Billy Foster Jazz Zone

Billy Foster is a respected pianist, composer, educator, producer and host of the "Billy Foster Jazz Zone". As an active professional musician for the past 35 years, he has performed across the U.S. with others, as well as with his own groups. Mr. Foster has written and produced recordings with both “Billy Foster And Audio” and the “Billy Foster Trio”. He is a featured soloist on two of guitarist Henry Johnson’s CD’s on MCA Records. His work as pianist and composer with the “Valparaiso University Faculty Jazz Trio” can be heard on the CDs "For The Moment" and the 2010 recording "Journey". "Portrait "by the “Billy Foster Trio” features more of his compositions in addition to vocals by Renee Miles-Foster. Mr. Foster has also written and produced music for several television commercials.

As an educator, Billy Foster retired after 35 years as a public school music teacher in Gary, In. Mr. Foster was jazz piano instructor at Valparaiso University from 1980 - 2014. In this capacity he conducted many jazz clinics, lectures and educational performances and served on the Indiana Arts Commission Advisory Panel for 3 years. Currently, in addition to his private studio, he is teaching piano at Indiana University Northwest in Gary, In. He received a B.S. from Defiance College and an M.M. Roosevelt University with additional study at New York University. Mr. Foster also studied with renowned jazz pianist and educator Jaki Byard.

Over the years Foster has played concerts with such luminaries as Art Farmer, James Moody, Slide Hampton, Jimmy Heath, Ernie Watts, Tom Harrell, Red Rodney, Jon Faddis, George Coleman, Bobby Watson and many others. The ”Billy Foster Jazz Zone” airs each Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 11:00AM - 1:00 PM on WGVE 88.7FM in Gary, In.