Gwen Foster

Gwin Stanley Foster (December 25, 1903 – November 25, 1954), also known as Gwen or Gwyn, was an old-time/country harmonica and guitar player who was known for work in The Carolina Tar Heels and the Blue Ridge Mountain Entertainers.

He was born in Caldwell, North Carolina, and died in Gastonia, North Carolina, the son of Joe Foster and Myra Elizabeth (nee Day). He worked in the textile mills, where he met banjoist Coble "Dock" Walsh, and they formed the band.

Birth and Death Data: Born December 25, 1903, Died November 25, 1954 (Gastonia)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1921 - 1939

Roles Represented in DAHR: harmonica, guitar, vocalist, composer, songwriter, arranger, yodeling, whistling

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 41 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-37927 10-in. 2/19/1927 There ain't no use working so hard Carolina Tar Heels Vocal and instrumental duet instrumentalist, guitar, harmonica, vocalist, arranger  
Victor BVE-37928 10-in. 2/19/1927 Her name was Hula Lou Carolina Tar Heels Vocal and instrumental duet instrumentalist, guitar, harmonica, vocalist, arranger  
Victor BVE-37929 10-in. 2/19/1927 Bring me a leaf from the sea Carolina Tar Heels Vocal and instrumental duet instrumentalist, guitar, harmonica, vocalist, arranger  
Victor BVE-37930 10-in. 2/19/1927 I'm going to Georgia Carolina Tar Heels Vocal and instrumental duet instrumentalist, guitar, harmonica, vocalist  
Victor BVE-39793 10-in. 8/11/1927 Good-bye, my Bonnie, good-bye Carolina Tar Heels Vocal and instrumental duet instrumentalist, guitar, harmonica, songwriter  
Victor BVE-39794 10-in. 8/11/1927 The bulldog down in sunny Tennessee Carolina Tar Heels Vocal and instrumental duet instrumentalist, guitar, harmonica, vocalist  
Victor BVE-39795 10-in. 8/11/1927 Shanghai in China Carolina Tar Heels Vocal and instrumental duet instrumentalist, guitar, harmonica, vocalist  
Victor BVE-39796 10-in. 8/11/1927 Black pine waltz Gwen Foster Harmonica solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar, composer  
Victor BVE-39809 10-in. 8/15/1927 My mamma scolds me for flirting Carolina Tar Heels Vocal and instrumental duet instrumentalist, guitar, harmonica  
Victor BVE-39810 10-in. 8/15/1927 I love my mountain home Carolina Tar Heels Vocal and instrumental duet instrumentalist, guitar, harmonica, vocalist  
Victor BVE-39811 10-in. 8/15/1927 When the good Lord sets you free Carolina Tar Heels Vocal and instrumental duet instrumentalist, guitar, harmonica, vocalist  
Victor BVE-39812 10-in. 8/15/1927 Wilkes County blues Gwen Foster Harmonica solo instrumentalist, harmonica, composer  
Victor BVE-41920 10-in. 2/20/1928 The boarding house bells are ringing Carolina Twins Male vocal duet, with 2 guitars and harmonica instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar, vocalist, composer  
Victor BVE-41921 10-in. 2/20/1928 One dark and rainy night Carolina Twins Male vocal duet, with 2 guitars and harmonica instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar, vocalist, composer  
Victor BVE-41922 10-in. 2/20/1928 Your wagon needs greasing Carolina Twins Male vocal duet, with 2 guitars and harmonica instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar, vocalist, composer  
Victor BVE-41923 10-in. 2/20/1928 Off to the war I'm going Carolina Twins Male vocal duet, with 2 guitars and harmonica instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar, vocalist, yodeling  
Victor BVE-47281 10-in. 11/2/1928 Where is my mamma? Carolina Twins Male vocal duet, with 2 guitars and harmonica (self-accompaniment) instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar, vocalist, composer  
Victor BVE-47282 10-in. 11/2/1928 When you go a' courtin' Carolina Twins Male vocal duet, with 2 guitars and harmonica (self-accompaniment) composer, instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar, vocalist  
Victor BVE-47283 10-in. 11/2/1928 I sat upon the river bank Carolina Twins Male vocal duet, with 2 guitars and harmonica (self-accompaniment) instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar, vocalist, composer  
Victor BVE-47285 10-in. 11/3/1928 New Orleans is the town I like best Carolina Twins Male vocal duet, with 2 guitars and harmonica (self-accompaniment) instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar, vocalist, composer  
Victor BVE-47286 10-in. 11/3/1928 She tells me that I am sweet Carolina Twins Male vocal duet, with 2 guitars and harmonica (self-accompaniment) instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar, vocalist, composer  
Victor BVE-47287 10-in. 11/3/1928 Mr. Brown, here I come Carolina Twins Male vocal duet, with 2 guitars and harmonica (self-accompaniment) instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar, vocalist, composer  
Victor BVE-51070 10-in. 4/3/1929 Who's gonna kiss your lips, dear darling? Carolina Tar Heels Vocal and instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor BVE-51073 10-in. 4/3/1929 Somebody's tall and handsome Carolina Tar Heels Vocal and instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor BVE-56621 10-in. 11/29/1929 Who's going to love me Carolina Twins Male vocal duet, with guitars and harmonica (self-accompaniment) instrumentalist, harmonica, vocalist, guitar, songwriter  
(Results 1-25 of 41 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Foster, Gwen," accessed March 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111421.

Foster, Gwen. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111421.

"Foster, Gwen." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111421

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