Al Jolson
/ˌæl ˈdʒəʊlsən/
/ˌæl ˈdʒəʊlsən/
- (1886-1950) a US singer and actor, born in Lithuania. He performed on Broadway in the 1920s and painted his face black to pretend to be an African American. He was in the first sound film, The Jazz Singer. Jolson sang with great emotion, and his most successful songs included Swanee, Mammy, Sonny Boy and April Showers. His story was told in two films, the Jolson Story (1946) and Jolson Sings Again (1949) with Larry Parks as Jolson.
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Al Jolson