Al Jolson – Biography
Born to a Jewish family in Lithuania in 1886, Al Jolson was — for all intents and purposes — the first popular music star of the modern age. He began his career in the early 20th century performing in medicine shows and the vaudeville circuit, and soon made a name for himself with his impossibly energetic performances and impressively powerful singing voice. It wasn’t long before Jolson became the greatest entertainer in the world, bolstered by several hit records in the 1910s and ‘20s that combined all manner of late-19th-century influences — ragtime, hokum, traditional folksongs — into a jazzy style that laid the foundations for pop as we know it.
His career continued throughout the ensuing decades, appearing in several films (including the first talkie picture, The Jazz Singer, in 1927) and entertaining the troops during World War II. And even though Jolson’s signature blackface performances are viewed in poor taste today (regardless of whether they were intended as metaphorical solidarity), he still remains one of the most influential music stars in American history. Keep reading below for Al Jolson music reviews and accolades.
Accolades
- Colin’s Review Hall of Fame
- 1910s Artists of the Decade – #1
- 1920s Best Songs – #32
- 1940s Best Songs – #30