As we mourn the loss of Dan Foster, I want all of you to know that the life of the ace On-air personality transcends broadcasting. For those like myself who have had a close encounter with him, I will tell you that he was a true believer and supporter of the Nigerian music industry long before many of his contemporaries who are Nigerian did.

I met Dan Foster at the tail end of 2003. I was at the Cool 96.9FM studio to take his photo for a story I did on him. He welcomes me to his apartment at the station where I did the shot. He has no airs. 2004, I met producer Wole Oni who introduced the music of Gospel musician Folake Umosen. He wanted me to help him get that song Kosobabire to radio for airplay. I moved around all the radio stations in Lagos talking with all my OAP friends, most of them gave a cold shoulder. They won’t play it.

I went to Dan Foster, and after listening to the track, he put it up for play on Cool FM. With so much airplay, the song became a hit record. From all nook and cranny of the country, it became one of the biggest songs in Nigeria and Africa. To give credence to that song’s success, in 2005, it won a KORA award. Reflecting on the fact that most Nigerian OAP failed to play the song from onset until Dan Foster started playing it, that’s indicative that Dan Foster’s life transcends broadcasting. He has empathy, good ears for music, and was a true believer in Nigerian music. You are special. Rest in Peace.

Words By Sesan Adeniji: Instagram & Twitter – @sesanadeniji