber, Phil Collins, Janet Jackson, NSYNC, Chaka Khan, Anita Baker, Faith Evans, Jay Z, Stevie Wonder, Chris Brown, John Mayer, Lionel Richie, Michael Bolton, Kenny G, Lil Wayne, Luther Vandross, Barbara Streisand, and countless others.

Katharine McPhee is one of a handful of artists who takes the lead in a career that includes film, television, Broadway, recording and concert tours. Katharine first burst onto the scene in 2006, during a successful run on Season 5 of American Idol, that made her a household name. As an actress, she is well-known to television audiences from her roles in CBS’ spy drama Scorpion, NBC musical drama Smash and the Netflix comedy series, Country Comfort. As a singer, Katharine is renowned for her powerhouse presence, and show-stopping performances. Her recordings have topped the charts in multiple genres including pop, jazz and adult contemporary. In 2018, McPhee made her Broadway debut starring as Jenna in the hit musical “Waitress,” featuring music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles. In addition to her acting and singing career, McPhee is a passionate philanthropist, having served as an ambassador for organizations such as BuildOn, Malaria No More, and Feeding America. Katharine continues to perform at many charitable events including The David Foster Foundation of which she is an avid supporter.   A veteran of the concert stage, Katharine performs to sold out audiences around the world. Most recently Katharine paired with David Foster to create a show called ‘An Intimate Evening with David Foster and Katharine McPhee.’ This in demand show has garnered rave reviews and they perform to sold out concert venues around the world. Christmas 2022 Katharine released Part 1 of her Christmas album called Christmas Songs. A collection of Christmas classics produced by David Foster. Part 2 was released Christmas 2023

Singer, songwriter, piano phenom Peter Cincotti burst on to the scene at 18 years old when he became the youngest artist ever to reach #1 on the Billboard Jazz Charts. Since then Peter has been wowing audiences around the globe in some of the world’s most prestigious venues from Carnegie Hall to L’Olympiain Paris. His albums have been produced by music icons such as Phil Ramone and 16-time GRAMMY® winner David Foster, while the New York Times raves  he’s “Going on legend.” Peter has collaborated with artists ranging from Andrea Bocelli to David Guetta, shared the stage with legends such as Ray Charles, has been featured in blockbuster films such as Spiderman 2, represented the global fashion brands Zegna and Tod’s, and appeared as himself in Season 3 of the hit Netflix series House Of Cards, singing a duet with the president. In late 2022, Peter’s sold out shows at legendary Cafe Carlyle had the New York music scene buzzing, with Town & Country raving that Cincotti is “Already a New York institution.” His highly anticipated new album Killer On The Keys honors some of the most influential piano icons of all time, in addition to some autobiographical originals. Blending influences ranging from Nat King Cole, Billy Joel and Lady Gaga to John Lennon, Bill Evans and Coldplay, Cincotti connects generations of pianists with his daring arrangements, sultry vocals and a style all his own.

Claude McKnight, Mark Kibble, Joel Kibble, Dave Thomas, Alvin Chea and Khristian Dentley

Heralded by Quincy Jones as the “baddest vocal cats on the planet,” Take 6 is the quintessential a cappella group and model for vocal genius. Six virtuosic voices united in crystal clear harmony, against a backdrop of syncopated rhythms, innovative arrangements and funky grooves that bubble into an intoxicating brew of gospel, jazz, R&B, and pop.

The multi-platinum selling sextet has toured the globe, collaborated across genres and is recognized as the pre-eminent a cappella group in the world. Take 6 knows no musical bounds, having captivated audiences with a tribute to folk icon Woody Guthrie and renditions of Louis Armstrong’s “What A Wonderful World” and legendary singer-songwriter Ben E. King’s classic “Stand By Me.”

Take 6 has come a long way from their days at Huntsville, Alabama’s Oakwood College where McKnight formed the group as The Gentleman’s Estate Quartet in 1980. The group eventually became known as Alliance but when they signed to Reprise Records in 1987 they found that there was another group with the same name, so they became Take 6. Their self-titled debut CD won over jazz and pop critics and they’ve never slowed down.

Pia Toscano made a name for herself as a vocalist with a rich, emotionally transparent voice, clearly influenced by the likes of Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion and Etta James.

