Al Jolson (1886–1950) was one of the most dominant and influential entertainers in early 20th-century American popular culture.  Known for his booming voice, magnetic stage presence, and emotional delivery, Jolson earned titles such as “The World’s Greatest Entertainer” during a career that spanned vaudeville, Broadway, radio, and film.

Born Asa Yoelson in present-day Lithuania, Jolson immigrated to the United States as a child and entered the vaudeville circuit in his teens.  His performance style—energetic, expressive, and deeply personal—set him apart in an era when stage acts were often rigid and formulaic.  Jolson brought an unprecedented level of emotional intensity to popular song, frequently stepping in front of orchestras or stopping shows mid-performance to speak directly to audiences.

Jolson’s legacy is inseparable from his starring role in “The Jazz Singer” (1927), the first feature-length film with synchronized dialogue, which revolutionized Hollywood and marked a pivotal moment in American film History, making it essential for understanding his cultural significance.

Musically, Jolson popularized songs such as “Swanee,” “My Mammy,” “Toot, Toot, Tootsie,” and “Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody.” His wide-open vocal production and heartfelt delivery influenced generations of performers, from Bing Crosby and Judy Garland to later Broadway and jazz vocalists.

While Jolson’s career is celebrated for his musical innovations, it is also scrutinized for his frequent use of blackface, a practice now recognized as racially harmful.  His work remains a complex part of American cultural History, reflecting both artistic Influence and problematic aspects of his era.

Al Jolson remains a towering, if complicated, figure in American entertainment—an artist whose innovations shaped vaudeville, Broadway, early sound film, and popular music, leaving a legacy both influential and deeply intertwined with the cultural norms of his time.

a)    California, here I come

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uTWABRKRFM

b)    Sonny Boy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy1iOmqH27Y

c)     My Mammy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrmq9vjPoF0

d)    Toot, Toot, Tootsie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD_YRnuuKyY

e)    April Showers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1Z0odJJj00

f)      Sitting on Top of the World

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVrJoA2O7E4

g)    Rock a Bye Your Baby

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGdSMgmJO8g

h)    The Jazz Singer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZpX1B6n5Fc