Music of Steven Collins Foster

Steven Collins Foster was born in Pennsylvania in 1826. His first songs were written by the age of 18. His first big hit, Oh! Susanna, became the theme-song of the California gold rush in 1848-9.

By 1850 (age 24) Foster had written 12 songs. He wrote primarily for the minstrel stage, but also penned ballads and dances for parlor singers and pianists.

He sought to humanize the characters in his songs, to have them care for one another, with the same longings and needs of family and home that we all share.

Steven Foster was an abolitionist who tried to portray an image of blacks as human beings, experiencing sorrow, love, grief, pain and he instructed singers in the minstrel shows to perform his songs with compassion. His intent has been misunderstood by some because his lyrics are written in dialect. He died broke in 1864.

Featured here are:

• Oh, Susanna!
• Beautiful Dreamer
• Old Folks at Home (Swanee River)
• My Old Kentucky Home
• Old Black Joe
• I Dream of Jeannie With The Light Brown Hair
• Camptown Races

More Steven Foster music can be heard at pdmusic.org

DISCLAIMER: All the songs contained in this site are believed to be in the public domain. The music and information are intended only for personal enjoyment. I have tried to give credit to every website on which I found either the midi or the lyrics for this file. If there is any material used on this site that the author objects to, it will be removed upon notification