Jeffrey Foskett

Jeffrey Foskett is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer best known as a touring and studio musician for Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys since the 1980s. Foskett was described as the Beach Boys' "vice principal" by its touring members. In 1996, he debuted as a solo artist with the album Thru My Window.

Born and raised in San Jose, California, Foskett began his first band in the 1970s known as Cherry, after the Willow Glen area street on which he lived. Foskett played mostly surf music covers in the same market as Papa Doo Run Run, with whom Foskett would join forces later. In the late 1970s, Foskett formed two renowned bands: The Reverie Rhythm Rockers (aka Reverie) and The Pranks while attending UCSB in Santa Barbara, California, gigging throughout the area with fellow area bands like D. B. Cooper. The band held a house residency at The Troubadore Nightclub in Hollywood Mondays performing with The Mentors, The Cretones, The Police and 20/20.

Foskett became a fan of the Beach Boys after he heard "I Get Around" and became determined to meet Brian Wilson. In 1976, Foskett tracked down Wilson's house in Bel Air, which had a stained-glass window resembling the artwork of the 1967 album Wild Honey. After knocking on Wilson's door, he was greeted by a friendly Wilson and quickly invited into his house as a guest. The two then kept in contact over the years.

In late 1979, Wilson's cousin Mike Love stopped by the famous Santa Barbara restaurant "1129" where Reverie was the house band. Love listened to Foskett and hired Reverie as the original incarnation of The Endless Summer Beach Band. The band toured with Love through 1981 when Foskett replaced Wilson's brother Carl Wilson who briefly left the Beach Boys to pursue a solo career. When Carl rejoined the Beach Boys in May 1982, Foskett was asked to stay to perform Wilson's falsetto parts, which he did on and off until he was fired by Wilson in 1991.

When Brian Wilson returned to touring in the late 1990s, he asked Foskett to help him assemble his touring band. Foskett was the musical director, appearing at every solo show Wilson had performed, up until his departure from Wilson's band. In concerts, Foskett provided lead vocals on several of Wilson's songs, including "Don't Worry Baby", "The Warmth Of The Sun" and "Wouldn't It Be Nice" as well as others. Foskett has appeared as guitarist/vocalist/arranger on a majority of Wilson solo material, including the 2004 version of SMiLE.

In 2012, Foskett joined the Beach Boys' live band on their 50th Anniversary Reunion Tour, and subsequently recorded the studio album That's Why God Made the Radio alongside the band, performing all of the falsetto vocal parts as well as other vocals on the record. Regarding his role in the reunion, Al Jardine stated, "Jeffrey is invaluable to keeping the continuity between the various component parts. He supports Brian in every possible way. He has Brian's confidence, and basically kind of makes it possible to have Brian Wilson on the road with us. [Without] that shoulder to lean on, I think it would be very difficult for Brian to tour. And I'm very grateful for that." On the tour he provided lead vocals on "Don't Worry Baby", "Wouldn't It Be Nice" (Alongside Jardine) and "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" as well as singing all of the falsetto vocals.

Following the reunion tour, Foskett resumed touring with Wilson in 2013. Wilson enlisted guitarist Jeff Beck to accompany him and Foskett on his tour and collaborate with him on his next album. Foskett left the touring band in late 2013, citing sudden heavy workload on touring and recording the album. Foskett said “After the Jeff Beck tour, I was completely stressed and burned out. That whole year, recording that album and that tour — because I knew Jeff so well — a lot of things fell on me to get done that normally would have been other people’s responsibilities. So, at the end of that tour, I kind of snapped — literally — and just said, ‘I can’t do this anymore'. However Brian views me, is alright with me, as long as he knows I love him." Foskett was replaced by Matt Jardine, who joined Wilson along with his father and founding member Al Jardine on his tours.

On May 15, 2014, it was announced that Foskett would be re-joining the Beach Boys as a permanent member of the touring band. Foskett also performed on Love's solo albums Unleash the Love (2017) and Reason for the Season (2018).

In early 2019, Foskett took leave from the Beach Boys due to undergoing throat surgery. In late 2019, Foskett announced that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 anaplastic thyroid cancer in early 2018 and that his falsetto vocal range has heavily deteriorated as a result of several surgeries and treatments on his vocal cords. In addition, he said he would release his next album Voices, which he said may possibly be his last album as a solo artist, on November 22, 2019, though added that he would also continue as a live musician and possibly explore doing record production work.

