Jeff really cherished your friendship. I've always admired you a lot and have immense respect for you. It's amazing how you pump out sometimes two newsletters a day, always offering interesting and well-thought-out perspectives. When Jeff told me he was friends with you, I was seriously impressed. I know you're a fan of the Beach Boys (and Jan and Dean), so it must have been great talking about surf music with Jeff.
Yesterday, I didn't just lose a friend; I lost a piece of my soul and my history. Jeff introduced me to the harmonies of The Beach Boys, and through them, I discovered a world of color and joy that I never imagined being a part of.
Thinking back on the 40 years we spent together — the laughter, the music that we believed had the power to change lives, and the unbreakable bond of brotherhood — I can't help but feel thankful. Grateful for every moment, every note, and every bit of wisdom he shared with me.
As you know, Jeff had a larger-than-life personality. His talent, his laughter, and his ability to make everyone feel seen and heard were gifts he freely and generously shared. He had a way of filling every room with his presence, leaving a lasting mark on everyone he met.
Jeff taught me that love is a beautiful and essential part of our lives, but it comes with the painful cost of loss. However, as I reflect on Jeff's extraordinary life and the profound impact he had on mine, I realize that this pain is the price we pay for the privilege of knowing and loving someone like him.
I remember Jeff mentioning that you were coming to a show at the Vilar in Beaver Creek. I was worried for the band, knowing that some members were sick, and the road was taking a toll on them. I asked Jeff how the show went, and he said it was terrible. I got nervous you may pan Mike and the band. I've become very protective over the years. Jeff mentioned that he spoke to you about it, and you ended up writing something positive and nice. You're a good man Bob, just like Jeff. And trust me, he knew what he meant to you.
Life is going by way too fast and we seem to be losing our heroes, younger and younger.
I hope to grab a lunch with you someday like we said we would years ago. Tomorrow is never promised.
Thank you for the wonderful story about my dear friend Jeff. - I just can't believe he's gone.
XO STAMOS
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Happy Chanukah. I enjoyed your email on Jeff Foskett. I met Jeff through Roger Daltrey over twenty years ago because Roger wanted to help me get bigger names for my Rock Camps and Brian Wilson would be perfect. Six month later Brian and Jeff were mentoring bands at Rock n Roll Fantasy Camps and it was one of my game changers. I remember when I advertised Mark Farner of Grand Funk and Jeff called me to say "I will do anything to be at that camp to jam with one of my hero's." He was a fan of music.
Jeff had an amazing soul and a love for music and could sing and play many instruments and would give so much of himself to all the camp attendees.
He was so well respected by musicians from Jeff Beck to Roger Daltrey and I loved that you dedicated a story on one of the greatest side men ever.
David Fishof
Rock n Roll Fantasy Camp
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Dear Bob,
Thank you for this. Jeffrey WAS a good guy and he DID live his dream and he DID die too young. Our band (America) toured with The Beach Boys many times in the 70's when Carl and Dennis were still with us, but when Jeffrey came onboard it was clear that this guy was devoted to adding his sparkle and intimate knowledge of those incredible songs to the live Beach Boys show...and his voice was PERFECT.
We had all grown up with The Beach Boys catalogue and wanted it to sound the way we heard it on the records and so did Jeffrey. We became friends from that point on moving in and out of each others lives as careers progressed over the decades and we crossed paths or shared bills. After we played our set we watched countless performances from the wings of everything from "Surfer Girl" and "Be True To Your School" to "Good Vibrations" and Billy Hinsche doing "Wipeout"! Then we would get up with them for encores, usually on Jeffrey's mic with him, and sing Fun Fun Fun and I Get Around with our friends and it was awesome…a career high point hard to explain!
Jeffrey was solid and consistent, reliable, talented and generous. When we covered "Caroline No", my favorite Beach Boys song, for our Back Pages album Jeffrey worked with me and arranged and sang all the background vocals, and I'm as proud of that as any work I've done. He even graciously put together a band to play at my wedding to Penny 22 years ago and there was that voice!
Wonderful memories flood back as I think of Jeffrey, as well as the shock of hearing about his diagnosis and the ensuing battle he put up. You may even remember him backstage at our Ace Theater show June, 2019,? He will be missed by many but I'll never forget all those shows and all those songs that Jeffrey enhanced so beautifully. My heart goes out to Diana, his family, and everyone who knew and loved him. For me it's a comfort when our dear friend, Henry Diltz, always says when someone passes, "Don't worry, he's just stepped into the other room." Dewey Bunnell
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Darian Sahanaja from Brian Wilson's band referred to Jeff onstage as the "CEO of Falsetto", a title he very much deserved.
