Malibu’s famed music man David Foster and his accomplished wife Yolanda hit a high note as they were honored by Saint John’s Health Center Foundation at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. The grand black-tie occasion was the annual Caritas Gala.
There is good reason that accolades were in order. Dave has created, produced and sold albums, that have sold hundreds of millions of copies.
He has worked with local-based talent like legendary songbird Barbra Streisand, as well as Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, Rod Stewart and Stevie Wonder, to name a few. He has discovered many budding singers whom he mentored and who went on to the top of the charts.
But we are just getting warmed up here. The creative master has won 16 Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe and received three Oscar nominations.
He also was the man behind the recent Malibu production of “Primal Scream” at Smothers Theatre.
Yolanda Foster is known for her starring role in “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.” The Netherlands-born beauty was discovered at 16 by Eileen Ford and signed on to Ford Models.
As a dedicated philanthropist, she is a big booster of the David Foster Foundation, Habitat for Humanity and the Belo Children’s Cancer Ward in Manila.
At the moment, she’s busy with “Hopelessly Romantic,” an operation designed to help men and women “get wise and keep their romance alive.”
The impressive pair received the Caritas Award, while Tonian Hohberg, the president and founder of Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, was lauded with the Spirit of Saint John’s Award.
Gala Chair Evelyn Guerboian and Chairman Dr. John Robertson welcomed their 550 stylishly clad guests, noting Saint John’s Health Center Foundation and its Irene Dunne Guild have raised more than $11 million to help the center stay on the cutting edge.
With David Foster in the crowd, you just know there was going to be something special.
Dave did not disappoint with a special performance with his “soulful friends,” including jazz vocalist Brenna Whittaker, singer and songwriter Shalea; actor, song and dance man Rogelio Douglas, Jr., and opera singer Nathan Granner. The talented ensemble brought the crowd to its feet with a rousing rendition of the hit song “Happy.”
That was more than enough to get everyone to the dance floor, busting a few moves to the music of the Cowling Band until the wee hours.
The evening of music and inspiration was just what the doctor ordered.