Josh Groban Says He and David Foster Are a 'Musical Married Couple' but They 'Sometimes Take Little Breaks' (Exclusive)

Josh Groban has found a sweet harmony in his creative partnership with David Foster.

The 43-year-old singer-songwriter spoke to PEOPLE in an exclusive interview at the New York Philharmonic’s grand opening on Tuesday, Sept. 24, about his relationship with longtime musical collaborator Foster, 74, and his upcoming Find Your Light benefit concert.

“I was 16 when I met David, I was so new and so young,” says Groban. “Having someone like David as a mentor is just a master class 24 hours a day, every day. Someone with his musicality [and] his understanding of singers and the recording process — he discovered and nurtured some of my favorite singers of all time.”

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David Foster and Josh Groban.

Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage

During Foster’s career, he worked with Groban, Michael Bublé, Céline Dion, Beyoncé, Barbra Streisand and Whitney Houston, among others.

Groban adds: “Working with him was difficult, but education brought me to where I am today. Sometimes, like every musical married couple, we take small breaks and then meet again, but we always meet again and he was always an incredible support.”

The “You Raise Me Up” singer is scheduled to perform at Foster’s 75th birthday bash on Nov. 3 at the Hollywood Bowl alongside Andrea Bocelli, Jennifer Hudson, Kristin Chenoweth and Katharine McPhee. “I speak for every artist who will be on the field at the Hollywood Bowl: we are all very excited to celebrate him that night,” he says.

David Foster and Josh Groban in Phoenix in 2007.

John Shearer/WireImage

Groban was the lead vocalist at the gala evening, which raised more than $3.8 million for the Philharmonic. During the performance, he sang “Pure Imagination” from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory“She” from his 2020 album Harmony and more, including Stephen Sondheim’s tune for “Children Will Listen” from Into the forest and “Not While I’m Around” from Sweeney Todd.

He says the organization has given him “so many inspiring moments” over the years and called it a “great honor” to be featured at the special event.

Groban often performs with the Philharmonic since 2012.

“I try to learn something new every time I’m with them. Being invited to sing with them from a young age is a huge thrill,” he says. “That’s when you start getting to know the group and the musicians and you get to know the space and you feel like you’re going back to the place of old friends.”

Looking back on the early days, he says: “I think those early days were the most important for me because I felt so honored that they thought of me, and I still do. There’s nothing they can’t play. And every time when you sing with them, it lifts you up too.”

Groban continues his philanthropic work with an upcoming benefit concert for his Find Your Light Foundation, in support of arts education. For the first time ever, the annual benefit event will be a benefit concert, rather than a gala, as a way to mobilize the arts community and “make it a party,” he says.

Josh Groban attends the NY Phil Opening Gala on September 24, 2024.

Jason Mendez/Getty

The Find Your Light Foundation was first established as the Josh Groban Foundation in 2005, but changed its name in 2011, according to Forbes. Now, the nonprofit focuses on providing “direct support to organizations that provide arts education to children in underprivileged communities” across the United States, according to the foundation’s website.

A star-studded benefit concert — featuring Lin-Manuel Miranda and Sara Bareilles — will be held Oct. 29 at Jazz at Lincoln Center honoring classical performer Renée Fleming and U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy.

“I’m here for an art education. I’m able to do what I love to do every day because I came from a family that supported my education and involvement in programs that gave me access to the arts,” Groban says of the charity during our conversation.

“I realized pretty quickly that this is something that a lot of kids across the country don’t have the opportunity to have. So when I could have a platform for that, I said, ‘This is what I want to be my foundation, this is what I want to be my silver bullet.’ ”

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Speaking about the impressive line-up, he says: “It means a lot to us to have so many friends who share the same passion for art and art. It’s a big level. We’re nervous but excited that everyone is so enthusiastic.”

Groban teased the event by saying that “there will definitely be a duet.” I mean, I’m kind of the emcee of the evening, and I guess as the founder of the foundation, I have a lot of duet privileges up there. So I will definitely be singing some duets and there will be some unexpected moments from some people that you might not expect.”

The singer, who actively serves on the board of his organization, adds: “This is the kind of night we want to make. We want to make it a party. We want to make it a great party.”

Tickets for the Find Your Light benefit concert can be purchased on the Jazz at Lincoln Center website.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education