Partially true, but his accompanist Harry Akst said that it happened before that. It was near the beginning of his USO tour in WWII and he found that he couldn't do the high finish to his songs. Akst said Jolson was really depressed and so he (Akst) convinced him that styles of singing had changed to the point that "belting" out a high finish was no longer necessary. Thus the change in style.
Someone said Jolson could no longer hit the high notes and thus sung in a lower key which in turn made is voice sound more deeper and mellow. The truth of the matter was that he lost a lung to malaria he caught entertaining the troops overseas and the results of that was that his voice actually became even better than ever as evidenced in the Jolson story.
Jessell? He starred in the original play"The Jazz Singer" on broadway. Had a long career as a secondary (or tertiery?) class singer/comedian. A pal of Jolson, Cantor, Benny, etc.
Great clip. Jolson was promoting his film at this time and on that same trip also performed at the Oriental Theater - where I waited all day to see him in person. The thrill of a lifetime. He was indeed the World's Greatest. The Best there ever was!
He was the greatest and he knew it!- Jessel used to say he only loved one person his entire life;; Himself! --- It was that ego and talent we still enjoy today Great upload
"Alistair Cooke wrote, "He [Jolson] had one last hour of glory. He offered to fly to Korea and entertain the troops hemmed in on the United Nations precarious August bridgehead. The troops yelled for his appearance. He went down on his knee again and sang 'Mammy', and the troops wept and cheered."
the soldier field concert was truly amazing not least for his obvious delight in his vocal performance and confidence siging april showers and the classic jolson end of song note
I certainly agree with you concerning his lasting influencde, but Blues and Gospel? He only recorded one soing that could be marginally considered blues ("Waitin' for the Evening Mail") and I don't know of any gospel that he sang. But I'm willing to be corrected.
Jolson opened up so many doors both on stage and in the movies for African Americans. He popularized African American music from Blues, Jazz and Gospel to the White audiences. Al gave so much of himself entertaining the troops during WW2 and Korea. He died prematurely from all the concerts he gave in such a short time in Korea, and he did those after he had a lung removed! Thank you for posting this!
Actually, the change in style began before the lung was removed. Harry Akst remembered that after the first USO shows, Jolson was depressed and in a near-panic because he could no longer hit the hgh notes. Akst convinced him that high finishes were out of style and that singing in a lower key wouldn't hurt. The result was the mellower and more intimate Jolson voice that won new audiences in "The Jolson tory."
I fell in love with Al Jolson at 6 years of age! A child of the 50's, growing up with older parents....They both loved him, and often played an album with all these old tunes. I now sing and perform them at Nursing Homes in a quintet. He has such energy!
i think performance genius occurs when it is both unique and at the very top of the art form and jolson was unique at the top and very uniquely has anyone ever been at the top at the end of their career noone i know of ?
I doubt Parks influenced Jolson ever. But specifically, Jolson sang "Mammy" in many different ways through the years. This version seems directly related to the way he sdang it on the newsreel clips of him performing for soldiers during World War II
Am I detecting a bit of Larry Park's influence in the way he is putting the song across? If you compare this with his films, especially the jazz singer, it's very clear.
Wow, Mammy...I remember seeing him on TV in that old Warner Bros. movie that was basically silent except for him singing in black face. Thanks for all these great songs...love the accordion player :)
When I was in my early teens I saw the 1946 movie and was absolutely mesmerized by it....such an inspiration for any stage performer, and more....thank you so much for sharing this gem of a video.....this man was an amazing gift !!!
Wow!!! What a find to actually see Jolson perform. Thanks so much for sharing. I've listened to Jolson since 1946 and this is the first time I've seen him perform in a concert..........thanks again....
Partially true, but his accompanist Harry Akst said that it happened before that. It was near the beginning of his USO tour in WWII and he found that he couldn't do the high finish to his songs. Akst said Jolson was really depressed and so he (Akst) convinced him that styles of singing had changed to the point that "belting" out a high finish was no longer necessary. Thus the change in style.
diarci 2 months ago
Someone said Jolson could no longer hit the high notes and thus sung in a lower key which in turn made is voice sound more deeper and mellow. The truth of the matter was that he lost a lung to malaria he caught entertaining the troops overseas and the results of that was that his voice actually became even better than ever as evidenced in the Jolson story.
loubellera 2 months ago
Jessell? He starred in the original play"The Jazz Singer" on broadway. Had a long career as a secondary (or tertiery?) class singer/comedian. A pal of Jolson, Cantor, Benny, etc.
diarci 2 months ago
@roselandalvin... Who's Jessel ? Yes, this is a good example of Jolson's inimitable style. There was and could only ever be, one Jolson.
susans1fan 2 months ago
Great clip. Jolson was promoting his film at this time and on that same trip also performed at the Oriental Theater - where I waited all day to see him in person. The thrill of a lifetime. He was indeed the World's Greatest. The Best there ever was!
jkestnbaum 3 months ago
He was the greatest and he knew it!- Jessel used to say he only loved one person his entire life;; Himself! --- It was that ego and talent we still enjoy today Great upload
roselandalvin 5 months ago
"Alistair Cooke wrote, "He [Jolson] had one last hour of glory. He offered to fly to Korea and entertain the troops hemmed in on the United Nations precarious August bridgehead. The troops yelled for his appearance. He went down on his knee again and sang 'Mammy', and the troops wept and cheered."
