Al Jolson, born Asa Yoelson on May 26, 1886, in Srednike, Lithuania (then part of the Russian Empire), was a highly influential American singer, comedian, actor, and vaudevillian. Known as "The World's Greatest Entertainer," Jolson was one of the most famous and highest-paid stars in the United States during the 1910s and 1920s. He was renowned for his dynamic singing style and his sentimental, melodramatic performance approach, which helped define the modern musical.

Jolson's family immigrated to the United States in 1894, settling in Washington, D.C., where he began performing on stage in 1899. He initially performed with his brother in vaudeville before joining Lew Dockstader’s minstrel troupe in 1909. Jolson became a popular New York entertainer, starring in musicals such as "La Belle Paree" (1911), "Honeymoon Express" (1913), "Bombo" (1921), and "Big Boy" (1925). He was particularly known for transforming George Gershwin's "Swanee" into a major hit and for songs like "My Mammy," "Toot, Toot, Tootsie," and "California, Here I Come."

In 1927, Jolson starred in "The Jazz Singer," the first feature film with synchronized speech, music, and sound effects, marking the end of the silent-film era. He continued to star in successful films throughout the 1930s and regained popularity with "The Jolson Story" (1946) and its sequel "Jolson Sings Again" (1949). Jolson was also notable for being the first star to entertain troops overseas during World War II and the Korean War.

Despite his success, Jolson's legacy is complex due to his use of blackface, a practice that perpetuated racial stereotypes, though he was also credited with fighting against Black discrimination on Broadway. He passed away on October 23, 1950, in San Francisco, California, shortly after entertaining troops in Korea. Jolson's influence on American music and entertainment remains significant, though it is intertwined with the controversial aspects of his career.