- published: 17 May 2013
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Stephen Collins Foster (July 4, 1826 – January 13, 1864), known as "the father of American music", was an American songwriter primarily known for his parlor and minstrel music. Foster wrote over 200 songs; among his best-known are "Oh! Susanna", "Camptown Races", "Old Folks at Home", "My Old Kentucky Home", "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair", "Old Black Joe", and "Beautiful Dreamer". Many of his compositions remain popular more than 150 years after he wrote them. His compositions are thought to be autobiographical. He has been identified as "the most famous songwriter of the nineteenth century", and may be the most recognizable American composer in other countries. His compositions are sometimes referred to as "childhood songs" because they are included in the music curriculum of early education. Most of his handwritten music manuscripts are lost but copies printed by publishers of his day can be found in various collections.
Various biographers have published works on the life of Stephen Collins Foster, but details can differ widely. In addition, Foster wrote very little biographical information himself. His brother Morrison Foster destroyed much of the information about Stephen that he judged to reflect negatively upon the family.
Actors: Barry W. Levy (actor), Darren Shahlavi (actor), John Sereda (composer), Nastasha Baron (writer), Nastasha Baron (producer), Marlene Rodgers (miscellaneous crew), Patti Poskitt (producer), Frazier Hicks (actor), Julia Shaw (actress),
Genres: Family,Actors: Adele Palmer (costume designer), Allan Dwan (director), James Kirkwood (actor), Isabel Randolph (actress), Andrew Tombes (actor), Lynn Bari (actress), Louise Beavers (actress), Richard Alexander (actor), Glenn Strange (actor), Tom Steele (actor), Richard Reeves (actor), Percy Helton (actor), Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer (actor), Fred Allen (editor), Dick Simmons (actor),
Genres: Biography, Drama, Musical,Actors: Harold McLernon (editor), Douglas Kennedy (actor), Jack Scholl (director), Art Gilmore (actor), Craig Stevens (actor), Gordon Hollingshead (producer), Jack Scholl (writer), The Melody Makers (actor), The Melody Makers (actor),
Plot: A short in the Memories From Melody Lane series. This dramatization of 'Stephen Foster (III)' (qv)'s life shows how the songwriter came to write four of his most popular tunes: "My Old Kentucky Home", "Old Folks at Home", "Beautiful Dreamer", and " De Camptown Races". After each song is performed, the audience is invited to sing along with the Melody Makers as the lyrics are displayed on title cards.
Keywords: memories-from-melody-lane, sing-alongActors: Craig Stevens (actor), Gordon Hollingshead (producer), LeRoy Prinz (director),
Plot: In this Vitaphone featurette, released first in 1944 and reissued in 1953, Craig Stevens plays the famed American composer, Stephen Foster. Using flashbacks, this two-reel short traces the life of Foster from the age of six until he dies old, penniless and mostly forgotten. The film peeks in while Foster is penning such songs as "Oh, Susanna", "Camptown Races" and "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair."
Genres: Drama, Music, Short,Actors: Charles Halton (actor), John Hamilton (actor), Herbert Ashley (actor), Jesse Graves (actor), Matthew 'Stymie' Beard (actor), Felix Bressart (actor), Chick Chandler (actor), Georgie Billings (actor), James Blaine (actor), Don Ameche (actor), Hal K. Dawson (actor), George P. Breakston (actor), Harry Depp (actor), Edward Earle (actor), Harry Hayden (actor),
Plot: More fictional than factual biography of Stephen Foster. Songwriter from Pittsburgh falls in love with the South, marries a Southern gal (Leeds), then is accused of sympathizing when the Civil War breaks out.
Genres: Drama,Actors: Ferdinand Munier (actor), George Morrell (actor), William Frawley (actor), Smiley Burnette (actor), Bob Card (actor), Gilbert Emery (actor), James Bush (actor), Harry Harvey (actor), Al Herman (actor), Joseph Cawthorn (actor), Earle Hodgins (actor), Lloyd Hughes (actor), Cornelius Keefe (actor), Frankie Marvin (actor), Clarence Muse (actor),
Genres: Biography, Musical, Romance, War,The Campptown ladies sing this song,
Doo-da, Doo-da
The Camptown racetrack's five miles long
Oh, de doo-da day
Goin' to run all night
Goin' to run all day
I bet my money on a bob-tailed nag
Somebody bet on the gray
Oh, the long tailed filly and the big black horse,
Doo-da, doo-da
Come to a mud hole and they all cut across,
Oh, de doo-da day
Goin' to run all night
Goin' to run all day
I bet my money on a bob-tailed nag
Somebody bet on the gray
I went down there with my hat caved in,
Doo-da, doo-da
I came back home with a pocket full of tin
Oh, de doo-da day
Goin' to run all night
Goin' to run all day
I bet my money on a bob-tailed nag
Somebody bet on the gray
Longer Version
The Camptown ladies sing this song
Doo-dah! Doo-dah!
The Camptown racetrack's five miles long
Oh! doo-dah day!
Goin' to run all night
Goin' to run all day
I bet my money on a bob-tailed nag
Somebody bet on the gray
I come down there with my hat caved in
Doo-dah! doo-dah!
I go back home with a pocket full of tin
Oh! de doo-dah day!
Goin' to run all night
Goin' to run all day
I bet my money on a bob-tailed nag
Somebody bet on the gray
The long tail filly and the big black hoss
Doo-dah! Doo-dah!
They fly the track and they both cut across
Oh! de doo-dah day!
Goin' to run all night
Goin' to run all day
I bet my money on a bob-tailed nag
Somebody bet on the gray
The blind hoss sticken in a big mud hole
Doo-dah! doo-dah!
Can't touch bottom with a ten foot pole
Oh! de doo-dah day!
Goin' to run all night
Goin' to run all day
I bet my money on a bob-tailed nag
Somebody bet on the gray
Old muley cow come on to the track
Doo-dah! Doo-dah!
The bob-tail fling her over his back
Oh! de doo-dah day!
Goin' to run all night
Goin' to run all day
I bet my money on a bob-tailed nag
Somebody bet on the gray
Then fly along like a rail-road car
Doo-dah! doo-dah!
Runnin' a race with a shootin' star
Oh! de doo-dah day!
Goin' to run all night
Goin' to run all day
I bet my money on a bob-tailed nag
Somebody bet on the gray
See them flyin' on a ten mile heat
Doo-dah! Doo-dah!
Round the race track, then repeat
Oh! doo-dah day!
Goin' to run all night
Goin' to run all day
I bet my money on a bob-tailed nag
Somebody bet on the gray
I win my money on the bob-tail nag
Doo-dah! doo-dah!
I keep my money in an old tow-bag
Oh! de doo-dah day!
Goin' to run all night
Goin' to run all day
I bet my money on a bob-tailed nag
Somebody bet on the gray