Country music singer and songwriter Frank Foster will be headlining a concert for the first time in El Dorado on Jan. 18. Foster last performed in El Dorado at the 2013 MusicFest, playing on stage before Justin Moore.
The show is set for 8 p.m. at the First Financial Music Hall at the Griffin, located inside the Murphy Arts District, with doors opening at 7 p.m.
“It’s been way too long, that’s for sure,” Foster said in a phone interview with the News-Times. “I’m excited to see the venue I’m playing at and see everything else that’s going on there.”
Foster, who grew up in Louisiana, said he used to visit El Dorado often while growing up. “El Dorado has always been one of my favorite spots,” he said. “So it’s kind of surreal coming back to play a show there.”
Foster said he’s been singing professionally since 2011, but began songwriting around 2004. His first album released in 2011 was “Rowdy Reputation,” followed by “Red Wings and Six Strings” in 2012, which debuted on the Billboard Country Charts at number 30.
Foster’s newest record, “Till I’m Gone,” which is his seventh studio album, debuted at number two on the Billboard Country Album Sales chart.
“The only person ahead of us was Carrie Underwood,” he said. “And to be a virtual, what they call an underground artist, and to have turned those kind of numbers is pretty incredible.”
Foster, who is a former oilfield man, not only performs, but also acts as his own record label, management, booking agency and publishing company.
Foster said it’s not easy balancing all of his responsibilities, and working Monday through Thursday when he’s not on the road is necessary for a successful company.
“You cant have your feet propped up watching TV,” he said. “You’ve got to get in the office, you’ve got to grind, you’ve got to make phone calls and send emails and do everything that you need to do to run this label.”
Foster added that he has a great team, which also includes his wife, Ashli Foster. Foster said his wife is the one behind the scenes, who really makes everything work.
Foster said his biggest influence growing up and his all time favorite musician is Hank Williams Jr. He also listens to a lot of different musicians including Hank Williams Sr., Waylon Jennings, and on the rock and roll side, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker Band, plus others.
Foster described actually getting to meet Hank Williams Jr., who he has now played five or six shows with.
“I think getting to meet and play with some your heroes is always awesome,” Foster said. “I got to sing ‘Family Tradition’ on stage with Hank Williams Jr.”
Foster said he considered that being one of his greatest accomplishments. He also noted “Till I’m Gone” debuting as number two on the Country Album Sales charts as another great accomplishment of his.
Foster said he has always had the rambling fever since he was a kid, so traveling is his favorite part about going on tour.
“I grew up right there in Claiborne Parish, but I always had the itch to go,” he said. “I don’t know why, but I did. And I found the right career to do that. I get to travel every weekend and see new places and meet new people and it’s just a ton of fun.”
When he’s not working and on tour, Foster said he enjoys hunting, traveling and visiting family. Foster said he loves being outdoors, and hunts white-tailed deer and turkey.
Foster said something that most people don’t know about him, other than his friends growing up and family, is that he played college basketball for four years. Foster played basketball for two years at Bossier Parish Community College and two years at Pembroke, a Division II college in North Carolina.
“People may not believe that by looking at me now,” he joked. “But I promise at one time I was something to see.”
To prepare El Dorado for his show, Foster said to expect three elements: first, when he comes on stage, it’s going to be high energy rock and roll, then there’s a point in the show where he sits down and plays the acoustic guitar and interacts with the fans, then he ends his performance by ramping the energy back up, “polishing it off for the night.”
All pit tickets for the show are sold out. General admission tickets bought before the day of the show are $20. On the day of the show, general admission tickets are $30.
Tickets are available at eldomad.com or by phone at the MAD box office at 870-444-3007, or at the box office located at 101 E. Locust St.
“It’s high energy, but it’s also reflective,” he said about the show. “It’s going to be a lot of fun. As soon as they call my name and we come out there, you better have your hat on backwards.”
Kaitlyn Rigdon can be reached at 870-862-6611 or krigdon@ eldoradonews.com.