Stephen Foster, born in 1826 and passing away in 1864, holds a significant place in American musical history, largely due to his pioneering role as the nation's first fully professional songwriter. His journey to this groundbreaking status was heavily influenced by the immense popularity and eventual financial arrangements surrounding his iconic folk song, "Oh! Susanna." This song, written in 1847 and published in 1848, not only became one of the most
popular American songs ever written but also served as a catalyst for Foster's career, transforming him from a bookkeeper with a musical hobby into a dedicated professional artist.
From Bookkeeper to Songwriter
In 1846, Stephen Foster was living in Cincinnati, Ohio, working as a bookkeeper. It was during this period that he composed "Oh! Susanna," a song that would soon capture the public's imagination. The song, which describes themes related to the South, was likely created for his men's club, indicating that his early songwriting efforts were perhaps more for personal enjoyment or small social circles rather than commercial ambition. The first public performance of "Oh! Susanna" occurred on September 11, 1847, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at Andrews' Eagle Ice Cream Saloon, performed by a local quintet. This initial exposure marked the beginning of the song's rise to prominence.
The song was first published in 1848 by W. C. Peters & Co. in Cincinnati. Its widespread success was largely fueled by minstrel troupe performances, which were a dominant form of entertainment at the time. These performances propelled "Oh! Susanna" into a national sensation. The song's popularity was so vast that it led to a chaotic copyright situation, with at least twenty-one different copyright registrations and publications occurring between February 25, 1848, and February 14, 1851, as various entities sought to capitalize on its success.
The Turning Point: Professionalism Through Royalties
Despite the song's overwhelming popularity, Stephen Foster's initial financial gain from "Oh! Susanna" was quite modest. He reportedly earned only $100 for the song, an amount equivalent to approximately $2,774 in 2016 dollars. This limited income was partly due to the common practice of many publishers not paying royalties for the works they released. The music industry at the time lacked the structured royalty systems that would later become standard, making it difficult for composers to profit significantly from their creations.
However, the undeniable commercial success of "Oh! Susanna" eventually caught the attention of the publishing firm Firth, Pond & Company. Recognizing the song's massive sales potential, they offered Foster a groundbreaking deal: a royalty rate of two cents per copy of sheet music sold. This offer was a game-changer. It provided Foster with a stable and recurring income stream directly tied to the sales of his work, a novel concept for many composers of his era. This financial incentive was crucial in convincing Stephen Foster to dedicate himself entirely to songwriting, thereby becoming the first fully professional songwriter in the United States. His decision paved the way for future generations of musicians to pursue their craft as a viable career, fundamentally shaping the development of American popular music.
