Jerry Foster

I grew up in the Ozark Mountain area of southeast MO. Right about where the plains, the hills, and the Mark Twain National Forrest all meet! It's a priviledge to grow up there, because if you respect your alone time, there is plenty to be had. On the other side of the coin, it's not too conducive for a creative person, because most folks are very respectively blue collared, and arts are secondary to living! Good thing I love fishin! Fast forward to Dec. 04'

I moved to Calgary on Dec. 27th 2004, and was greeted with a city of 1 million people, and a nice -25 wind! Music here is just great! There is plenty to hear, play, and be a part of. While I will always be proud of my roots, Calgary is definately a love in my life. Very much unlike my raising, the people here simply support one another! It's not so much the everyman for himself attitude. Because of this, I have had the honour of playing with some GREAT musicians, with equally awesome personalities.

I was brought up in a musical family. In fact, it was the only common ground my family and I had. While I do get the support I need in music today, at one time I certainly didn't. But I understand that when you grow up underpriviledged, (We would neglect one bill to pay another, eat commodities) chasing musical dreams just got ya chastised! At the same time, when music is all you have, you tend to love it a great deal. My parents ssang in churches the whole while, I was growing up. At less than 2 yrs old, I sang my first song much to the surprise of my mama. She and my daddy were singing "Just Build My Mansion, Next Door to Jesus"and I ran up to them. As my mom picked me up, I sang the song verbatim!
First instrument I started playing in church was the harminica. I musta been around 10-11, and I would go to these different churches with my folks, and play along. Dad used to make me take solos, and these little old blue hairs loved it, and would give me money . A ten yr old getting 20 bucks was COOL! That got me a lot of Hotwheels. And stage experience!!!!
At 14 I recieved my first guitar and amp! A $100 pawn shop special dubbed Gertrude,a Strat knockoff and a crummy little $30 amp. But let me tell ya, I HAD A GUITAR!!!!!! I immediately became obsessed with the Beatles, and went to town learning all I could of their catalogue!
All the while during my raising, I was forcefed Hee-Haw. I HATED it, at the time. Today I'd give anything to hear those awesome performances. Country music was a thing in my family that we would "do" on Sat. nights. Hee-Haw, and Grand Ole Opry. Amazing how those seeds were being planted subconsciously!
In my very early teen yrs. I absorbed my brain with oldies. There aren't too many 60's bands I don't enjoy! From the Electric Flag Pole, Dregs, Left Banke, and Lemonpipers, to Beatles, Stones, Byrds, and CCR.
Grunge rock also gripped me pretty good. When you grew up in the late 80's poor, getting laid have having tons of money weren't themes I could relate to! To this day I detest all things HAIR! Wasn't fond of the people who listened to it either! They called themselves "hoods", and they were bullies. How funny that bullies would be listening to music made by guys who looked COMPLETELY feminine!!!! HA HA
So that leads us to the new millineum. It's all about roots for me. Rootsy country, rock, and even celtic! Not to say I do NOT like anything new, Brad Paisley is AMAZING! But I try to make songs that Buck Owens could sing, and Roy Nichols would pick!

History

Man, there is just a lot. Played in a rock outfit at 16. Second band was a country band, we were all 18 or under. Played with retro country pickers in MO, play with country folks here in Calgary while freelancing guitar.

Right now I am solo, gearing up to play Austin in March of 06'.