“You ain’t heard nothin’ yet”: Al Jolson sings

By , October 4, 2010 9:35 am

“The Jazz Singer,” released in 1927, was the first commercially successful “talking motion picture.” One of the most iconic moments in movie history occurs in this film when Al Jolson on stage, turns to his enthusiastic audience and says, “Wait a minute! You ain’t heard nothin’ yet!”  This promise of even more exciting entertainment to come is fulfilled as he sings “Toot-toot-tootsie” using moves that could have made Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson jealous. The effect is electrifying.

Known as “The World’s Greatest Entertainer” during his lifetime, Al Jolson’s life story (on which the movie was based) tells of a young Jewish boy who is driven to become a Pop singer despite the fact that his Orthodox father wants him to be a Cantor.

Who would think that a Jewish child born in anti-Semitic Tsarist Russia could become an American entertainment icon whose fame would continue to flourish  more than 50 years after his death?

When Asa Yoelson was only four years old his father became a rabbi and left his family and the old country to find a better life. After four years the Rabbi found a position in Washington D.C. and his family joined him. Tragically Asa’s mother died in 1895 only a short time after her arrival in the USA.

Embracing their “American” identities, young Asa soon became known as Al and his older brother Hirsh became Harry. The boys were obsessed with show business and by 1901 they were getting bookings in burlesque and vaudeville.

In 1904 Al, now known as Al Jolson, was called upon to fill-in for a performer in a blackface vaudeville comedy show.  Blackface, an important performance tradition in the American theater beginning around 1830 can now be seen as racist and offensive. But to young Al Jolson it was a blessing. Hidden behind the make-up, he found that he could give a freer, more energetic performance.  When this chance opportunity was well-received by the audience and critics, he soon decided to continue using blackface. The spontaneity and freedom he felt when in blackface elevated his performance and his fame.

In 1911 Jolson had his Broadway debut. His rendition of George M. Cohan’s Haunting Melody in the show “Vera Violetta “made him a Broadway star.

This was followed by other Broadway musicals and other hits for Jolson including You Made Me Love You in 1913 where he sang the final chorus pleading on one knee, a pose he would assume many times over in his career; Rock-a-Bye Your Baby With a Dixie Melody (1918); and George Gershwins’s Swanee (1918).

To hear all 55 songs in the JSA’s collection, click here. This collection of songs originally recorded by Al Jolson on 78 rpm discs between 1911 and 1919 was digitized and compiled by The Judaica Sound Archives at Florida Atlantic University Libraries. These albums are not available for sale or reproduction.

3 Responses to ““You ain’t heard nothin’ yet”: Al Jolson sings”

  1. Jon Englander says:

    I remember listening to Jolson on my grandparent’s crank Victrola. But I never heard him sing without scratches or other distortion. What an amazing job getting the clarity of his voice!

  2. Samuel Shapiro says:

    I am 80 years old. I was one of the many Jolson imitators. As a youth I went to Hebrew Camp Machanaim in Monticello, NY. I sang black face and all……..for the campers,,, They loved it , and I had a terrific time

  3. Johnny C says:

    This is a very interesting post, I had no idea about the story behind AL Jolsen. Sounds inspiring and I think I will look into it more.

    I have a 1915 Victrola and had the opportunity to hear him sing “Rock-a-Bye Your Baby With a Dixie Melody”, on an original record owned by a close friend.

    Listening to that recording on that old (but restored) phonograph gave me a real sense of what it must have been like to hear him sing for the first time back inn the day.

    Your post makes it all the more interesting to know a bit about the man behind the voice.

    Thanks for the interesting post.

    Johnny C

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