As the engineer on many of Brian's solo albums I had the pleasure of knowing Jeff and working with him for many years. Jeff was the organizer both on the road and in the studio, and also Brian's "go to guy" on the tours. Jeff organized the recording of "Brian Wilson Presents Smile" in 2004 as well as the Smile tour and the Pet Sounds tour that preceded it. I recently was compiling all of Brian's solo material , listening to shows I had not heard in 20 years or more, and there were Jeff's falsetto vocals taking the part in the vocal stack once occupied by Carl Wilson. It was the role he also played in the Beach Boys for many years beginning in 1980 and one he returned to before his illness made singing impossible.
And you're right we are losing to many too soon… Jeff is the fourth member of the extended Beach Boys family to die in the last few years. First was Eva Leaf, longtime friend of Brian and Melinda and godmother to their children, then Nick Walusco from Brian's band who died suddenly in 2019 followed in November of 2021 by Billy Hinsche who had been a long time member of the Beach Boys touring band as well as touring with Brian in recent years. And now Jeff joins them as well as Carl and Dennis Wilson up yonder…..
And the losses will of course continue, claiming friends, heroes and enemies…. So enjoy it all while you can in the meantime…..
Mark Linett
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Thanks for the piece on Jeff. He was an incredible talent, musician and singer. He was also a blast on the road and I have many fond memories. "Fosque as Mike used to call him!
He put together the band that played at our wedding. Will miss him.
John Meglen
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When we did the first and second Beach Boys and Chicago tours together Jeffery was nothing short of a musical miracle worker. A grand guy, very accomplished player and a car guy. Owned a Cobra that was his pride and joy. We went joy riding a few time in that little car.
He used to missed. But now he gets to go play with Carl again.
Mark Hogue
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I met Jeff Foskett when I did sound for a corporate gig and Papa Doo Run Run was the after-dinner-mint band. At the time, they were better than the real Beach Boys. The next time I saw Jeff I was mixing monitors for Chicago on a Chicago-Beach Boys summer tour of sheds and state fairs. Jeff was the high harmony and also played all the lead guitar solos, but not from down stage center, where he should have been, but far upstage right. And they never lit him for his solos. So the Chicago sound and stage crew took it upon ourselves to light Jeff with our flashlights whenever he played a solo that summer. RIP Jeff.
Harold
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Thank you for acknowledging the immense talent and humanity that was Jeffrey. Amazing how small the world is. I had no idea you knew Jeff but I'm thrilled you got to know him and were close. So was I. We've been great friends and bandmates since 1980. There will never be another Jeff Foskett!
I put together a brief montage tribute here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNxzNQGxzkY
Robby Scharf
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Really really beautiful remembrance and tribute to what a beautiful person he was. He could be just lauded for his talent, but it's thoughtful that you focused on what matters most… the person he was.
Mindi Abair
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I saw Jeffrey perform dozens of times both with The Beach Boys and with Brian's band. I only had the pleasure of one conversation with him when Danny Zelisko and Chuck Morris introduced us at the 50th Reunion Tour in Phoenix back in 2012.
Although it was eleven years ago it seems like just yesterday as I clearly recall our conversation. It was brief and to the point.
After I told him how much I noticed the importance of his role in the live shows I had seen, he said, "Honestly, the first thing I say out loud every morning is 'Thank you.' I really believe I'm the luckiest man on the planet. You're going to love the show tonight but not as much as I will because I'm like a groupie onstage playing with my idols!"
Not a bad way to earn a living, huh?
I'm so sorry for your loss. He will be missed.
Coop
RICK COOPER MUSIC
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"... Jeffrey Foskett was a Beach Boys fan. The fact that he got to play with his idols? You can't ask for much more than that."
When I saw Brian perform SMiLE in 2004, a show I'd waited over 35 years to see, I watched Jeffrey a lot. Sometimes through my tears. And because he was a fan, it felt as if he represented me on that stage, and I got to experience just a little bit of what he must have been feeling.
I'm shedding more tears today. Thank you for this Bob.
John Paris
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Bob, I to am deeply saddened to hear that Jeffrey Foskett has died. I wasn't aware then, but I think the first time I saw him with The Beach Boys was back in 1981. Carl had issued his debut solo album and did not tour with them that year. That night was memorable because, I was so visibly upset about Mike Love making fun of Brian, that Bruce Johnston came over to me mid-song to ask what's wrong.
