Al Jolson - Swanee (1920)

Al Jolson (May 26,1886 Oct.23,1950), born in Lithuania, Russian Empire, was a highly acclaimed American singer, comedian, and actor, and the first openly Jewish man to become an entertainment star in America.

His career lasted from 1911 until his death in 1950, during which time he was commonly dubbed "the world's greatest entertainer. Numerous well-known singers were influenced by his music, including Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Judy Garland.


By 1920, he was Americas 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.

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"Swanee" is an American popular song written in 1919 by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Irving Caesar. It is most often associated with singer Al Jolson.

The song was written for a New York City revue called Demi-Tasse, which opened in October 1919 in the Capitol Theater. Caesar and Gershwin, who was then aged 20, claimed to have written the song in about ten minutes riding on a bus in Manhattan, and then at Gershwin's apartment. It was written partly as a parody of Stephen Foster's "Old Folks at Home". It was originally used as a big production number, with 60 chorus girls dancing with electric lights in their slippers on an otherwise darkened stage.

The song had little impact in its first show, but not long afterwards Gershwin played it at a party where Al Jolson heard it. Jolson then put it into his show Sinbad, already a success at the Winter Garden Theatre, and recorded it for Columbia Records in January 1920. "After that," said Gershwin, "Swanee penetrated the four corners of the earth.". The song was charted in 1920 for 18 weeks holding No. 1 position for nine. It sold a million sheet music copies, and an estimated two million records. It became Gershwin's first hit and the biggest-selling song of his career; the money he earned from it allowed him to concentrate on theatre work and films rather than writing further single pop hits. Arthur Schwartz said: "It's ironic that he never again wrote a number equaling the sales of Swanee, which for all its infectiousness, doesn't match the individuality and subtlety of his later works.


Al Jolson - Swanee (1920)

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Music

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• Al
• Jolson
• Swanee
• 1920

[putty1994]

Al Jolson wasn't racist when he did blackface he did it as joke to show how stupid racism is

[lemkowitz1]

@HernanWood I have enjoyed all these remarks about Al Jolson,,I was born in 1919 in Baltimore and in 1930

I was 11 and heard Mr. Jolson on the radio WEAF ( radio call letters) and it was thrilling then as it is now to hear it on this wonderful thing you tube

[guilhermepires]

cabulouso.

[TaleOfValors]

@putty1994 He didn't do it to show how stupid racism is...but it was absolutely accepted in his time so its more or less fine.

[SatchmoSings]

I'm sick-and-tired of people complaining about Jolson and blackface.

It was an accepted performance standard of the day and that his films are in limited circulation because of this is something I find totally unacceptable.

In many ways, Jolson was not a great human being; he was about one of the most self-centered and egotistical entertainers of all time but one thing he wasn't, was a racist; no way.

[apcchart]

The eldest song in the Alltime Popclassics Chart 2011 edition #17: This year # 14071

[nuttymanyelismate]

@putty1994 He loved black music and respected the people who originated this style!

My father, who passed away 2 days ago, loved Al Jolsen, and had many black friends. Al Jolsen was an incredible singer, and a super star of his time.

I will be playing Mammy at my Dads funeral on the 3rd of jan at his funeral, as this song he used to sing to his mammy.

I love you Dad. And we miss you with all are heart. Rest peacefully with Al Jolsen singing to yo for ever. God bless Daddyxxxxxxxxx



[SonsOfLiberty65]

lol mel gibson in south park sang this song

[maxiemom1]

He did everything he could to promote black artists in his shows and others, etc. When he died, his funeral was attended by just about every black performer in Hollywood. Also, it must be noted that the ONLY white stars' home blacks were welcome in as guests in the 30's was that of Jolson and wife Ruby Keeler.

[maxiemom1]

Once again we have IGNORANT people accusing a performer from by-gone days of being a racist because he employed blackface.. WHY THE HELL DON'T SOME OF YOU DOLTS DO SOME RESEARCH BEFORE YOU WRITE YOUR CHARACTER ASSASINATIONS? Jolson worked for civil rights BEFORE there was a cvil rights movement!

[julbim]

Al Jolson was absolutely not being derogatory to black people. In less politically correct times he was merely adopting the minstrel guise. In the film "Holiday Inn" in the early forties, Bing Crosby, who adored Louis Armstrong and the black jazz music, did a blackface routine and as late as the 70s BBC tv had a programme, a very enjoyable show, called The Black and White Minstrels. Everyone deep down knows that black people have influenced with their almost natural genius popular music.