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STEPHEN FOSTER

4thJuly 1824 --- 10thJanuary 1864

This is what I know of this composer.

Stephen Foster born in July 1826 and died January 1864, he was one of America's principal and most influential songwriters.
Born in   Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania, on the 4 July 1826.  His interest in music began from a early age, he was primarily self
taught, he incorporated within his music characteristics of Irish melodies and , German songs etc. His first song from what  I
can gather was "Open Thy Lattice", Love" (1844), from a poem by George P. Morris.

Foster's earliest songs were those  he heard performed in minstrel shows. One of his first big hits was, "Oh! Susanna" (1847)
Foster's career as a songwriter was launched. This song   became associated with the  California Gold Rush of 1849.  In 1850
he then  composed one of his most famous  songs "De Camptown Races" and  played by  a group known  by the  name of the
Christy Minstrels  (founded by  E.P. Christy), I believe was  the most famous minstrel troupe of the day.  In the same  year of
the song above in 1850 Foster married Jane Denny McDowell, Fosters created a romantic ballad known to us as "Jeanie with
the Light Brown Hair" (1854) is the most famous of his songs, he had composed this for his bride.

In 1851, Foster  composed another famous  song which we know as "Swanee River"   the song had sold over  130,000 copies
making it  one of  Foster's  most  popular  and successful  compositions.  Foster's also composed  more famous  melodies  like
"My Old Kentucky Home" (1853), was also adopted as an official state anthem.

Foster financial situation  had became unstable,  because of his  lack of copyright  protection for his songs,  also  his personal
life also suffered, he just did not get on with his wife and the couple separated in 1854, and with his declining  health  mainly
due to alcoholism, the quality of Foster's creative output greatly lessen. Then in the 1860s, he focused mostly on sentimental
ballads, and of the many songs penned during his last years, only "Beautiful Dreamer" (1864)  has achieved the status  of his
earlier works. He died penniless on 10 January 1864.

R.Steven Ritchie

Last Updated on 2017
By Steven Ritchie

And now for the Music

"Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair". Sequencer Unknown

"My Old Kentucky Home". Sequencer Unknown

"De Camptown Races". Sequencer Unknown

"Swanee River". Sequencer Sequencer Unknown

"Susanna". Sequencer Sequencer Unknown

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