Foskett has released several solo albums including Thru My Window, touted as "The best Beach Boys album they never recorded",Cool and Gone and Twelve and Twelve. Foskett has won several awards including Top Selling Artist of the Year in New Zealand and Best New Foreign Artist in Japan.He is also a member of "California Rocks" the California Rock Hall of Fame

In addition to The Beach Boys/Brian Wilson, Foskett has toured and recorded with other friends in the music industry such as Paul McCartney, Jeff Beck, Roy Orbison, The Everly Brothers, Christopher Cross, Michael McDonald, Chicago, America, Heart, Roger McGuinn, Eric Carmen, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page,and Ringo Starr. Jeff is one of a very few Artists who has recorded and performed live with The Big Three Guitar Greats Beck, Page and Clapton. He also produces other artists including Harry Shearer of Spinal Tap and Micky Dolenz of The Monkees.

In 2016, Italia Guitars released their first Signature Model Guitar honoring Jeff named "The JF-12" Twelve String Guitar.

In 2017, Italia Guitars released their second Signature Model Guitar honoring Jeff named "The JF-6" Six String Guitar.

At the 2018 NAMM Show, Italia Guitars released their third Signature Model Guitar honoring Jeff named "The JF-Q" Six String Guitar.

In 2018, Foskett released the long in the works new duet studio album with Jeff Larson entitled "Elua Aloha", released on June 12.

Jeffrey is an avid supporter of The MD Anderson Cancer Center at The University of Texas, Houston, The Gary Sinise Foundation and The Carl Wilson Foundation.

