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Al Jolson – (1886 – 1950) – Singer / Actor / Comedian
Al Jolson was was a highly acclaimed American singer, comedian, and actor. His career lasted from 1911 until his death in 1950,
during which time he was commonly dubbed "the world's greatest entertainer". By 1920, he 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. Yet he's best remembered today for his leading role in the world's first talking picture,
The Jazz Singer, released in 1927.
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Al Jolson enjoyed performing in blackface makeup - a theatrical convention in the early 20th century. With his unique and
dynamic style of singing black music, like jazz and blues, he was later credited with single-handedly introducing African-American
music to white audiences. As early as 1911, at the age of 25, he also became noted for fighting black discrimination on the Broadway stage.
Jolson's well-known theatrics and his promotion of equality on Broadway helped pave the way for many black performers, playwrights,
and songwriters, including Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, and Ethel Waters.
Historical / Biographical information courtesy of Wikipedia.
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