The Resume

(July 4, 1826-January 13, 1864)
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Wrote 'Oh! Susanna,' 'Camptown Races,' 'My Old Kentucky Home,' 'Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair,' 'Old Black Joe,' 'Beautiful Dreamer' and 'Old Folks at Home' (aka 'Swanee River')
Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame (1970)

Why he might be annoying:

He wrote for minstrel shows.
The original lyrics of 'My Old Kentucky Home' and 'Old Folks at Home' use the word 'darkies.'
Although many of his songs have Southern themes, he visited the South only once, a trip to New Orleans on his honeymoon.
A year after he moved to New York City, his wife and daughter left him and returned to Pittsburgh.
He died worth 38 cents.

Why he might not be annoying:

He was frequently ripped off by sheet music publishers and saw little money from his songs.
Many of his songs remain popular a century and a half after he wrote them.
'My Old Kentucky Home' was named state song of Kentucky (1928) and 'Old Folks at Home' was named state song of Florida (1935).
The record 'Beautiful Dreamer: The Songs of Stephen Foster' won the Grammy for Best Traditional Folk Album (2005).

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Blender Magazine's 50 Most Awesomely Dead Rock Stars [March 2006] (Ranked: 49)
• Born on the 4th of July (Ranked: 1826)
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 13]
• Hall of Fame for Great Americans (Ranked: 1940)
• I am on a U.S. Postage Stamp [D-G]
• I Died in Debt
• I Died in My 30s (Ranked: 37)
• Profiles 23251-23500 (Ranked: 23433)
• Satirized on Rocky and Bullwinkle
• The Chipmunks Covered My Song
• Vanilla Ice References

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 93 Votes: 46.24% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 8 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 18 Votes: 11.11% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 12 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 9 Votes: 11.11% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 8 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 25 Votes: 48.00% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 19 Votes: 42.11% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 15 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 27 Votes: 40.74% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 83 Votes: 37.35% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 38 Votes: 50.0% Annoying