Murray Foster

Murray Douglas Foster (born June 29, 1967) is a Canadian musician, vocalist, songwriter, director, playwright, screenwriter, and environmentalist. He is best known for his work as electric and upright bassist in the Canadian bands Moxy Früvous and Great Big Sea. In 2014, he directed the Independent Film, The Cocksure Lads Movie. He and Mike Ford also perform in live performance as a 60's British Invasion styled band, The Cocksure Lads.

History

Foster was born in Thornhill, Ontario. At age 12, he and Jian Ghomeshi went to their first gig: a Peter Frampton concert. He attended Thornlea Secondary School, and graduated with a BA in English Literature from the University of Toronto.

Music

Tall New Buildings

In the late 1980s, Foster played bass in the new wave band Tall New Buildings,^[1] alongside vocalist Jian Ghomeshi, guitarist Tracy Jones, Reno Manfredi on keyboards and drummer John Ruttle.

Moxy Früvous

Foster started Moxy Früvous in 1990 with Jian Ghomeshi, Mike Ford and Dave Matheson. The band developed a cult following and toured extensively for ten years. They released eight albums and were featured on Late Night with Conan O'Brien in October 1999.

Great Big Sea

In 2003, Foster began touring with Great Big Sea^[2] after founding bass player Darrell Power left the band. Over the course of 10 years with the band, Foster's role has evolved. In 2012, he co-wrote the a capella ballad "Safe Upon the Shore" with Séan McCann.^[3]

The Cocksure Lads

In 2010, Foster and Mike Ford recorded a CD under the name The Cocksure Lads. Called The Greatest Hits of The Cocksure Lads (1963-1968), its 12 tracks were written over the previous decade^[4] A new CD: Mad! Lad! Plan! was released on January 24, 2014.^[5] The live band is a separate project from The Cocksure Lads Movie.

Film

The Cocksure Lads Movie

After writing several short plays, Foster was approached by Emily Andrews of Filmcoop Toronto to write film scripts. His short film, "The Picture," premiered at the Hamilton Film Festival in 2012.^[6]

Foster then wrote the screenplay for a full length feature film titled The Cocksure Lads Movie which he also directed. Avi Federgreen, a twenty year veteran of the Canadian Film Industry took on the film's Executive Producer role.

In 2012, a successful Kickstarter campaign raised $28,000 to begin work on The Cocksure Lads Movie. Foster is currently doing a second round of fundraising through a self-run crowdfunding campaign.

In September 2013, he began a second round of independent fundraising with a self-run campaign that features creative backer rewards such as Postcards from the Road (Great Big Sea's XX tour), private lessons in anything over Skype, a song performed with the band, Backer Beer, a cast-signed script or lookbook, a part in the film, a session with the editor, a house concert, or even the chance to beat the director at board games. ^[7]

Foster and Ford performed a number of pop-up performances at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival to promote the upcoming film.^[8]

As an additional fundraising tactic, on April 10, 2014, Foster, Ford, and their band also made a pitch to the Dragon's Den television programme. The episode aired in January, 2015. It was revealed that the Dragons, Arlene Dickinson especially, embraced the project.

Filming began in April 2014 and production wrapped up later that spring. Shot entirely on location in Toronto, Serena Ryder, Alan Doyle, and Walk Off The Earth guest starred, as well as a main cast including UK Emmerdale Soap Opera phenom Lyndon Ogbourne as Dusty, Adam McNab as Reg, Luke Marty as Derek, and Ed Hillier as Blakey.

The feature won much acclaim at the 2014 Whistler Film Festival.

Toronto audiences may catch the debut at the Canadian Film Fest in March, 2015.

Other projects

In 2009, Foster performed a well-received lead role in the theatrical production of the play “Toronto Noir” in the Summerworks Theatre Festival.

In 2010, he and John Deere Credit Canada business analyst Brenda Morrow founded Platypus, the world's first green energy gift company. Patrons may purchase gifts of 100% renewable energy or donate to green energy projects worldwide on behalf of friends, family, clients or employees.

In January 2012, he wrote and recorded 30 songs in 30 days as part of the Stephen Lewis Foundation's DARE Campaign. The songs, made available to the public, raised almost $6,000 to fight AIDS in Africa.

Also in 2012, Foster was hired as the songwriting instructor by the Trebas Institute of Music in Toronto .

Foster supports various environmental causes, including the drive to expand safe cycling in Toronto. On September 8, 2013, he served as emcee of the Toronto Bicycle Music Festival.^[9]

On December 16, 2013, Toronto City Council endorsed the creation of the Toronto Music Industry Advisory Council to guide its efforts to support the economic and cultural development of the city's music industry. Foster was appointed to the board for his work as an independent artist.^[10]

In January 2014, Foster launched the Toronto Songwriting School, Canada's first institute devoted exclusively to songwriting, was a featured speaker at Nerd Nite Toronto,^[11] and released The Cocksure Lads' sophomore album.^[12]

Foster holds the role of Field Director for the non-profit Our Place Initiative.^[13]

He has also written articles for magazines such as Now,^[14] Driven and the online DailyXY.com.

References

External links

• Murray Foster official website
• The Cocksure Lads official website
• Toronto Songwriting School
• Fruhead-Moxy Früvous fan site
• Great Big Sea's official website