• Voices Jeffrey Foskett; Primary Artist, Arranger / Co-Producer (November 2019) BMG
• Vintage Summer Jeffrey Foskett; Primary Artist, Arranger / Co-Producer (September 2019) ViViD Sound
• Love Songs Jeffrey Foskett; Primary Artist, Arranger / Co-Producer (July 2019) ViViD Sound
• Twelve Sides Of Summer Mike Love; Background Vocals / (June 2019) BMG.
• True Love Ways Buddy Holly; Vocal Arranger, Background Vocals / (2018) Decca.
• Unchained Melodies Roy Orbison; Vocal Arranger, Background Vocals / (2018) Sony Legacy.
• Reason For The Season Mike Love; Background Vocals / (2018) BMG.
• Elua Aloha Jeffrey Foskett and Jeff Larson; Primary Artists, Arranger / Co-Producer (2018) ViViD Sound / New Surf, LTD.
• Feeling Just The Way I Do / Only With You - 45 RPM 7" Green Vinyl Record Store Day Exclusive Jeffrey Foskett; Primary Artist, Arranger / Co-Producer (2018) ViViD Sound
• Love Can Go The Distance / True Love Ways - 45 RPM 7" Purple Vinyl Record Store Day Exclusive Jeffrey Foskett; Primary Artist, Arranger / Co-Producer (2018) ViViD Sound
• Unleash The Love Mike Love; Background Vocals / (2017) BMG.
• You Remind Me Of The Sun Jeffrey Foskett; Primary Artist, Arranger / Co-Producer (2017) ViViD Sound
• Jody / You Remind Me of The Sun - 45 RPM 7" Orange Vinyl Record Store Day Exclusive Jeffrey Foskett; Primary Artist, Arranger / Co-Producer (2017) ViViD Sound
• FISH! / This Could Be The Night - 45 RPM 7" Blue Vinyl Jeffrey Foskett; Primary Artist, Arranger / Producer (2017) ViViD Sound
• The Best of Jeffrey Foskett Jeffrey Foskett; Primary Artist, Arranger / Producer (2016) ViViD Sound
• Classic Harmony Jeffrey Foskett; Primary Artist, Arranger / Producer (2015) ViViD Sound
• No Pier Pressure Brian Wilson; Vocals, Arranger (2015) Capitol
• Art of McCartney Guitar, Vocals (2014)
• Name That Tune (EP) The Tearaways; Guitar, Vocal (2014)
• The Essential Eric Carmen Eric Carmen; Vocals (2014)
• Secret Ladder Christopher Cross; Featured Artist- Vocals (2014)
• Live: The 50th Anniversary Tour The Beach Boys; Guitar, Vocals (2013)
• Made in California The Beach Boys; Guitar, Vocals (2013)
• Still Within the Sound of My Voice Jimmy Webb; Background Vocals (2013)
• AM/FM Rita Wilson; Vocals [Background] (2012)
• Can't Take a Hint Harry Shearer; Arranger, Producer, Background Vocals (2012)
• That's Why God Made the Radio The Beach Boys; Vocals, Guitar (Acoustic), Snaps, Background Vocals (2012)
• Sylvie Vartan Vocals (2012)
• Back Pages America; Background Vocals, Arranger (2011)
• In the Key of Disney Brian Wilson; Guitar (12 String), Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Toy Instruments, Vocals Arranger (2011)
• Listen to Me: Buddy Holly Guitar (12 String), Vocals Arranger (2011)
• Walkin' Back Choc'd Bass, Guitar, Producer (2011)
• Chocabeck Zucchero; Background Vocals (2010)
• King for a Day Micky Dolenz; Arranger, Guitar, Percussion, Producer, Ukulele, Background Vocals (2010)
• Reimagines Gershwin Brian Wilson; Vocals (2010)
• Heart of the Valley Jeff Larson; Vocals Arranger (2009)
• What Love Can Do Guitar, Percussion, Vocals (2009)
• That Lucky Old Sun Brian Wilson; Guitar, Ukulele, Background Vocals, Arranger (2008)
• Damn Near Righteous Bill Medley; Vocals (2007)
• Dreamboat Annie Live [Video] Heart; Vocals (2007)
• Dreamboat Annie: Live Heart; Vocals (2007)
• In the Swing of Christmas Barry Manilow; Background Vocals (2007)
• Songs Pointed and Pointless Harry Shearer; Arranger, Audio Production, Guitar, Main Personnel, Producer, Background Vocals (2007)
• Timeless Flyte, a Tribute to the Byrds: The Byrds Dylan Connection Primary Artist (2007)
• Easy to Be Free: The Songs of Rick Nelson Engineer, Mixing, Performer, Primary Artist, Producer (2006)
• Five Way Street: A Tribute to Buffalo Springfield Percussion, Vocals (2006)
• Musicares: A Tribute to Brian Wilson Performer (2006)
• Disney's Beach PartyDisney; Background Vocals (2005)
• Grammy Nominees 2005 Guitar, Unknown Contributor Role, Vocals (2005)
• My Lives Billy Joel; Performer (2005)
• Of Hands and Hearts: Music for the Tsunami Disaster Fund Primary Artist, Producer (2005)
• SMiLE [DVD] Brian Wilson; Guitar, Unknown Contributor Role, Vocals (2005)
• What I Really Want for Christmas Brian Wilson Guitar, Main Personnel, Sleigh Bells, Vocals (2005)
• Dance of the Heart: His Best & More Stephen Bishop; Background Vocals (2004)
• Gettin' in Over My Head Brian Wilson; Guitar, Main Personnel, Background Vocals (2004)
• SMiLE Brian Wilson; Guitar, Hammer Dulcimer, Main Personnel, Unknown Contributor Role, Vocals (2004)
• Stars in the Sand Jeffrey Foskett; Composer, Instrumentation, Primary Artist, Producer, Voices (2004)
• View from the Top/O.S.T. Vocal Arrangement, Background Vocals (2003)
• California Girl Nancy Sinatra; Background Vocals (2002)
• Fragile Sunrise Jeff Larson; Organ, Vocal Harmony (2002)
• Party at the Palace: The Queen's Jubilee Concert Primary Artist, Unknown Contributor Role (2002)
• Party at the Palace: The Queen's Jubilee Concert [Video/DVD] Guitar, Vocals (2002)
• Pet Sounds Live Brian Wilson Guitar, Vocals (2002)
• Daytrips John Blakeley; Arranger, Vocals (2001)
• Hit the Road to Dreamsville Primary Artist (2001)
• Lynne Me Your Ears: A Tribute to the Music of Jeff Lynne Lynne Me Your Ears; Arranger, Instrumentation, Primary Artist, Producer, Vocals (2001)
• Pop Under the Surface, Vol. 4 Composer, Guitar, Primary Artist, Producer, Vocals, Background Vocals (2001)
• Shoe Fetish: A Tribute to the Shoes Instrumentation, Primary Artist, Producer, Vocals (2001)
• The Complete Greatest Hits America Vocals (2001)
• United We Stand: Songs for America [Oglio]Jeffrey Foskett; Primary Artist (2001)
• Live at the Roxy Theatre: Brian Wilson Arranger, Guitar, Percussion, Unknown Contributor Role, Vocals (2000)
• Room for Summer Jeff Larson; Bass, Organ, Piano, Background Vocals (2000)
• The Warmth of the Sun: Songs Inspired by the Beach Boys Arranger, Composer, Primary Artist, Producer (2000)
• Twelve & Twelve Jeffrey Foskett; Primary Artist (2000)
• Watercolor Sky Jeff Larson Arranger, Producer (1998)
• Cool and Gone (Gone, Gone) Jeffrey Foskett; Primary Artist (1997)
• Thru My Window Jeffrey Foskett; Primary Artist (1996)
• Rock the World [Enigma] Composer (1989)
• Still Cruisin The Beach Boys; Background Vocals (1989)
• Some Hearts The Everly Brothers; Vocals (1988)
• Cocktail Movie Soundtrack Various Artists; Guitar / Vocals (1988)
• California Project Papa Doo Run Run; Vocals (1985)
• 1100 Bel Air Place Julio Iglesias; Vocals (1984)
• Buy American DB Cooper; Background Vocals (1980)
• Summer Forever: The Ultimate Party Album Primary Artist (1980)

