Early life and career
The son of the Rabbi of the Talmud Torah Synagogue (now Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah) in Washington, D.C., Jolson became a popular singer in New York City in 1898, and gradually developed the key elements of his performance: blackface makeup; exuberant gestures; operatic-style singing; whistling and directly addressing his audience.
By 1911, he had parlayed a supporting appearance in the Broadway musical La Belle Paree into a starring role. He began recording and was soon internationally famous for his extraordinary stage presence and personal rapport with audiences. His Broadway career is unmatched for length and popularity, having spanned close to 30 years (1911-1940). Audiences shouted, pleaded, and often would not allow the show to proceed, such was the power of Jolson's presence. At one performance in Boston, the usual staid and conservative audience stopped the show for 45 minutes. He was said to have had an "electric" personality, along with the ability to make each member of the audience believe that he was singing only to them. However, he is best known today for his appearance in one of the first "talkies" The Jazz Singer, the first feature film with sound to enjoy wide commercial success, in 1927. In The Jazz Singer Jolson performed the song "Mammy" in blackface. In truth, Jolson's singing was never jazz, indeed his style remained forever rooted in the vaudeville stage at the turn of 20th century.
Jolson is the first music artist to sell over 10 million records. While no official Billboard magazine chart existed during Jolson's career, their staff archivist Joel Whitburn used a variety of sources such as Talking Machine World's list of top-selling recordings, and Billboard's own sheet music and vaudeville charts to estimate the hits of 1890-1954. By his reckoning, Jolson had the equivalent of 23 No. 1 hits, the 4th-highest total ever, trailing only Bing Crosby, Paul Whiteman, and Guy Lombardo. Whitburn calculates that Jolson topped one chart or another for 114 weeks.
Among the many songs popularized by Jolson were "You Made Me Love You," "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody," "Swanee" (songwriter George Gershwin's first success), "April Showers," "Toot, Toot, Tootsie, Goodbye," "California, Here I Come," "When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob-Bob-Bobbin' Along," "Sonny Boy" and "Avalon."
Jolson was a political and economic conservative, supporting Calvin Coolidge for president of the United States in 1924 (with the ditty "Keep Cool with Coolidge") unlike most other Jews in the arts, who supported the losing Democratic candidate, John William Davis.
Jolson was married to actress/dancer Ruby Keeler from 1928 to 1940, when they divorced. The couple had adopted a son, Al Jolson Jr., during their marriage, but when he was 14 the boy changed his name to Peter Lowe after his mother's second husband, John Lowe.
After leaving the Broadway stage, Jolson starred on radio. The Al Jolson Show aired 1933-1939, 1942-1943, and 1947-1949, and these shows were typically rated in the top ten. Jolson continued performing until his death in 1950.
The Jolson story
After the success of Warner Bros. film Yankee Doodle Dandy about George M. Cohan, Hollywood columnist Sidney Skolsky believed that a smiliar film could be made about Al Jolson -- and he knew just where to pitch the project. Harry Cohn may have seemed to a lot of people in Hollywood like a crude, loud vulgarian, but he had one soft spot: he loved the music of Al Jolson.
Skolsky pitched the idea of an Al Jolson biopic and Cohn agreed to it. Directed by Alfred E. Green (best known today for the pre-Code masterpiece Baby Face, The Jolson Story is one of the most entertaining of the musical biopics of that era -- an era that included Yankee Doodle Dandy, Till the Clouds Roll By, Words and Music and Three Little Words. With Jolson providing almost all the vocals, and actor Larry Parks playing Jolson, The Jolson Story was released in 1946, and became one of the biggest hits of the year. Parks received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, and the film became one of the highest grossing films of the year.
"The Jolson Story," and its 1949 sequel "Jolson Sings Again," led to a whole new generation who became enthralled with Jolson's voice and charisma. Jolson, who had been a popular guest star on radio since its earliest days, now had his own show, hosting the "Kraft Music Hall" from 1947-1949, with Oscar Levant as a sardonic piano-playing sidekick. Despite such singers as Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and Perry Como being in their primes, Jolson was voted the "Most Popular Male Vocalist" in 1948 by a Variety poll. The next year, Jolson was named Personality of the Year by the Variety Clubs of America. When Jolson appeared on Bing Crosby's radio show, he attributed his receiving the award to his being the only singer not to make a record of Mule Train, which had been a widely covered hit of that year (four different versions, one of them by Crosby, had made the top ten on the charts).