Performing since the age of four, Toscano was widely considered one of American Idol’s Season 10 frontrunners thanks to her powerhouse vocal ability and undeniable beauty. Her elimination was known as one of the most shocking in American Idol history, but that didn’t stop her momentum. Toscano toured with American Idol’s Live, Jennifer Lopez and has performed on The Ellen Show, The Tonight Show, Live with Regis & Kelly, Good Morning America and much more; Toscano performed alongside Jennifer Lopez in her Vegas Residency, “All I Have” and regularly tours with David Foster and Andrea Bocelli. Pia released her debut Christmas Album, Christmas With You, which topped the charts in new releases for 2021.

In the Fall of 2022, Pia released her first album, I’m Good, of originally written music including a collaboration with Usher. At the same time, she headlined her own show in Las Vegas with AGT’s Daniel Emmet which was filmed as a PBS special which aired throughout the US in December. In addition, Pia starred in the movie/music 1660 Vine where she plays an aspiring country singer, Rose. Pia’s latest music release was her latest single called “Labor of Love.”

After accompanying Andrea Bocelli at Vina Del Mar in February of 2024, Pia headlined her first arena shows in Chile.

World-renowned, GRAMMY® winning musician, John JR Robinson is the drummer to the soundtrack of our lives. Having played on recordings that have sold well over 500 million copies and currently streamed well into the trillions, JR’s grooves are featured on many legendary hits with artists Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, Daft Punk, Madonna, Steve Winwood, Rufus & Chaka Khan, Lionel Richie, The Pointer Sisters, Quincy Jones, George Benson, Barbra Streisand and many more. When JR is not in the studio, he performs with his own groups and tours with various artists. JR’s talents also extend into drumming masterclasses, motivational speaking and writing. JR’s autobiography King of the Groove-The John JR Robinson Story is now available.

Tom Scott is a renowned composer, arranger, producer, music director, saxophonist and educator.  His 33 solo recordings have earned him 13 GRAMMY® nominations and 3 GRAMMY® awards. In 2013 he produced a CD for young ukulele master Brittni Paiva which won a Hawaiian Grammy for Ukulele Album of the Year, and in 2017 received his first Emmy Award nomination for Musical Direction of the Tony Bennett 90th Birthday TV Special on NBC.  

Mitch Towne sees the organ as much more than just being a soulful instrument used to play grease-filled blues. “I feel that the organ is somewhat marginalized in jazz and that there is so much more to the organ than being thought of as a bluesy r&b soul/jazz type of instrument.” On Refuge, his recording debut as a leader, Mitch Towne teams up with his regularly working trio (guitarist Tetsuya Nishiyama and drummer Jeffery Johnson) to perform six of his wide-ranging originals plus a Kenny Kirkland piece. Mitch loved music from an early age and fondly remembers having a ‘45’ of Freddy Martin’s “Bumble Boogie.” He began playing the piano when he was six and became interested in jazz in high school. “The earliest jazz record that I bought was the first Chick Corea Elektric Band album which I played incessantly. My college had a fantastic jazz program and that is when I discovered straight ahead jazz including Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett and Herbie Hancock. I soon realized that I did not know enough about music and that I needed to dive in and do my homework.” While in college, Mitch went to New York regularly to study with the masterful pianist Richie Beirach. While the lessons were extremely valuable, the New York lifestyle did not appeal to him and he chose a different path to finding his way in the jazz world.

A founding member of the chart-topping contemporary jazz group Fourplay, Nathan East was 16 years old when he got his first break and found himself on the road with Barry White. The next time the phone rang, Quincy Jones was on the line. The calls kept coming and for the last forty years, East has been churning out hit songs with artists as legendary as Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Michael Jackson, Phil Collins, Whitney Houston, Beyoncé, Barbra Streisand and Stevie Wonder. His genre-crossing groove has earned him both the recognition – a Congressional Record for his contributions to the worldwide music community, for one – and the boundary-busting respect of his peers, illustrated by his current appearances on two hit records as diverse as Andrea Bocelli’s Passione and Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories. Suffice it to say, it’s been a busy four decades. “There are only so many hours in the day,” East concedes. “But for years, friends have encouraged me to record a solo album. Some for so long they’d given up. However the best music that I’ve made over the years has always been a collaboration with my friends, so I decided it was time to take the plunge.”

