Al Jolson

Al Jolson (died 1950) was an American singer and entertainer associated with vaudeville, musical theatre, and early sound film; he was known for a theatrical, emotive vocal delivery and a dynamic stage presence. He frequently performed in blackface as part of minstrel-influenced routines, a practice now recognized as racist and offensive, and his career is often cited in discussions of how early 20th century popular entertainment both evolved and reflected problematic racial attitudes.