American entertainer, actor, singer and showman of Lithuanian Jewish origin, the first Hollywood superstar to be named World's Greatest Entertainer. One of the most popular US showmen of the 20th century, he influenced a generation of film actors, including Bing Crosby and Eddie Fisher. Developed the vaudeville, jazz and variety genres in film. Charlie Chaplin admired his talent for connecting with and controlling any audience. Al Jolson starred in 26 films, 13 plays, wrote some 30 hugely popular songs and was the first singer to sell more than 10 million records. Al starred in many popular films of the time, portrayed many characters in film and theatre (most notably his portrayal of a black man in The Jazz Singer), and recorded a beautiful collection of songs spanning the pop, jazz, ragtime and swing styles of the time.The young Asa and his brother Hirsch were placed in state custody for seven months, where they met Al Reeves at an orphanage, who introduced them to show business. In 1897, both brothers began begging and singing on the streets. They spent most of the money they earned on tickets to the Washington National Theatre. In 1898, during the Spanish-American War, the singer and his brother performed for the first time in a musical revue for soldiers in New York. At the age of just 12, the young, charismatic Asa was already making a name for himself as a great singer in his city. Soon he was on his way to Broadway, which was then the great smithy of actors and singers (at that time it was common to think of the actor and the singer as being two inseparable things, one profession). That is where Asa's great career began. At the age of 16, Asa became a popular singer in New York, singing in the Broadway musical La Belle Paree. Changing his real name to Al Jolson, he revolutionised the music world with his performances. He was the first to move on stage and to create real shows during his performances.
In September 1907 he married the dancer Henrietta Keller, but they divorced in 1920. In August 1922 he married actress Alma Osbourne, but they divorced in 1928. In September 1928 he married dancer Ruby Keeler, but they divorced in 1939. On 22 March 1945, he married Erle Galbraith, an X-ray technician, with whom he adopted two children.
It was the intimacy with the audience and his unique charm that made Al Jolson's performances a sensation. To draw attention to the anti-racist ideas that were prevalent in America at the time, Al Jolson painted his face black during his performances and played a black man. This was also the case in his most famous films, such as Hallelujah, I'm a Bum, Say It With Songs and the famous The Jazz Singer. The latter film was one of the first masterpieces of sound cinema. On 6 October 1927, the first dubbed film starring Al Jolson, The Jazz Singer, premiered. The film was released by Warner Brothers. The film is directed by Alan Crosland. The film was a great success and made a profit of $3 500 000. The remark by Al Jolson that ushered in the era of sound cinema: "You ain't never heard it before!" (You ain't heard nothin' yet!) was immediately repeated. It was the first film to feature music on gramophone records synchronised with the picture, rather than a taper.
In 1942, he became the first singer to perform on board a US warship. He continued to perform until the end of the war, and in 1950 he also went to the Korean peninsula, which was then at war. He died a death worthy of sentimental epithets in 1950, while playing cards in San Francisco, when, struck by a heart attack, Al said to his friends, "Boys, I'm going..." ("Boys, I'm going..") For all his good deeds, Asa of Ceredigis has his portrait on US postage stamps, three Purple Stars on Hollywood sidewalks, some still call him the world's best comedian, books have been written about him, there is an Al Jolson Street in New York City, and a smiling statue of him on his grave.