S.O.D. "Oh Susanna" by Stephen Foster
6/16/2015 Considered to be the father of American music, Foster is known for such popular minstrels as "Camptown Races," "Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair," "Beautiful Dreamer" and "Old Folks at Home." The song was published in 1848 and trying to make a living as a songwriter was next to impossible during that era, with Foster earning only $100 which today would be nearly $2500.
From 1848 to 1851 "Oh Susanna" was published more than 20 times by different so called musicians. Not many copyright laws back then and Foster received nothing from any of these people. Due to the songs popularity however, the publishing company of Firth, Pond & Company offered him a two cent royalty rate per copy of sheet music sold, making him America's first professional songwriter. This was the first American song that sold over 5000 copies topping out at more than 100,000 copies.
It became the theme of the California gold rush and the "Miner 49ers." The original lyrics are hardly sung anymore, especially the third verse which was horribly racist. In those days this type of lyric was common.
Foster only lived to be 37 years old and was inducted into the songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970 and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2010. There are memorials representing him in many states. "My Old Kentucky Home" has been announced as the official Kentucky State song and "Old Folks at Home" is the official Florida State song. How fitting.