Studio albums

• Thru My Window (1996) Pioneer LDC / New Surf, Ltd.
• The Other Takes (1996) Pioneer LDC / New Surf, Ltd.
• Sunny's Off (1996) Pioneer LDC/ New Surf, Ltd.
• Christmas At The Beach (1997) Pioneer LDC/ New Surf, Ltd.
• Cool and Gone (1997) Pioneer LDC / New Surf, Ltd.
• Twelve and Twelve (1998) Pioneer LDC / New Surf, Ltd.
• Greatest Hits (1998) NZ Music
• Tributes and Rarities (1999) New Surf, Ltd.
• Stars in the Sand (2000) The Pop Collective
• Classic Harmony (2015) ViViD Sound
• The Best of Jeffrey Foskett (2016) ViViD Sound
• You Remind Me Of The Sun Jeffrey Foskett; Primary Artist, Arranger / Co-Producer (2017) ViViD Sound
• Elua Aloha Jeffrey Foskett and Jeff Larson; Primary Artists, Arranger / Co-Producer (2018) ViViD Sound / New Surf, LTD.
• Love Songs Jeffrey Foskett; Primary Artist, Arranger / Co-Producer (July 2019) ViViD Sound
• Vintage Summer Jeffrey Foskett; Primary Artist, Arranger / Co-Producer (September 2019) ViViD Sound
• Voices Jeffrey Foskett; Primary Artist, Arranger / Co-Producer (December 2019) BMG

Studio 45 RPM Singles

• Feeling Just The Way I Do / Only With You - 45 RPM 7" Green Vinyl Record Store Day Exclusive Jeffrey Foskett; Primary Artist, Arranger / Co-Producer (2018) ViViD Sound
• Love Can Go The Distance / True Love Ways - 45 RPM 7" Purple Vinyl Record Store Day Exclusive Jeffrey Foskett; Primary Artist, Arranger / Co-Producer (2018) ViViD Sound
• FISH! / This Could Be The Night - 45 RPM 7" Blue Vinyl Jeffrey Foskett; Primary Artist, Arranger / Producer (2017) ViViD Sound
• Jody / You Remind Me of The Sun - 45 RPM 7" Orange Vinyl Record Store Day Exclusive Jeffrey Foskett; Primary Artist, Arranger / Co-Producer (2017) ViViD Sound
• FISH! / I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday - 3" CD Single Jeffrey Foskett; Primary Artist, Arranger / Producer (2007) Pioneer LDC