HEADING FOR CAMPTOWN!

    SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 2024

      HEADING FOR CAMPTOWN!

   Don't be surprised to see me with my

harmonica today playing a few bars of

"Oh Susanna!" You see this is Stephen

Foster Day! It was so designated by the

President in 1951 although not officially

observed until 1967. Stephen Foster was

know as "The Father of American Music."

He turned out hit after hit with tunes such

as Beautiful Dreamer, I Dream of Jeanie

With the Light Brown Hair, and After The

Ball to name just a few. The State of Kentucky

adopted one of his tunes, My Old Kentucky

Home, as its official state song! But Stephen

was a Pennsylvania boy! He was born in

Lawrenceville which is now a part of

Pittsburgh but lived and studied in the

Towanda/Athens area for several years.

His brother William worked in Towanda,

right along Route 6. He was living with

his brother when he composed Camptown 

Races, Camptown is just a few miles outside

of Towanda and they still hold races there.

These days, however, they are foot rather

than horse races. It's kind of ironic that

Stephen Foster Day is observed on the date

of his death. January 13th. He was only 37!

I guess they felt is birthdate was already too busy

That was July 4th! Hope you're humming

some Stephen Foster tunes today and that

all your NEWS is good!