Image via WikipediaStephen Foster was America's first real star composer of pop songs back in the mid-19th century. He wrote songs that we've all heard and probably know the words to. The quaintness of his songs hearken back to a time that often seems idyllic to us--the stuff of dreams if you will.
My song choice today is a version of Foster's "Beautiful Dreamer" as performed my Roy Orbison, who is known for singing a few fine dream themed songs with his dreamy sounding voice.
Although immensely popular as a songwriter in his day, Foster died impoverished in a charity ward of a New York hospital. "Beautiful Dreamer" was published after his death.
If you're not familiar with Stephen Foster and his story, there are some fine books and documentaries that are worth exploring. He is a true American pop icon whose star has faded in our time.
