Stephen Collins Foster has become known as the originator of most of America's true folk songs. His output numbers over 175 songs written for minstrel shows and other uses. Camptown Races celebrates the events at camp meetings when the slaves, freed from service in the fields, were at last free to celebrate the joys of life and living. more...Jeannie With the Light Brown Hair was composed in 1854 and didn't catch the public's attention. In 1940, long after Foster's death, it reached number one in the popular music hit parade and became Foster's biggest seller. The Glendy Burk is a river song and tells of the boat's captain and crew and the singer's wish to travel upriver away from his life of toil. Eulalie is, as the lyrics state, "mournful music, sad and sweet" that laments the loss of a loved one. Oh! Susanna was composed sometime prior to 1849 and was an immediate success, most probably due to being sung across the country by the hopefuls rushing to California during the gold rush years.
