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Stephen Foster
American composer and songwriter (1826–1864) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see Stephen Foster (disambiguation).
Stephen Collins Foster (July 4, 1826 – January 13, 1864), known as "the father of American music", was an American composer known primarily for his parlour and minstrel music during the Romantic period. He wrote more than 200 songs, including "Oh! Susanna", "Hard Times Come Again No More", "Camptown Races", "Old Folks at Home" ("Swanee River"), "My Old Kentucky Home", "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair", "Old Black Joe", and "Beautiful Dreamer", and many of his compositions remain popular today.
Quick Facts Born, Died ...
Stephen Foster | |
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![]() Foster circa 1860 | |
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, U.S. |
Resting place | Allegheny Cemetery (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.) |
Monuments | Stephen Foster Memorial |
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Years active | 1844–1864 |
Agent(s) | Various sheet music publishers and brother, Morrison Foster |
Known for | First American full-time songwriter[2][3] |
Notable work | "Beautiful Dreamer" "Camptown Races" "Hard Times Come Again No More" "My Old Kentucky Home" "Oh! Susanna" "Old Black Joe" "Old Folks at Home” among others... |
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Spouse | Jane McDowell Foster Wiley |
Children | Marion |
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