Stephen Foster
American songwriter (1826-1864) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Stephen Collins Foster (July 4, 1826 - January 13, 1864) was an American composer. He was the first American composer to be paid for his music. He was born in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania which is now part of Pittsburgh. His parents were wealthy. His most well-known and successful song is "Oh! Susanna" which was first performed in the Eagle Ice Cream Saloon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1847.[1]
Stephen Foster | |
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Born | Stephen Collins Foster (1826-07-04)July 4, 1826 Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Died | January 13, 1864(1864-01-13) (aged 37) New York City, New York, U.S. |
Resting place | Allegheny Cemetery |
Nationality | American |
Occupation | Songwriter |
Spouse | Jane Denny MacDowell |
Children | Marion (daughter) |
Parent(s) | William Barclay Foster Elisa Clayland [Tomlinson] Foster |
Foster married Jane Denny MacDowell in July 1850, They had one daughter named Marion. The marriage was troubled and the couple separated. Foster moved to New York City to do professional songwriting. He died in New York City on January 13, 1864 at the age of 37.
Foster wrote mainly in three musical genres: plantation songs ("Oh! Susanna", "Camptown Races"), parlor songs ("Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair", "Beautiful Dreamer") and Civil War songs ("We Are Coming, Father Abraham").