"Stephen Foster, the ""father of American music"" died before age 37 in an impoverished state. In his wallet a slip of paper simply saying ""Dear friends and gentle hearts"" along with 35 cents in Civil War scrip and three pennies. My favorite work of his, ""Beautiful Dreamer,"" was published after his death. He also wrote classics ""Old Susannah,"" ""Camptown Races,"" ""My Old Kentucky Home,"" ""Old Folks at Home"" (""Swanee River""), ""Old Black Joe,"" and ""Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair."" His music…"
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