Music Mogul Who Helped Launch Dolly Parton and Roy Orbison Dies

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On February 20, 2019, Fred Foster, the pioneering music producer and label founder who helped launch the careers of country stars like Dolly Parton and Roy Orbison, died at the age of 87 in Nashville, Tennessee. Foster co-founded Monument Records in 1958 and signed Orbison and Parton to the label, producing many of their early hits and helping shape their signature sounds.

Why it matters

Fred Foster was a risk-taking music executive who played a pivotal role in the development of country music in the 1960s and 70s. His willingness to sign and nurture emerging artists like Parton and Orbison helped them achieve stardom and left a lasting impact on the genre.

The details

Foster got his start in the music industry working at a restaurant in Washington D.C., where he met country singer Billy Strickland. This sparked his passion for songwriting and he went on to work for record labels like Mercury and ABC-Paramount, helping launch the careers of artists like George Hamilton IV. In 1958, he co-founded Monument Records and signed Orbison, producing his breakout hit "Only the Lonely (Know How I Feel)." In 1965, he signed Dolly Parton to Monument, producing her debut album "Hello, I'm Dolly" which included her first hit "Dumb Blonde." Foster also produced recordings for other country stars like Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson, and co-wrote Kristofferson's classic "Me and Bobby McGee."

• Fred Foster died on February 20, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee.
• He co-founded Monument Records in 1958.
• He signed Roy Orbison to Monument Records in 1959.
• He signed Dolly Parton to Monument Records in 1965.