“My favorite artist? The whole package? Talent, personality, professionalism, a good nature, a good person?  Well, I’d have to say … ummmmm”
  
Producer/composer/songwriter/singer David Foster stopped right there. He wouldn’t tell me! But I think he was talking about Celine Dion. He certainly grinned impishly when I put forward her name.
  
Since 1976 Foster has worked with, enhanced and burnished the likes of — this is only a partial list — Barbra Streisand, Cher, Madonna, Josh Groban, Renee Olstead, Olivia Newton-John, Mariah Carey, Michael Bublé, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Dolly Parton, Michael Jackson, Andrea Bocelli, Donna Summer.
  
I’m sure all of these singers — especially the ladies — think that they are Foster’s fave. He has that ability to focus all his attention on whomever he is working with, and make them feel quite special. I experienced the charm of his personality myself last week, when I met David at the El Rio Grande restaurant on East 38th Street. He was accompanied by Warner Records PR queen Liz Rosenberg. They’d been up since dawn, promoting his new CD, “Hit Man: David Foster & Friends.” In fact, Liz had been guiding David through the shoals of TV and radio appearances for two weeks. It was close to the end of their joint junketing. They were tired!
    
When the handsome David slipped into the booth at El Rio he laughed and put his hands in front of his face, “Please, you’re not going to make me talk more about myself? I’m so sick of me!” He turned to Liz: “The world knows enough, by now, don’t you think?” Liz’s cell phone was jangling every two minutes with the latest from the Madonna front. She was distracted to say the least, saying: “Eat, drink, mention the CD!”
  
The funny thing was, David really didn’t want to talk about himself; at least not the work stuff. “I’m much more comfortable as the guy behind the scenes. Sometimes attention can be embarrassing.” He looked at Liz Rosenberg. She laughed, “That’s a hilarious approach to success in the music industry.” Her cell rang again. She looked at it like it was going to bite her. “You’re the only embarrassed person I know. And so many others should be.”
    
Pressed to comment on the CD/DVD package — a live concert recorded in Las Vegas — David said, “It was kind of like directing and orchestrating my own funeral — getting all these artists together for one night to honor me.” (The video version will soon air on PBS.) He talked a lot about life rushing by, and how everybody has a third act, and they should never waste a minute getting to it. David is one of those people who automatically assumes everybody has a  second act in them — he’s very optimistic. “I’m 59, so I figure I have about 20 good summers left. I’m not going to piss away anything now.” I told David that speaking from my own experience, he was being somewhat conservative about "good summers."
  
Would his third act be another marriage? “Uh, no. Three is enough. Actually, if it weren’t for the sex, I’d think I’d probably marry a man. Two guys — it seems easier. But I couldn’t make the ‘big commitment!’” (His current lady is the beautiful Yolanda Hadid.)
  
David has five — count ‘em five — daughters. His sister, Jaymes, is the woman who made Clay Aiken a baby daddy. He is comfortable with women and most other aspects of life and love. Of his sister’s choice, he did say, “She was married for 23 years and always wanted children. The marriage ended. She and Clay were best friends and they found a way to have this beautiful baby. It’s great. She is a phenomenal mother. And they are all  very happy.”   

He’s done some TV, most prominently the reality show, “The Princes of Malibu,” in which he attempted to convince his spoiled, slacker, step-sons, Brandon and Brody Jenner, to … stop slacking. Last we looked, the boys remain famous for being famous. What about some real acting for David Foster? He is so genial and outgoing.