Foster’s musical legacy topic of monthly meeting

WAYNESBURG – James “Fuzzy” Randolph did more than speak at this month’s Cornerstone Genealogical Society meeting. He played the bagpipes or harmonica and was accompanied by Ferd Dolfi on the piano. They performed a variety of songs from Stephen Foster, who was the topic of the meeting.
Foster was born in 1826 at Lawrenceville. As an early teenager, one of the academies he attended was Jefferson Academy in Canonsburg, which later became W&J College.
Randolph spoke about two people who had a great influence on Foster’s life while living in Pittsburgh. They were Prof. Henry Kleber from Germany, who taught him how to compose, and Dan Rice, who was black face clown entertainer. Minstrel songs also greatly influenced Foster’s life. Although a lot of his songs had a southern influence, he never lived there. He did visit the south one time while on his honeymoon.
He married Jane McDowell and they had a daughter.
During the 1850s, Foster wrote many of his most familiar songs: “Camptown Races,” “Swanee River,” “My Old Kentucky Home,” and “Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair,” which was written for his wife, but never published until he died.
Foster wasn’t a success while living. He made little profits from his works. He received $100 for “My Old Kentucky Home.”
Foster died in New York July 4, 1864. He fell and hit his head against a washstand and died in the hospital three days later. He was 37 years old and died broke. He is buried in the Allegheny Cemetery in Lawrenceville.
Today “My Old Kentucky Home” is the state song for Kentucky. “Old Folks at Home” (Swanee River) was the state song for Florida.
Foster is considered the Father of American Music and is in the Hall of Fame of American Music and the Hall of Fame in Nashville.
The next meeting will be at 6 p.m. June 11 at the Historical Society barn, with a covered dish, table service and drinks provided. Special music will be provided by the Oliver Stockdale family and Terry Cole’s Conestoga wagon will be on display. A jump rope contest will be held. Call the Society for a reservation at 724-627-5653.