Herman Foster
Herman Foster (April 26, 1928 – April 3, 1999) was an American bebop jazz pianist. He was blinded during childbirth through the carelessness of a doctor. He began his musical career early playing the violin, clarinet, saxophone, and piano.
Herman Foster
- Name
- Herman Foster
- Born
- 26 April 1928
- Birthplace
- Philadelphia, U.S.
- Died
- 3 April 1999
- Place of death
- New York City, New York
- Occupation
- Musician
- Nationality
- United States
- Fields
- jazz
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q1610260 · wikipedia · Herman Foster
In this article
Biography
Biography
He became a self-taught pianist. His family moved from Philadelphia to New York City in 1947 where he began to attend jam sessions and then played with Eric Dixon, Dick Carter and the big band of Herb Jones. Then he met Lou Donaldson and they played together from 1953 to 1966. He also worked with King Curtis, Bill English, and Seldon Powell in the 1950s, and with Al Casey and Gloria Lynne in the 1960s, in addition to playing with his own trio. He returned to work in Donaldson's quartet in the 1980s. In 1996 he married Hisayo Tominaga, a jazz vocalist.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Herman Foster • Born — 26 April 1928 • Birthplace — Philadelphia, U.S. • Died — 3 April 1999 • Place of death — New York City, New York • Instrument — Piano • Genre — Bebop, jazz • Occupation — Musician • Associated Acts — Lou Donaldson, King Curtis, Bill English, Seldon Powell, Al Casey
As leader
As leader
• Year recorded — Title — Label — Personnel • 1960? — Have You Heard — Epic — Trio, with Earl May (bass), Frankie Dunlop (drums) • 1961? — The Explosive Piano of Herman Foster — Epic — Trio, with Earl May (bass), Grassella Oliphant (drums) • 1963 — Ready and Willing — Argo — Trio, with Herman Wright (bass), Bruno Carr (drums) • 1984? — The One and Only — Timeless — Trio, with Jeff Fuller (bass), Victor Jones (drums)
As sideman
As sideman
• 1957: Lou Donaldson: Wailing with Lou (Blue Note) • 1957: Lou Donaldson: Swing and Soul (Blue Note) • 1958: Lou Donaldson: Blues Walk (Blue Note) • 1958: Lou Donaldson: Light-Foot (Blue Note) • 1959: King Curtis: Have Tenor Sax, Will Blow (Atco Records) • 1960: Al Casey: Buck Jumpin (Swingville) • 1961: Lou Donaldson: Gravy Train (Blue Note) • 1961: Gloria Lynne: I'm Glad There Is You (Everest LPBR 5126) • 1962: Gloria Lynne: At The Las Vegas Thunderbird (Everest) • 1964: Joan Shaw In Person (Sue) • 1964: Lou Donaldson: Cole Slaw (Argo) • 1964: Jean DuShon: Make Way for Jean DuShon (Argo) • 1966: Lou Donaldson: Blowing in the Wind (Cadet) • 1972: Johnny Hartman: Today (Perception) • 1981: Lou Donaldson: Sweet Poppa Lou (Muse) • 1981: Lou Donaldson: Forgotten Man (Timeless) • 1982: Lou Donaldson: Back Street (Muse) • 1984: Lou Donaldson: Live in Bologna (Timeless) • 1995: Hisayo Tominaga: Blues Blue (Black Box) • 2000: George V. Johnson Jr.: Next in Line! (Your Majesty)
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1928
Herman Foster born at Philadelphia.
1999
Herman Foster died at New York City.
Places
Named by the record
Places
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Philadelphia.
Birth place
New York City.
Death place
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Herman Foster, revision 1326913648 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
References
Citations
References
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reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 21 August 2026.
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