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The second problem was financial. Foster, like Irving Berlin a century later, counted every nickel and knew where it went. After having Oh! Susanna pirated out from under him, he took great care to make sure that the royalties from the sales of his sheet music went to his bank account, not somebody elses. That of course assumed the honesty of his publishers in a rough business. He made nothing from performing rights. Foster insisted on his own handwritten contracts with his publishers, and they are the earliest known contracts between publishers and individual songwriters in America.
This tune is best known for Irish tenor John McCormacks 1934 performance. As a student of Schuberts songs, I cant help but notice that the piano accompaniment sounds a lot like his classic song Alinde. That German music teacher was thorough!
Foster: Sweetly She Sleeps, My Alice Fair
Political correctness has kept this one under wraps in the modern era, which is why the melody is often heard, but not the lyrics. Its a great toe-tapper.
Beautiful and contemplative. This is one from the heart.
This is the song with its original, politically incorrect lyrics. It was not a hit during Fosters lifetime, but became popular in the early 20th Century. Its now his most popular tune and the Florida state song.
A fine song, beautifully sung.
This is another one of his plantation songs.
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I make sure my little rock stars learn at LEAST Four Chords!
hahahahaha