Daniel Foster aka "the Big Dawg" and "Top Dawg" was an American radio personality based in Nigeria.
He died due to complications from Covid-19 on June 17, 2020
Formerly an Idol series judge he also held a similar position with the Got Talent franchise.
Foster was brought up with his three siblings in Washington, D.C. by their father – their mother had died when he was ten – but was partly raised in Baltimore by his grandmother.
As a teenager, Foster was rebellious, but after a stint with the Marines he attended Morgan State University where he studied Broadcasting and Drama.
Foster worked with numerous radio stations including Cathy Hughes Radio One, Mix 106.5 both in America, and Virgin Island-based WTBN before moving to Nigeria in 2000 where he joined Cool FM, quickly becoming popular with Nigerian listeners, although he was constantly criticised for his constant use of the word "Ikebe" (Nigerian pidgin for derrière). A year later, he received an award for Best Radio Presenter of the year. He also won the 2003, 2004, and 2005 Nigeria Media Merit Awards for 'Best Radio Personality'.
Foster was honoured by the City People Awards as “Media Person of the year” in 2004 and 2005. He was also the creator and director of the Cool Fm Praise Jam concerts that commenced from 2004 with a total of over 22,000 people in attendance.
In September 2009, Foster left Cool FM for the newly-established Inspiration FM, but left in 2014 to join City FM.
In May 2016, Foster left City FM 105.1 to join Classic FM 97.3 radio station where he worked until his death in June 2020.
In 2007, Foster was a judge on the one-off Idols West Africa series, alongside Nigerian Dede Mabiaku and Ghanaian Abrewa Nana. During the show's run he was compared to American counterpart Randy Jackson, although he received some criticism for not attending the Ghana auditions. In 2013 he was a judge on Nigeria's Got Talent alongside actress Kate Henshaw and comedian Yibo Koko.
In 2001, Foster featured in the Nollywood movie Face of a Liar.
Foster had a son, Joshua, from his previous marriage. Married to a Nigerian, Lovina, the couple were parents of daughters Kayla and Daniella and son Somtochukwu.