George "Pops" Foster

b. 18 May 1892, McCall, Louisiana, USA, d. 30 October 1969, San Francisco, California, USA. One of the pioneers of string bass playing, Foster began his musical career as a cellist and also occasionally played brass bass. After performing in New Orleans in the early years of the century with Kid Ory, King Oliver and others, he joined Fate Marable's riverboat band in 1917. He was also with the unit Ory led in California in the early 20s. Foster spent the mid-20s in the St. Louis area and by the end of the decade he was in New York working with Luis Russell. He stayed with Russe...