FredDude27 6 months ago
Comment removed
zebraboy777 4 months ago
the soldier field concert was truly amazing not least for his obvious delight in his vocal performance and confidence siging april showers and the classic jolson end of song note
silent00planet 6 months ago
I certainly agree with you concerning his lasting influencde, but Blues and Gospel? He only recorded one soing that could be marginally considered blues ("Waitin' for the Evening Mail") and I don't know of any gospel that he sang. But I'm willing to be corrected.
diarci 6 months ago
Jolson opened up so many doors both on stage and in the movies for African Americans. He popularized African American music from Blues, Jazz and Gospel to the White audiences. Al gave so much of himself entertaining the troops during WW2 and Korea. He died prematurely from all the concerts he gave in such a short time in Korea, and he did those after he had a lung removed! Thank you for posting this!
HandwhistlerBen 6 months ago
Jolson was a legend. Thank you for this precious clip!
madamerotten 7 months ago
This is just a great film clip! Al Jolson singing live, on the radio for WGN, at Soldier's Field in Chicago, all recorded on film!
68sgstandard 8 months ago
Actually, the change in style began before the lung was removed. Harry Akst remembered that after the first USO shows, Jolson was depressed and in a near-panic because he could no longer hit the hgh notes. Akst convinced him that high finishes were out of style and that singing in a lower key wouldn't hurt. The result was the mellower and more intimate Jolson voice that won new audiences in "The Jolson tory."
diarci 8 months ago
Jolie sang it differently to accommodate the fact that he lost a lung due to malaria contracted during his travels in WWII
oldgirl6 8 months ago
Well, I was 12 years old when The Joson Story came out so I understand completely.
diarci 9 months ago
I fell in love with Al Jolson at 6 years of age! A child of the 50's, growing up with older parents....They both loved him, and often played an album with all these old tunes. I now sing and perform them at Nursing Homes in a quintet. He has such energy!
kindredspiritfly 9 months ago
Can't thank you enough for this true gem!!!!!!!
nnuurr222 9 months ago
thank you for posting the worlds greatest entertainer. It may be one of his best renditions of the classic.
jkiselis 10 months ago
i think performance genius occurs when it is both unique and at the very top of the art form and jolson was unique at the top and very uniquely has anyone ever been at the top at the end of their career noone i know of ?
silent00planet 11 months ago
I doubt Parks influenced Jolson ever. But specifically, Jolson sang "Mammy" in many different ways through the years. This version seems directly related to the way he sdang it on the newsreel clips of him performing for soldiers during World War II
diarci 11 months ago
Am I detecting a bit of Larry Park's influence in the way he is putting the song across? If you compare this with his films, especially the jazz singer, it's very clear.
johnster1964 11 months ago
The location of this performance is "Soldier Field" not "Soldier's Field". A common error for non - Chicagoans.
pm0501 1 year ago
Was anyone ever happier delivering a song? And did anyone ever make the world happier doing what he loved? This is great great footage.
298625 1 year ago
Wow, Mammy...I remember seeing him on TV in that old Warner Bros. movie that was basically silent except for him singing in black face. Thanks for all these great songs...love the accordion player :)
lana1939 1 year ago
When I was in my early teens I saw the 1946 movie and was absolutely mesmerized by it....such an inspiration for any stage performer, and more....thank you so much for sharing this gem of a video.....this man was an amazing gift !!!
nnuurr222 1 year ago
Wonderful to see the great Jolson perform. Pity there is not much film of him during his later years - he was fantastic
Jolson1950 1 year ago
Thank you so much for sharing a clip of the great jolson singing. I wish there were lots more of these to see. They are priceless.Thanks so much.
ruthy102 1 year ago
Wow!!! What a find to actually see Jolson perform. Thanks so much for sharing. I've listened to Jolson since 1946 and this is the first time I've seen him perform in a concert..........thanks again....
cameronchatterton 1 year ago
Wow! He should have had another ten more years at least. As it was, he had only about another 13 months.
ellington56 1 year ago
FANTASTIC.
Chaplin1914 1 year ago