ROCK-A-BYE YOUR BABY (With A Dixie Melody) sung by Sam Harris, Live in Concert!

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Sam Harris is not impersonating AL JOLSON, he is merely singing his interpretation of a song sung by Al Jolson, among many others.

See another clip from this concert
"Swanee (How I Love Ya)"
found at ► http://bit.ly/Swanee

Forward this link to friends! ► http://bit.ly/Rock-A-Bye

"Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody" is a popular song written by Jean Schwartz, with lyrics by Sam M. Lewis and Joe Young. The song was published in 1918.
Probably the best-known recordings of the song were by Al Jolson (who introduced it) and Judy Garland. It was also a hit for Jerry Lewis in the 1950s. Aretha Franklin also recorded a lesser-known version of this song, which reached #37 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the 1950s, it was issued on the Peter Pan Records label, aimed at children, on a 45 RPM record as the flip side of "When the Red Red Robin Comes Bob Bob Bobbin' Along".
The song lends itself to easy adaptation. Harvey Fierstein sang it to Katie Couric during her last day hosting the Today show: "Rock-a-bye your rock-a-bye Katie with a goodbye melody". Also Cher recorded the song for her album Bittersweet White Light (1973).

Lyrics:

Rock-a-bye your baby with a Dixie melody.
When you croon, croon a tune
From the heart of Dixie.
Hang that cradle mammy mine
Right on that Mason-Dixon line
And swing it from Virginia
To Tennessee with all the soul that's in ya.

Weap no more my lady.
Mammy sing it again for me.
And old black Joe
Just as though
You had me on your knee.
A million baby kisses I'll deliver
If you will only sing the Swanee River.
Rock-a-bye your rock-a-bye baby with a Dixie melody.

Rock-a-bye,
Hush-a-bye
With a Dixie melody.
When you croon, croon a tune
from the heart of Dixie
Hang that cradle mammy mine
Right on that Mason-Dixon line
And swing it from Virginia
To Tennessee with all the soul that's in ya.

Mammy, mammy listen to what they're playing.
They're playing Weap No More My Lady.
Sing it for me.
And old black Joe
Just as though
You had me on your knee.
A thousand baby kisses I'll deliver
If you will only sing that Swanee River.
Rock-a-bye your rock-a-bye baby with a Dixie melody!

According to Esquire magazine, "J. J. Shubert, impressed by Jolsons overpowering display of energy, booked him for La Belle Paree, a musical comedy which opened at the Winter Garden in 1911. Within a month Jolson was a star. From then until 1926, when he retired from the stage, he could boast an unbroken series of smash hits."

On March 20, 1911, Jolson starred in his first play at the Winter Garden Theater in New York City, La Belle Paree, which also greatly helped launch his career as a singer. The opening night drew a huge crowd to the theater, and that evening Jolson gained audience popularity by singing old Stephen Foster songs in blackface. In the wake of that phenomenal opening night, Jolson was given a position in the show's cast. The show closed after 104 performances, and during its run Jolson's popularity grew greatly. Following La Belle Paree, Jolson accepted an offer to perform in the play Vera Violetta. The show opened on November 20, 1911, and, like La Belle Paree, was a phenomenal success. In the show, Jolson again portrayed the role of a blackface singer, and managed to become so popular, that his weekly salary- which he earned from his success in La Belle Paree- of $500 was increased to $750.[5]:98-117

After Vera Violetta ran its course, Jolson starred in The Whirl of Society, and through this play, his career on Broadway would rise to new heights. During his time at the Winter Garden, Jolson would tell the audience "you ain't heard nothing yet" before performing additional songs. In the play, Jolson debuted his signature blackface character, "Gus." The play was so successful, that Winter Garden owner Lee Shubert agreed to sign Jolson to a seven year contract with a salary of $1,000 a week. Jolson would reprise his role as "Gus" in future plays and by 1914, Jolson achieved so much popularity with the theater audience that his $1,000 a week salary was doubled to $2,000 a week. In 1916, Robinson Crusoe, Jr. was the first play where he was featured as the star character. In 1918, Jolson's acting career would be pushed even further, after he starred in the hit play Sinbad. It became the most successful Broadway play of 1918 and 1919. A new song was later added to the show that would become composer George Gershwin's first hit recording, "Swanee". Jolson also added another song to the show, "My Mammy". By 1920, Jolson had become the biggest star on Broadway.

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[SamHarrisCOM]

Sam Harris is not impersonating AL JOLSON, he is merely singing his interpretation of a song sung by Al Jolson, among many others.

[mindya12]

This was a fabulous performance.

[halcotjoe]

I watched this last night and woke up singing it this morning. The depth of Sam's energy continues to captivate me year after year. This is wonderful and I hope Jolie eventually makes it to Broadway... I'd go see it!

[lewisbreland]

Very very good!

[Ogunquitboy68]

Why isn't this available on CD??

[GROPIUS2570]

Sam Harris gives a powerful interpretation of this iconic tune. Al Jolson was a complex character who did not trumpet his acts of kindness. Today, he's known for blackface and his outsized ego. Little is known of the huge, unheralded gifts he handed out to the needy. Even less is known of his assistance to Black artists breaking into the entertainment field or the tireless effort he made for American GI's. It will be intrresting to see how this plays out if this show hits Broadway.

[BCati]

Sam, you are still the best!

[leginewol]

"FANTASTIC"

[FrontRowGuy]

you've gotta to a LIVE album. nobody's better than you Sam...

[chezfun]

Good one Dave, thanks for sharing it!!

Shey

[killernofiller667]

so moving its magic

thank you so much for the enjoyment !

a million stars at least

[earthmother]

FABULOUS!!