Many years later, I was at the same venue (Westbury Music Fair) to see Brian and his brilliant band (Wondermints + Jeffrey). My friends and I were standing by our seats soon after the doors opened. Out of nowhere, Jeff came over to hang out with us. It was as if he was both a friend and a fellow fan. Super nice guy and super talented. It broke my heart when he left Brian to go back with Mike and Bruce's "Beach Boys" cover band. But, it's more than devastating to lose him forever.
Love and Mercy to his family, friends and all who knew and loved him
Jeff Douglas
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I remember Jeff vividly from seeing him on stage at the Brian Wilson smile shows. He was such a joyful presence on stage. You could see how he was the glue who tied the band together. Bless that man for helping to bring such beautiful music to life on stage and on the smile recording in 2004. So truly sorry to hear of his passing.
Bill Higgins
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Bob - such an amazing tribute to an amazing guy!! I got to know Jeff when we signed Mike Love to a records and publishing deal and met him with The Beach Boys . We also released Jeff's last album "Voices". A tragic loss for music!
Ira Sallen
BMG
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My first reaction was "Really nice guy".
Berton Averre
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We have lost a lot of common friends over the last few years. But when I heard about Jeffrey yesterday, it really hurt. I couldn't explain him better than you did. We talked often while he was in Texas, until he couldn't. We had a hundred projects we wanted to do together. Put all his amazing talents aside, let's remember what a mensch he was. A gem…….
David Spero
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Thanks for writing this Bob. I had the pleasure of seeing Jeffrey on stage with Brian's band on the Pet Sounds Live tour about 20 years ago, and again a few years later. He always seemed so genuine, and what a voice.
I'm sorry your good friend is gone
Best Regards
John Caddell, Dublin, Ireland
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He made a great contribution. RIP
Ray D'Ariano
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so sad.
he was so great.
as it said, on the back of his guitar, "smile."
i think he would prefer that we try to do that, when we think about him and the brilliant role that he played in helping to deliver such good vibrations.
David Breslin
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Jeff Foskett was a pal of mine. I worked with him on a Beach Boys session with Brian, et al back in 1984 and recently did an interview with him. I am sad at his loss too. Good piece. Thx
Spencer Proffer
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Thanks for your kind words about Jeffery Foskett. I saw him sing and play with Brian Wilson many times in the last two decades and with the Beach Boys before and after that. I was really saddened to learn he passed away.
Being a big BB and Brian fanboy, I feel blessed to have heard Pet Sounds performed live three times and the complete version of Brian's Smile also. But also I heard many other shows. Brian's Gershwin show was one of my favorites. Jeffrey told me that was the hardest show he ever had to do. Another highlight was Jeffrey and two others singing "How High the Moon" with Jeff Beck, a Les Paul and Mary Ford hit from the 50s. That was during the 2013 tour.
Jeffrey was stellar. Once I watched him skillfully cover for Brian when Brian stumbled on a note or two. He was really great.
Be well. Joe Bouchard
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Hey Bob, Jeffrey was a very good friend of mine, and I loved him as much as I loved his harmonies. Everything you said about him was completely true, and I don't have words to express my sorrow. Thank you for writing about him. I send you peace and love my brother Mark Hudson
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This is beautiful..
I met Jeffery in 1982 and bonded with him immediately. What you've written here, the emotional part of it, is exactly what I've been feeling since I got the news last night.
Thanks, MC
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He did a solo album about 20 years ago called Twelve And Twelve (the only rock album I know of named after an AA book) featuring a mini Who's Who of Sunshine/Power pop guest stars: Brian Wilson, Larry Ramos, Marshall Crenshaw, etc.
My favorite track on there is the one he did with Doug Fieger, "Baby It's You" - the key line is in the first bridge: "and when you sing to me it takes me away...
you sing me to another world" - could have been written about Jeffery Foskett himself.
Vince Welsh
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I clearly remember Jeff from the audience at the beach boys reunion tour.
He legit stole the show at moments
I'm really sorry for your loss Bob.
Gregory McLoughlin
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Bob: This is really sad, but your column captured the essence of Jeffrey Foskett's remarkable role in all versions of The Beach Boys and Brian Wilson's band.
He was also the perfect choice to do the introductions on many of their tours. His intro to the 2012 50th Anniversary tour is a classic.
John Small
Fort Myers, FL
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so right about Jeff… I hope I pass long before you because your missives are the best and I would miss them.. if we ever meet, I'm sure we would be friends but I'm sorry for your loss and mine as well and as you said I too met Jeff and when you become his friend you were friends for life. what a great soul he was
Silver Hammer, LTD.
