Referred to as the "Father of American Music," Stephen Collins Foster was born in Lawrenceville Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh, on July 4, 1826.

Highly educated and influenced musically by both the minstrel shows of the day and classical composition, Stephen Foster began publishing music in 1846 while working for his brother's steamboat company in Cincinnati Ohio.

Foster returned to Pittsburgh in 1850 and joined the Christy Minstrels. It was during this time that Foster penned most of his most famous songs including, "The Camptown Races," "Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair," and "My Old Kentucky Home."

Although his songs became widely popular during his lifetime, Foster never enjoyed much monetary success. After moving to New York in 1860, Foster's fortunes personal life began to dwindle and he died on January 13, 1864 after contracting a fever and subsequently falling against a washbasin causing severe trauma to his head and neck.

Foster's remains were returned to his native Pittsburgh and interred alongside his father. His funeral was attended by many local citizens and one of his most lasting songs, "Old Folks at Home," was played as he was laid to rest.

Created by Tim Roberts, Historian, University of West Florida.