Jeff Foskett
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Jeffrey Foskett is a guitarist and singer best known for his work with The Beach Boys. In the late seventies, Foskett formed The Pranks in Santa Barbara, California, gigging throughout the area with fellow area bands like D.B. Cooper (Foskett appears on that band's 1979 Warner Brothers debut album "Buy American", singing background vocals). In 1980, Foskett joined the Beach Boys as a guitarist and singer, when Carl Wilson left the group, after having disagreed with Mike Love over the band needing to rehearse.
In the interim, Wilson toured to promote a solo album. With Foskett's guitar prowess and vocal skill he capably filled the void. When Carl returned in 1982 he asked Foskett to stay, Foskett did, and toured with the group until 1991 when he left for a solo career. To date, he has released over a dozen well received solo CDs including "Twelve and Twelve" a 12 song collection featuring 12 string guitars and big name guest stars such as Gerry Beckley from America (band), and Robert Lamm from Chicago (band) and a compilation CD of his original music "Stars in the Sand".
Aside from the Beach Boys and Brian Wilson, Foskett has toured and recorded (and currently works) with many other luminaries in the music industry such as Paul McCartney, Roy Orbison, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Ringo Starr, Chicago, The Moody Blues, The Everly Brothers, and America to name a few. He has also been a member of the surf-rock group Papa Doo Run Run and continues to record his original music with New Surf lablemate Jeff Larson, among others. Along with his solo projects, today Foskett mainly tours and records as Musical Director for Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson. Foskett appears as a guitarist / vocalist / (arranger) on all of Brian Wilson's solo material including the Grammy-winning 2004 version of SMiLE.