The Story of Murray
A native of Thornhill, in the suburban ring north of Toronto, Murray Foster was thought a surprise choice to replace Darrell Power, who left GBS in 2002. Unlike his new bandmates, Murray did not grow up surrounded by the ancient songs and traditional music. On the other hand, his strong bass skills and powerful baritone voice made him one of a handful of players who could anchor the fourth part of GBS's equation. A good ear for vocal harmonies, a dry sense of humour, and a steady back-beat have made him invaluable.
For almost ten years Murray toured with the band Moxy Fruvous, which he helped found when he was still in college. The band enjoyed great success in both Canada and the US, and made several best-selling albums. A serious student of jazz, Murray is adept at the stand-up bass. When GBS is not touring, he is a member of several alt-country and jazz combos, and he is much in demand as a bass player and arranger. Murray's favourite side project is his beloved jazz trio, the Lesters, which he has helped nurture for several years. During his spare time Murray works on various writing and producing projects for radio and television.
Like many a boy who grew up in the TO region, Murray is an avid follower of the Maple Leafs. These days he is also card-carrying supporter of the Toronto FC soccer club, as well as being a member of Liverpool FC’s army of fans. And Murray does share one other important GBS qualification with Sean, Alan and Bob --- a Bachelor of Arts in English.