It's not just country music that has hot young talent coming out of Nashville these days. Class of 2000 showcases some of the best in the contemporary Christian and pop worlds. Plus One is one contemporary Christian group that keeps their faith vibrantly alive in song and dance. The group consists of five attractive young men ranging in age from 17 to 21. They perform their single, "Written on My Heart" from their debut album The Promise. Plus One also shows off some swift dance steps dressed in dark cargo pants with each of them wearing a different colored T-shirt.

Special Feature: David Foster Wades Deeper
By Jackie Chapman
Many may be wondering why the pop-music icon, Grammy-winning songwriter/producer, David Foster, has suddenly jumped into the Christian music industry with the signing of Plus One to his label, 143 Records. Actually, he's been wading in Christian music for some time now.
"Christian music really found me," explains Foster. "I've worked with BeBe and CeCe Winans, Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant and Carman in the past. So, it's not a stretch."
Not a stretch this time, especially-Plus One was practically dropped in his lap.
Jaymes Foster-Levy of 143 Records and Foster's sister, saw the group perform in San Francisco last summer. "I heard them sing and knew they had amazing talent," comments Foster-Levy.
She took a demo of Plus One to her brother and, "I didn't even know they were a Christian group when I first heard them. But it seemed like a bonus when I found out," comments Foster.
Foster likes to be around the Christian music world. "When I produced Carman, I got this incredibly great feeling. Being around him and the music makes you feel so good about yourself. It makes you want to be a better person."
Although Foster has enjoyed working with big name Christian acts in the past, he's never released one on his label. So, 143 went shopping for a Christian act.
Before Plus One was even formed, Foster signed a Christian band to 143 Records, but "in true Hollywood fashion, they moved out to L.A. and decided not to do a Christian record," relates Foster. So he let them go, which opened a door with Barry Landis, Atlantic Christian's Vice President/General Manager, to do a project with his new act-Plus One.
"We had a great time in the studio working on the album. Plus One created great songs without my help," remarks Foster.
Plus One isn't so quick to write off the talents of Foster and his influence on them.
"David really got to know our voices," recalls Nate Cole. "As we recorded, he encouraged us and told us that we were beginning to sing more as a group."
Admitting they were nervous at first, the guys of Plus One soon found a man in Foster who was down-to-earth, funny…and honest.
"David would tell us, 'Strive to be like Take 6,' or 'That was very…mediocre,'" remembers Nathan Walters. "But when he compliments you, you learn to take it because you know he really means it."
Foster takes this all as a day's work. "As a producer, my job at the end of the day is to get a great vocal," he admits. "There are two ways to do that. One, the man in you can buckle down and say, 'Listen here; do this,' and you get the vocal. Or, two, you play the psychologist on the days the guys are tired and sick, and you work the vocal out of them."
This understanding of his role as a producer and his committed work ethic have brought Foster to his level of success.
"What I like about myself is my work ethic. You can forget all the gold records and hit songs. One commitment I've made is that whoever I work with in the studio or sign to my label is drug-free. I've made a commitment not to drink or do drugs. Anybody I've seen with a substance abuse problem over the decades has only come to ruin," says Foster.
Although he may have seen other careers end, his continues to soar. In addition to producing records and running a label, Foster is working on several musical projects.
"I've got four songs done already for an animated feature called The Greatest King. I'm working with Al Kasha on it for CBN. Plus One will be on the soundtrack. But we're still a couple years down the road from completion," states Foster.
He is also working on a project with Dr. Robert Schuller. Foster has been given the opportunity to write Glory of Creation with him.
"I've been on Dr. Schuller's program ["The Hour of Power"] before. People ask me, 'Why do you go on there? Don't you think that will hurt your image?' I don't know why they think it'll hurt my image. First, Dr. Schuller is a great man and I get the opportunity to do the show and play with a full orchestra. I don't see any downside to that."
It's a wonder why this man has earned so much respect from those inside and outside the pop industry. He takes risks, trying a little bit of everything, doing the unexpected. Although his choice of projects may be criticized by some as strange or unwise, David Foster continues to give only the best of himself to both the Christian and secular markets, producing great music for everyone along the way.