In Memoriam: Mo Foster

Sad news today as British session legend Mo Foster has died. He was 78 years old. The bassist had been battling cancer.

Born in Surrey, England, in 1944, Foster studied physics at the University of Sussex and began gigging on both drums and bass in local groups. He worked as a lab research assistant for a short period, after which he quit to form the progressive jazz and rock group Affinity. They released one album in 1970 but soon dissolved, leaving Foster to become a freelancer.

Foster’s studio work would include over 400 albums by various top-name talents: Phil Collins, Brian May, Ringo Starr, Cher, Jeff Beck, John Paul Jones, and more. His bass also created the soundtrack for films like For Your Eyes Only and Revenge of the Pink Panther.

Foster wrote his own music, as well, leading to five solo albums. He was also a pioneer of music education by founding the first-ever year-long course at Goldsmiths College, University of London, in 1975.

Hear more from Foster in this interview with Scott Devine of Scott’s Bass Lessons:

Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Mo Foster.