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Stephen Foster was a songwriter, composer and poet. Stephen Foster was born in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania, United States on July 4, 1826. Death is recorded on January 13, 1864, at the age of 37. Schooling on record includes Washington & Jefferson College. Notable works include Oh! Susanna, Old Folks at Home and Old Black Joe.
My Take
For me, Stephen Foster is the ultimate test of what songwriting greatness really means. His melodies have become so woven into the fabric of American life that many people hum them without ever knowing his name, and I think that anonymity is the highest honor a composer can earn. It moves me that he wrote over 200 songs yet died poor at just 37, often called the father of American music while struggling himself. There is something profoundly humbling about creating work that outlives you by 150 years. I regard Foster as a genuine, if tragically undervalued, genius of the Romantic era.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Stephen Foster
- Name (Japanese)
- スティーブン・フォスター
- Reading
- すてぃーぶん・ふぉすたー
- Born
- July 4, 1826 – January 13, 1864
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Cancer / Dog
- Origin
- Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania, United States
- Occupation
- songwriter / composer / poet / lyricist / chansonnier
2. Background
- University
- Washington & Jefferson College
3. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Oh! Susanna | — | |
| Notable work | Old Folks at Home | — | |
| Notable work | Old Black Joe | — |
4. Links
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-19
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Stephen Foster born?
Born July 4, 1826.
When did Stephen Foster die?
Died January 13, 1864, aged 37.
Where was Stephen Foster from?
Stephen Foster was from Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania, United States.
What did Stephen Foster do?
Stephen Foster worked as songwriter, composer, poet, lyricist, chansonnier.
What was Stephen Foster known for?
Notable works include Oh! Susanna, Old Folks at Home, Old Black Joe.
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