Sam prepares to become Al Jolson in "Jolie"! Video

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Sam catches up with the vlog people after a run of First Wives Club vlogs, and starting to recover from knee surgery.

Sam is currently traveling back and forth to Broadway as part of the redevelopment of the Al Jolson musical project, which is expected to be called "Jolie".

Al Jolson (May 26, 1886 October 23, 1950) was an American singer, comedian, and actor. According to PBS, he is considered the "first openly Jewish man to become an entertainment star in America".[1] His career lasted from 1911 until his death in 1950, during which time he was commonly dubbed "the world's greatest entertainer.

His performing style was brash and extroverted, and he popularized a large number of songs that benefited from his "shamelessly sentimental, melodramatic approach".[2] Numerous well-known singers were influenced by his music, including Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, and Bob Dylan, who once referred to him as "somebody whose life I can feel".[3]

In the 1930s he was America's most famous and highest paid entertainer.[4] 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. Yet he's best remembered today for his leading role in the first (full length) talking movie ever made, The Jazz Singer, released in 1927. He starred in a series of successful musical films throughout the 1930s. After a period of inactivity, his stardom returned with the 1946 Oscar-winning biographical film, The Jolson Story. Larry Parks played Jolson with the songs dubbed in with Jolsons real voice. A sequel, Jolson Sings Again, was released in 1949, and was nominated for three Oscars. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Jolson became the first star to entertain troops overseas during World War II, and again in 1950 became the first star to perform for GIs in Korea, doing 42 shows in 16 days.

According to the St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, "Jolson was to jazz, blues, and ragtime what Elvis Presley was to rock 'n' roll". Being the first popular singer to make a spectacular "event" out of singing a song, he became a rock star before the dawn of rock music. His specialty was building stage runways extending out into the audience. He would run up and down the runway and across the stage, "teasing, cajoling, and thrilling the audience", often stopping to sing to individual members, all the while the "perspiration would be pouring from his face, and the entire audience would get caught up in the ecstasy of his performance".

He enjoyed performing in blackface makeup a theatrical convention in the early 20th century. With his unique and dynamic style of singing black music, like jazz and blues, he was later credited with single-handedly introducing African-American music to white audiences. As early as 1911 he became known for fighting against anti-black discrimination on Broadway. Jolson's well-known theatrics and his promotion of equality on Broadway helped pave the way for many black performers, playwrights, and songwriters, including Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, and Ethel Waters.

Al Jolson was born as Asa Yoelson in Seredžius, Lithuania, then a part of the Russian Empire, the fourth child of Moses Reuben Yoelson and his wife Naomi. His siblings were Rose, Etta, Hirsch (Harry), and a sister who died in infancy. Moses Yoelson moved to the United States in 1891, and was able to find a job as a rabbi and cantor at the Talmud Torah Synagogue in the Southwest Waterfront neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Three years later, his family would join him.

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RockyWhyNot: Hair-Shmair...you're still handsome :))

mililpup: One early Jolie ad for you at photos/lilpup/3981851673/ on Flickr

Pippilly: Hi Sammy! Great to see you and glad your knee is sorting itself out. Question: What ever happened to that daytime TV show you were working on last year? I might have been in Australia when you did an update on it, I'm not sure. Be well! Michelle xo

mindya12: Yah!!! Hi Sam! YOu look fabulous! Glad your knee surgery is over with. Glad you are doing what you love doing. Glad to hear Cooper is talking and getting bigger. Miss you a lot. Nice to see you again. Love ya! Kiss the boyz!

mindya12: HONK HONK!

rts12a: Wow. You got a lot going on. Glad to see you! Whenever you write your memoirs, you are going to have so many famous people in it. As well as having done so many unique things.

kevseb66: WOW! Nice leg. Sheryl Lee said you have nothing to be ashamed of. If that leg is any example I think she's right.

kelm67: Early Monday morning on the east coast... What a great way to start the week. Thanks Sam!!!

princessjoots: Ooo yeahhhhhh film your adventures with Channing! There can only be one Channing. I wish you a quick recovery on your knee :) Kisses and hugs xxx

angieros: Hi Sam! Wow, so much going on with you! I'll just say these few words to sum up: Jolson, knee, adjectives, hair, Cooper, Channing & Liza! Phew, I'm worn out! HA! Sooo happy to see you again my friend, I've missed you too... and yup, got my second row tickets for Liza's show here in town...now when are you going to come here and sing for me Sam?? huh huh?? Lots of Love and Laughter! Angie....your gal in Florida

bcdoula: Great to see you Sam! Jolie sounds just awesome....Tony potential....I will travel from Canada to see you in this!!

yayayoga: I love your hair!!! Glad to know you had the surgery on your knee and love to hear about Cooper. I missed you and it is so fun to see a new vid. Take us along to see Ms. Channing - have fun! xoxo

diartistMI: Sam, glad surgery went well and you seem to be recovering quickly! So thrilled to hear that there is activity on the Jolson project again - seeing the workshop in Chicago was amazing and I can't wait to hear more!

rspringt: same here I still can remember see sam in it. I know like sam said he was born to do this role. I hope that he gets to get it on bway.

rspringt: same here i still can remember see sam in chicago seeing it as part of stages 2004. I hope that he gets to it on bway.

NYerCarl: Hi Sam, Good to hear about Jolie, I also am supposed to have surgery for torn miniscus,but am putting it off cause I don't want to be out of commission. how long was your recovery time? hugs, Carlos

nicotinelolipop: pepsi or coke??

rspringt: love seeing a new vblog. love hearing that there is new activity on the jolson project again. Loved seeing you doing the staged reading in chicago at stages 2004 of this musical. You were so amazing in this part & i hope that you get to finally get to do it on bway. I love how cooper said a new word gas I hope you dont tell him that its a bodily function yet.

joyly2: So good seeing you again. You have been missed. Love, love your vlogs and really LOVE your music. You are the best.

Blinglover: I'm so glad this is finally going to happen. You WERE born to do this part. You are so funny trying to show your knee surgery scars. Happy to see you vlogging again. Best of luck and good wishes from Tia's mom.

212annette212: OMG! What a great way to start my saturday morning! looking at your handsome face along with laughs! what more can we want ;-) . looking forward to carol tube! love to all xoxox , when that ucla date? ciao bello,annette

grillgirll: I WILL COME TO NEW YORK TO SEE YOU DO THIS. I think it will be historical. And then, with the recent trend, it will be a movie! The short hair is sexy hot, by the way.

MidgeDog: So good to see you again Sam - your hair looks good. :)

singingkid: This is exciting! I'm thinking we ain't heard nothin' yet! Break a leg, Sam! :)

waynegabi: This is very good news indeed, Sam. I have been a member of the Al Jolson Society for most of my life. I adore this man, and I know you will do him justice. Wayne

Author: SamHarrisCOM; Uploaded: Oct 5, 2009; Duration: 8:23; Views: 3979

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