Stephen Foster

Stephen Collins Foster was born July 4th , 1826 and was knows as the father of American music. He lived a short life only 38 years. Today that would be mid-life. During his years he wrote over 200 songs primarily parlor and minstrel music. Some very famous songs that would consider old home songs, many I learned in Elementary school. Songs such as

Oh! Susanna
Camptown Races
Old Folks at Home
My Old Kentucky Home
Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair
Old Black Joe
Beautiful Dreamer

Many of these songs are still popular among folk singers and those that love to listen to folk music. Identified as the most "famous songwriter of the nineteenth century"