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I knew Jeff from his days in Santa Barbara, late 70's early 80's. Never called him Jeffrey, maybe that came later, same with the religion. Anyway, I met him when he was playing around town as the Pranks with Randell Kirsch or Reverie Rhythm Rockers and I like to think we were friends. He used to live on the Mesa at the Love Foundation and I would visit and check out the sound studio with a ton of records. He gave me an acetate of a Grateful Dead bootleg that I still have somewhere. That was when he was playing with Mike Love. I moved to LA but kept in touch and called him and found out he was in LA and told me to meet him at the Bonaventure Hotel. I asked him if he was playing and he said he was playing some corporate gig. When asked he just kinda said was playing with some friends and told me to sit at the soundboard and we would hook up after. So the curtain goes up and it's the Beach Boys playing to about 300 people. Talk about an intimate concert. A little later I met him at Angel Stadium for a larger Beach Boys concert and saw him in the back with a big foam cover over the microphone so no one could tell he was hitting the high notes and turning his guitar so the audience couldn't see him playing lead. We fell out of touch but the local musician network kept track, which was how I found out he passed yesterday. He was always a mensch and I can't ever remember him actually getting mad about anything. RIP Jeff.
Alan Fenton
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that's really sweet Bob..
I was just looking through all my recents texts with him.. What you didn't write is that he was one of the funniest "sons of bitches" (his words) on the planet.. We were all reflecting yesterday on our many years with Jeff. I literally travelled with world with him on tour with Brian Wilson for 25 years..
The time on the bus or in the airport lounge or the hotel were some of funniest times ever.
We would laugh and laugh and laugh.
Melinda sent me a video today.. Jeff was filming some shenanigans on the 50th BB reunion tour and although you couldn't see him in the video, he was completely cracking himself up, a laugh that came from the belly.. His laugh was distinct and contagious and it just made you feel him. Its strange we won't hear it again.
When she told Brian about his passing yesterday the first thing out of his mouth was "Tell Diana I love her" typical Brian very concerned about who he left behind.. Then he was quiet, teary and sad the whole day.. I can't imagine what he feels losing someone that loved him so and the feeling was mutual. The respect for the art and the music they shared. Brian could listen to Jeff sing all day long.. I guess we all could.
Damn cancer.. we will all miss him and his incredible biting humor and that laugh.
Jean Sievers
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I met Jeff once in 2008. Brian was touring his new record, "That Lucky Old Sun". I had tickets to the Boston show, and when they announced a meet and greet at the Faneuil Hall Newbury Comics, I skipped sophomore chemistry at Northeastern University and jumped at the chance. Jeff stood steadfastly next to Brian, almost like a gatekeeper...a trusted confidant. Already a fan, I made a point to say hi to Jeff. No other patrons in the room knew who he was. What a gentle, kind soul. He was so gracious and grateful. That quick encounter had such an impact on young me. Be kind, be real, and don't be above anything or anyone. The world lost someone special and it's our duty to spread some of Jeff's goodness. We owe it to him.
Nick Fede
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Seeing the news about Jeff sort of stopped me in my tracks yesterday, having not heard his name in some time. My little story about Jeff... I met him in early 1981 before things really took off for him. He had an ad in The Recycler selling a guitar, an old Kalamazoo electric (a low priced line of Gibson). It looked like a surf guitar, which eventually made sense. Being he was in Santa Barbara he wasn't getting a ton of response, well except for me down here in LA. Just so happened that the following weekend he was playing a gig at The Troubadour with his band The Pranks and invited me down to meet him and talk more about the guitar. Of course they killed it! Sounded like a rough and tumble version of The Beatles meets The Byrds. Hung out afterwards with his bandmates Randy Kirsch and Bo Fox and chatted awhile. He was such a nice guy, I decided to drive up to see him on the weekend where he worked at Fancy Music in Santa Barbara to get the guitar. He handed me a cassette of a live recording of The Pranks along with the Turquoise Kalamazoo guitar. We kept in touch on and off for a couple of years but eventually lost touch. I used that guitar all through the 80s and still have it today, along with that recording of his band The Pranks. So after hearing the news yesterday, I went to my boxes of hundreds of demo tapes and found it. Will find time this week to transfer and clean up The Pranks tape in Pro Tools and somehow see if I can find the other members, and see if there's a way I can post it for all those interested to take in.
Cheers,
Andy Zuckerman
The Institute Of Noise
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An incredibly sad loss. Your insights into his humanity were a great testament to the man.
I have been a fan of his for years. His cd STARS IN THE SAND have some incredible vocals and if ever there was a tribute to the sound of The Beach Boys it was the track THRU MY WINDOW. His other cds, VOICES, TRIBUTES AND RARITIES, TWELVE AND TWELVE and ELUA ALOHA (with Jeff Larson) are all gems. Too bad that many will have heard of Jeffrey Foskett only after his death.