A pianist and organist, Noah East is son of Nathan East, one of the most recorded bass players in the history of music and a long-time member of Eric Clapton’s band. Now 23, Noah began playing the piano at the age of four when his parents discovered that he had perfect pitch, and he has been recording music since he was 13 years old. He and his father have been involved with multiple educational institutions and have also performed together at music venues around the world, including the legendary Tokyo Blue Note Jazz Club. Graduating from UC Berkely in 2022, Noah jumped at the opportunity to join The Cream of Clapton Band: “Eric’s music has been the sound track of my life and to have the chance to interpret and play his extraordinary legacy, with such amazing musicians, is such a wonderful start to my career ” he says.

Urban jazz harmonicist Frédéric Yonnet plays an instrument many have owned, but few have mastered. Originally from France, Yonnet is regarded as one of the most talented and innovative harmonica players on the international music scene today. In 2019, Yonnet’s sound was the lead voice on the soundtrack of Martin Scorsese’s film, The Irishman. With each performance, stereotypical walls come tumbling down as Yonnet presents the harmonica in a refreshing and modern context. It’s stylish. It’s cool. It’s brilliant. His impressive style and electrifying stage presence have led to recordings, tours and performances with a wide range of musicians including GRAMMY® Award winners and music icons Stevie Wonder and Prince, award-winning songwriter David Foster, UK sensation Ed Sheeran, pop-idols the Jonas Brothers, soul singers John Legend, Erykah Badu, Anthony Hamilton, John Mayer and India.Aire, as well as The National Symphony Orchestra and The Dayton Philharmonics. Rolling Stone magazine referred to Yonnet as “Prince’s killer harmonica player” and praise from other influencers affirm his mission to change the way music enthusiasts and the industry regard the “pocket” instrument.

Acclaimed American tenor and world class entertainer, Daniel Emmet, is one of the leading voices in classical pop-crossover music. Daniel first made a name for himself as a top 10 finalist on America’s Got Talent in 2018, and once again in 2022 with his return to the AGT stage as the viral sensation, “the singing voice of Simon Cowell.” Daniel has performed on The Kelly Clarkson Show, on PBS, the CW, Lifetime TV, has headlined shows in Las Vegas at Caesars Palace, T-Mobile Arena, Paris Las Vegas and Westgate Las Vegas, and has performed the National Anthem for the NFL and Sunday Night Football, the MLB, the NHL, Top Rank Boxing, on Fox Sports and ESPN+. Daniel currently tours around the globe with 16x GRAMMY® Award winner David Foster, across the United States as a featured vocalist with Trans Siberian Orchestra and with his own symphonic shows and concerts. Daniel’s debut studio album, Daniel Emmet, debuted at #5 on the Billboard Classical Crossover Albums Chart.

Jazz pianist and composer Emmet Cohen is one of his generation’s pivotal figures in music and the related arts. Leader of the Emmet Cohen Trio and creator of the “Masters Legacy Series,” Cohen is an internationally acclaimed jazz artist and dedicated music educator. Winner of the 2019 American Pianists Awards and the Cole Porter Fellow of the American Pianists Association, Emmet is also an Artist-in-Residence at the University of Indianapolis. Emmet Cohen has performed, recorded, or collaborated with Ron Carter, Benny Golson, Jimmy Cobb, George Coleman, Jimmy Heath, Tootie Heath, Houston Person, Christian McBride, Kurt Elling, Billy Hart, Herlin Riley, Lea DeLaria, and Bill T. Jones.

Featuring John JR Robinson, Boh Cooper and Keith Nelson

Boh Cooper has worked with world-class musicians such as Greg Phillinganes, Nathan East, John “JR” Robinson, Dean Parks, Michael Thompson, Randy Waldman and many other “A list” Los Angeles-based musicians.  When 16 time GRAMMY® winner, David Foster, called his friend, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Legend, Peter Cetera and asked if he had any suggestions for a keyboardist for his tour, Peter replied “You gotta hear my guy!” That guy was Boh Cooper. Foster did hear Boh Cooper & hired him to be a part of his musical productions. Boh is now currently his music director.

Keith Nelson is a world-class guitar player and community leader. For over forty years, he has energized artists and bands, making exceptional music across the globe. Keith has worked with such astounding talent as David Foster, Andrea Bocelli, Donna Summer, Shania Twain, Sheena Easton, Dino, Peaches and Herb and many more. He’s also contributed to an array of Las Vegas production shows including Disney’s The Lion King, Signed, Sealed, Delivered (featuring Chaka Khan), At the Copa (featuring David Cassidy & Sheena Easton) and many more.