Sydnie Christmas’ performance of “My Way” at the Hollywood Bowl concert represents a striking reinvention

Music icon David Foster celebrated his 75th birthday at the Hollywood Bowl November 3rd two days after his actual birthday. The Hollywood Bowl has been one of the most iconic venues globally and has hosted a number of once in a lifetime performances such as Quincy Jones’s 90th birthday celebration (2023), tributes to Jimmy Buffett (2024) and Wayne Shorter (2023). Foster’s career spans over five decades as a producer, writer, musician, arranger, record executive, and film composer. Before the show began, a montage of music videos from artists Foster worked with played.

Many of these artists including Chicago and Earth, Wind, and Fire have played the Hollywood Bowl. This 3 hour show (no intermission) included performances from some of the greatest voices of all time, whom Foster has worked with such as his wife Katharine McPhee, El DeBarge Brian McKnight, Pia Toscano, Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, Michael Buble, and Kristin Chenoweth. Foster played piano throughout the evening and the house band included a few of his go to session musicians including drummer John ‘JR’ Robinson, guitarists Michael Thompson and Dean Parks, and percussionist Lenny Castro.  Conducting the show was Bill Ross. The stage was very Grammy inspired and had the logos displayed before the show. Foster is a 16x time Grammy winner.

The opening song was Earth, Wind, and Fire’s “In the Stone” sung by Brian McKnight followed by McPhee singing her song “Somewhere,” and DeBarge’s “Who’s Holding Donna Now?” sung by El DeBarge. Song four “Where I Wanna Be” sung by Jasmine Amy Rogers comes from the Betty Boop musical which Foster has been working on for the last 15 years. Foster told the story behind many of the songs and one in particular was “Man In Motion” from St. Elmo’s Fire and the inspiration was Canadian paraplegic athlete Rick Hansen’s Man in Motion tour. Hansen came out onstage following the song.

To sing Paul Anka’s “My Way,” Foster brought out this year’s Britain’s Got Talent winner 29-year old Sydnie Christmas. The show also featured several other younger performers to come up over the past decade: Grammy Nominated Charlie Puth (32), Matteo Bocelli (27), 18-year old pianist Brandon Goldberg, and Tori Kelly (31) who came in between tour stops. In addition to incredible vocalists there were also guitarists Steve Lukather (Toto/ session musician)  who joined the Tube’s Fee Waybill and Jay Graydon joined McKnight. Toto formed in 1977 and finally had their hometown show at the Hollywood Bowl this year. The first album McKnight purchased at the age of nine was Earth, Wind, and Fire’s “I Am” and two of the songs he sung came from  “After the Love Has Gone” and “In the Stone.”

Matteo Bocelli was the first artist to come in the audience singing “Cuando, Cuando, Cuando.” Trumpet played Chris Botti performed part of Chaka Kahn’s “Through The Fire,” in the audience. There was also a medley featuring Toscano, McKnight, and McPhee of All-4-One’s “I Swear,” Brandy’s “Have You Ever?” Celine Dion’s “Unbreak My Heart” and “Because You Love Me.” There was also some humor throughout the night including Foster talking about Kenny Loggins who was in the audience and Top Gun, but the song that won the Oscar was Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away” against Peter Cetera’s “Glory of Love” from Karate Kid Part II. A video showed scenes from Top Gun to “Glory of Love.” Broadway legend Kristin Chenoweth who starred in the original Broadway production of Wicked now celebrating its 20th anniversary and has a film soon to be released sung a special song for the night about Foster. Foster sat in a Michael Jackson style throne chair for the song with lyrics that made it feel like a roast at certain points and then was presented with a piano themed cake.

Foster announced Groban as someone he dragged out of high school at 17 years old. Groban performed his songs “The Impossible Dream (The Quest)” and “You Raise Me Up.” Hudson performed Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You,” and her song “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going.” at the soundboard on a B-stage. Hudson at the Hollywood Bowl earlier in the summer for the Lion King 30th anniversary celebration. Next up was an artist who Foster described that his home is the Hollywood Bowl and that was none other than opera singer Andrea Bocelli whose 30th anniversary concert in June this year included Foster. The final guest of the night began singing then walked out before being announced and it was fellow Canadian Michael Buble who also sang micless at one point. Cheryl Lynn’s “Got to Be Real” was the finale including Botti, Kelly, Chenoweth, Goldberg, Buble, McPhee, and Christmas.