Al Jolson

Al Jolson, born Asa Yoelson in Lithuania in 1886, emigrated to the United States as a child in 1891 when his family relocated so his father could work as a rabbi and cantor. He began performing in blackface in 1904 and built a career as one of the most popular entertainers of the early 20th century, earning the nickname «The World’s Greatest Entertainer» for his energetic stage presence and vocal charisma.

Jolson is best remembered as the star of «The Jazz Singer», widely credited as Hollywood’s first sound feature film, a role that cemented his place in film history at the dawn of the talkies era. His recorded output spans decades of American popular song, including standards such as «Swanee», «California Here I Come», and «April Showers», many of which became defining hits of the vaudeville and early Broadway eras.

His legacy is complicated: his prolific talent and showmanship made him a defining figure of American entertainment before his death in 1950, yet his sustained use of blackface throughout his career places him at the center of a racist theatrical tradition, and his relationship to African-American performers and musical styles of the time remains a subject of ongoing historical scrutiny.