Al Jolson

Al Jolson (born Asa Yoelson, 1886–1950) was an American singer, actor, and vaudeville performer. Born in Seredžius, Lithuania (then part of the Russian Empire), he immigrated to the United States as a child and began performing in vaudeville. Jolson became one of the era’s most popular entertainers, known for his powerful voice and energetic stage presence. He starred in the landmark early sound film *The Jazz Singer* (1927), which helped usher in the “talkies” and made him a major screen figure. He also appeared in other films and remained a prominent performer through the 1930s and 1940s.