Al Jolson
| Al Jolson | |
|---|---|
Jolson, 1929
|
|
| Born |
Asa Yoelson May 26, 1886 Seredžius, Kovno Governorate, Russian Empire (present-day Lithuania) |
| Died | October 23, 1950 (aged 64) San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Heart attack |
| Resting place |
Hillside Memorial Park, Culver City, California |
| Occupation | Actor Comedian Singer |
| Years active | 1904–1950 |
| Spouse(s) | Henrietta Keller (1907–1919; divorced) Alma Osbourne (1922–1928; divorced) Ruby Keeler (1928–1940; divorced) Erle Galbraith (1945–1950, his death) |
| Children | 3 (all adopted) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres |
Vaudeville Pop standards Jazz Pop |
| Labels | |
| Website | The Al Jolson Society |
Al Jolson (born Asa Yoelson; May 26, 1886 – October 23, 1950) was an American singer, film actor, and comedian. At the peak of his career, he was dubbed "The World's Greatest Entertainer". His performing style was brash and extroverted, and he popularized a large number of songs that benefited from his "shamelessly sentimental, melodramatic approach". Numerous well-known singers were influenced by his music, including Bing Crosby,David Bowie,Bob Dylan, Rod Stewart and others. Dylan once referred to him as "somebody whose life I can feel". Broadway critic Gilbert Seldes compared him to the Greek god Pan, claiming that Jolson represented "the concentration of our national health and gaiety".
In the 1930s, Jolson was America's most famous and highest-paid entertainer. Between 1911 and 1928, Jolson had nine sell-out Winter Garden shows in a row, more than 80 hit records, and 16 national and international tours. Although he is best remembered today as the star of the first talking picture, The Jazz Singer (1927), he later starred in a series of successful musical films throughout the 1930s. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he was the first star to entertain troops overseas during World War II. After a period of inactivity, his stardom returned with The Jolson Story (1946), for which Larry Parks played Jolson, with the singer dubbing for Parks. The formula was repeated in a sequel, Jolson Sings Again (1949). In 1950, he again became the first star to entertain GIs on active service in the Korean War, performing 42 shows in 16 days. He died just weeks after returning to the U.S., partly owing to the physical exertion of performing. Defense Secretary George Marshall posthumously awarded him the Medal of Merit.
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