AllMovie

Academy Award-winner Ken Darby serves as musical director of this biopic detailing the remarkable life of beloved melody maker Stephen Foster, whose songs "Oh! Susanna" and "Camptown Races", among others, were still being sung by Americans from coast to coast over 150 years after his death at age 37. As a young boy, Foster's remarkable gift for song was strongly discouraged by his father. Though young Foster would grow up to become a bookkeeper, his passion for music ultimately led him to gain recognition as a professional songwriter. In the years that followed, his songs "Swanee River" and "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair" became instant classics. And though Foster would die in relative obscurity, his wealth of creativity would ensure his immortality though an impressive collection of unforgettable melodies.