Al Jolson
- Star of stage,
screen, radio and vaudeville, Al Jolson billed
himself as ‘The World’s Greatest
Entertainer’ and who could argue?
- Working in blackface,
he sang songs about his southern ‘Mammy’ with a
passion that endeared him to Broadway audiences.
His voice, a leathery blend of ringing brass and
amber warmth with a sob in it, was probably the
most imitated and parodied in the world.
- As a musical comedy
star, he belted out songs like ‘Swanee’ and ‘Is It True What They
Say About Dixie?” with flair and vitality; and
always demanding applause for his songs and
jokes, he was rarely disappointed.
- ‘Electric’, ‘dynamic energy’ and ‘like a cyclone’ were some of
the terms used to describe his performances on
stage; and after singing for three hours with
incredible energy, he could still call out:
“You
ain’t heard nothin’ yet.”
Though kind and
sentimental, he left much to be desired as a
human being. His was an enormous ego. He could be
arrogant, surly and a braggart and many of his
contemporaries disliked him. But he was a giant
in the entertainment world, a hit maker, and
always last on the bill because no one could
follow him.
- Though four times
married, the love of his life was an audience -
any audience. He needed applause the way a
diabetic needs insulin.
- Al Jolson did not
just sing songs - he rattled your backbone and
made you want to get up and dance. He was the greatest
entertainer the world has ever known.
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