Stephen Foster
1826-1864
Period of Music: (Romantic)
Nationality: American
Instruments he played: piano, guitar, flute
Popular songs: Oh! Susanna, Old Folks at Home, Beautiful
Dreamer, Camptown Races, My
Old Kentucky Home, Jeanie
with the Light Brown Hair
Interesting Facts:
-Stephen Foster was born on July 4th
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as America was celebrating its 50th birthday.
-Foster’s musical talent was not encouraged by his parents but he spent
most of his time with music and was always jotting down tunes.
-By the time he was 13 years old Stephen had composed a quartet for
flutes and he published his first song at age 18.
-Stephen’s parents sent him to Cincinnati,
Ohio to work as a
bookkeeper for his brother. While there he wrote and published several
songs including “Oh! Susanna”.
-After four years as a bookkeeper Foster
returned to Pittsburgh and
became one of the first American composers to support himself
as a
full-time composer writing over 200 songs.
-Stephen Foster was the first musician to be
nominated to the Hall of Fame for Great Americans.
