Walter Afanasieff: From the Foster City to “All I Want for Christmas Is You”
It’s a tale of local talent hitting the big time, and it starts right here in Foster City. While the world knows Walter Afanasieff (@wafanasieff) as the Grammy Award–winning producer, songwriter, and composer behind global hits for superstars like Mariah Carey and Celine Dion, his musical journey was fundamentally shaped by the early 1970s jazz-rock scene in Foster City.
Vladimir Nikitich Afanasiev (Russian: Владимир Никитич Афанасьев) was born on February 10, 1958 in São Paulo, Brazil. His father was Russian, while his mother, who was from Harbin, China, was of Russian-Chinese descent. When Afanasieff was four or five, his family moved to the United States.
Afanasieff’s story in Foster City centers on The Blessed Realm, a local jazz-rock band he helped found. This group of ambitious young musicians—including Chris Camozzi, Fred Jefferson, Brian Siberell, Mickey Martin, and Afanasieff himself—honed their craft on local stages, building a foundation of collaboration and artistry that would influence their careers for decades.
The band’s legacy is preserved in local history, marked by their final performance on a memorable Valentine’s Day. As chronicled in a newspaper clipping titled “‘Blessed Realm’ Last Show,” the group played their farewell set on February 14, 1973, at the Foster City Recreation Center. It was a pivotal moment: the end of a local chapter that would, unexpectedly, lead to the world stage.
That leap from the Foster City Recreation Center to the global forefront of music is nothing short of extraordinary. Afanasieff’s resume now features a catalogue of international successes, most famously his collaboration with Mariah Carey, which produced the timeless, ubiquitous holiday anthem, “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” He also worked on massive hits with artists like Whitney Houston, Barbra Streisand, and Michael Bolton, securing his place as one of music’s most celebrated producers.
Yet, even after achieving worldwide fame, the roots planted in Foster City remain strong. Forty years after their final gig, members of The Blessed Realm reunited to celebrate not just the music they created, but the enduring friendships and shared musical heritage that began right here in our hometown.
Walter Afanasieff’s journey stands as a proud testament to the talent fostered in Foster City, proving that sometimes, the road to international success starts on a very local stage.