Michael Elder
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I first saw Jeff with the Beach Boys back in the 80's. Carl Wilson was still in the band and he introduced this new, young member who was going to sing one of his favorite songs - "The Warmth Of The Sun". Up stepped this young guy who opened his mouth and filled the stadium with his incredible, beautiful tenor/falsetto voice and it was 1964 all over again. I was a big BB fan so I needed to know who this guy was. Later I found out he was from Willow Glen, the same little suburb of San Jose where I live.
Fast forward to just a few years ago I was attending an Al Jardine show at the Rio in Santa Cruz and saw Jeff in the lobby. I approached him and told him about that first concert that I saw him at and he got a kick out of it. He was very kind to me and very humble.
One of my favorite recordings of Jeff's is on the Brian Wilson "Live At The Roxy" album - his falsetto on the refrain in "Kiss Me Baby" is even more beautiful than Brian's vocal on the original studio recording.
He might not have been famous, but he was an incredible singer and a successful human being - who was loved and will be missed by many...
Patrick Whitaker
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I worked with The Beach Boys (booking their shows) in the 1980's and Jeff Foskett was already part of the band. He had a beautiful voice, almost as angelic as Carl Wilson. Those harmonies will live forever. Jeff was a sweetheart and so damn talented.
Very sad to hear this news.
ADAM KORNFELD
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I met Foskett back in my L.A. days (1987-1991), probably at The China Club.
He was a very kind, warm man. I next saw him in the early 2000s at a Brian Wilson show in Rome. He immediately said hello afterwards and intro'd me to Brian. So real, so thoughtful, so kind. He was a light in the darkness and anyone who knew him will remember who he was and how he was: genuine.
Joe D'Ambrosio
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Yes, when Brian's band has sounded its best in recent years, one thing was sure... Jeffrey was doing Brian's high parts. Flawlessly, which is saying a lot. Better than Matt Jardine, who was pretty darned good, just not as good as Foskett. With Jeffrey it sounded 100% convincing.
I met him just briefly backstage years ago, and he made a good try at helping me meet Brian, no luck, but he tried and I was grateful. Thanks for filling us in more about him, which I sure didn't know. Obviously a class act... and what a talent, played many different instruments too.
Well, he's sure on a lot of concert videos.
Pete Wernick
"Dr. Banjo"
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This is terrible.
I remember going to see The Beach Boys on their 50th Anniversary Tour. It was at a Seattle-area winery, and when I walked into the winery to buy a bottle for our group, I walked under the ramp from backstage to the stage. There was a guy sitting next to the railing on that ramp, stone still, wearing a Hawaiian shirt. It looked odd, so I moved around to get a look, and it was Brian Wilson! He was being kept backstage waiting like a prop - there were no other people around him. This was worrisome.
After playing Heroes and Villains (Brian sang it!), Mike Love told everyone (which many of us knew of course) that the song was from, "that dad-burned Smile Album" which, for a Brian fan who knows the back story is a horrible comment.
Foskett walked over to Brian (who was fantastic that night) and rubbed his back. My first thought was, "that guy is a really good guy".
Gary Lang
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So sad about Jeffery's passing, here's my Foskett story:
I subbed for Jeff in the Endless Summer Band (with Mike Love and Dean Torrance) back in the 80's for a 2 week tour hitting all the spring break beaches in Florida doing 2 and 3 shows a day in various venues. It was during a time when Love wasn't touring with the BB's but Brian was. After that we stayed in touch, we would meet on the West coast when I was out there, and meet on the East coast when he was out here, either with the Beach Boys or Brian's solo band. When we were together we would alway end up chatting about the Beatles, and how jealous Jeff was that I got to work with a Beatle, namely John Lennon, on the Double Fantasy project. Of course, I was super jealous that he was working with the BB's and Brian Wilson. He was especially bummed that I never received a Platinum record for contributing to Double Fantasy. Apparently after John was killed, the rumor was that someone didn't want any of those to go to the musicians.
Anyway, one day I received a call from Jeff, he wanted to make sure I was going to be home, since there was going to be a delivery. Apparently, Jeff had browbeaten executives from Geffen to authorize a Platinum record in my name. It proudly hangs on my wall, and it always reminds me of Jeffrey. Now, even more.
That's the kind of man Jeffery Foskett was.
Keep up the amazing work, Bob.
Eric Troyer
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(Note: Jeffrey gave me a gold record for "Smile.")
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