Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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FOSTER, Radney

(b 20 July '59, Del Rio TX) Country singer-songwriter who first made an impact as one half of the Foster and Lloyd duo with Bill Lloyd (b 6 Dec. '55, Bowling Green KY). Son of a lawyer, Foster turned his back on family tradition and moved to Nashville, making his mark as songwriter; 'Since I Found You' for Sweethearts of the Rodeo '86; 'Love Someone Like You' for Holly Dunn '87. Teamed up with Lloyd as co-writer, both chasing solo record contracts. Lloyd had played with a swing band and cut solo album Feeling The Elephant for Throbbing Lobster label '87. The pair were signed to RCA as a duo and hit country top ten with 'Crazy Over You' '87, more hits followed and albums Foster And Lloyd, Faster And Llouder and Version Of The Truth '87--90 revealed a distinctive rock-country act. They split '91; Lloyd went on to work as a songwriter and session guitarist, then teamed with Rusty Young (ex-Poco) and John Cowan (ex-New Grass Revival) to form the Sky Kings, signed to WB '95. Foster signed to Arista and developed a more country sound, his songwriting hitting the country top ten with 'Just Call Me Lonesome' '92 and 'Nobody Wins' '93 (latter with Mary Chapin Carpenter). Del Rio, Tx -- 1959 '92 was an acclaimed album and Labor Of Love '94 was equally good, both with guests incl. Carpenter, but his rootsy Texas style isn't played on mainstream country radio. An artist destined to be around a long time.