Stephen Collins Foster was one of America's most beloved songwriters and the country's first professional musician. Foster's "Old Folks at Home" was completed only after his publisher found the river with two syllables that suited the young writers fancy. Foster wanted to write about people that lived their lives along a river bank, and the Swanee (really Suwanee) was his choice. This arrangement opens with the lovely melody that Foster knew would be one of his most popular works.
George Gershwin's first major contribution, popularized by Al Jolson, is also about this well-known river. It helped Jolson become what some call the world's greatest entertainer, and Gershwin to continue to the heights he and his wife achieved.
Please enjoy this arrangement as they are featured separately and then partnered at the end!