Jolson joked that he'd tried to sing the hit song. "I got the clippetys all right, but I can't clop like I used to."
Jolson's legacy is considered by many to be severely neglected today because of his use of stage blackface, at the time a theatrical convention used by many performers (both white and black), but today viewed by many as racially insensitive. Jolson was billed as "The World's Greatest Entertainer," which is how many of the greatest stars (including Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Elvis Presley, Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart, Jackie Wilson) referred to him. Charles Chaplin wrote in his Autobiography that he was one of the most electrifying entertainers he had ever seen. A life-long devotion to entertaining American servicemen (he first sang for servicemen of the Spanish-American War as a boy in Washington, D.C.) led Jolson, against the advice of his doctors, to entertain troops in Korea in 1950 when his heart began to fail.
Death
Jolson died on October 23, 1950, in San Francisco at a card game, at the age of 64, apparently of a heart attack, and was interred in the Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, California, where a statue of Jolson beckons visitors to his crypt. On the day he died, Broadway turned off its lights for 10 minutes in Jolson's honor.
Al Jolson has three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame:
1. For his contribution to the motion picture industry at 6622 Hollywood Blvd.;
2. For his contribution to the recording industry at 1716 Vine St.;
3. For his contribution to the radio industry at 6750 Hollywood Blvd.
Forty-four years after Jolson's death, the United States Postal Service acknowledged his contribution by issuing a postage stamp in his honor. The 29-cent stamp was unveiled by Erle Jolson Krasna, Jolson's fourth wife, at a ceremony in New York City's Lincoln Center on September 1, 1994. This stamp was one of a series honoring popular American singers, which included Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Ethel Merman, and Ethel Waters. Al Jolson is one of Mr. Burns' (from The Simpsons) favorite actors - he still believes that he is alive.
Jolson's song I'm Sitting on Top of the World was played during the opening montage of 1930's New York City in the 2005 remake of King Kong.
In August of 2006, Al Jolson had a street in New York named after him.
California Here I Come
Al Jolson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
then my eyes turn west-ward, knowing that's the place I love the best of all.
California , I've been blue, since I've been away from you.
I can't wait 'til I get going.
Even now I'm starting in to call, Oh
California, here I come right back where I started from.
Where Bowers of flowers bloom in the sun.
A sunkist miss said, "Don't be late" that's why I can hardly wait.
Open up that Golden Gate,
California here I come.
Any one who likes to wander ought to keep this saying in his mind,
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder" of the good old place you leave behind.
When you've hit the train awhile, seems you rarely see a smile;
that's why I must fly out yonder, where a frown is mighty hard to find! Oh
California, here I come right back where I started from.
Where Bowers of flowers bloom in the sun.
Each morning at dawning, birdies sing an' everything.
A sunkist miss said, "Don't be late" that's why I can hardly wait.
Open up that Golden Gate.
California here I come.
The song "California, Here I Come" by Al Jolson tells the story of someone longing to return to the state that they love. The lyrics convey a sense of homesickness and nostalgia, with the singer reminiscing about the beauty of California and the feeling of belonging there. The opening lines set the scene for the emotional journey of the singer, with the wintry winds and falling snow highlighting the contrast between where they are currently located and the warmth of California. The singer's heart is set on returning to the state they love, and their excitement is palpable even in the opening lines.
As the song progresses, the singer's love for California becomes more evident. They describe the state as the place they love the best of all, and their eagerness to return is clear. The imagery of flowers blooming and birdies singing emphasizes the natural beauty of California, while the reference to a "sunkist miss" adds a touch of romance to the song. The singer's desire to return to California is so strong that they can hardly wait, and they urge the state to "open up that Golden Gate" and welcome them home.
The final verse of the song emphasizes the idea that absence makes the heart grow fonder. Despite the challenges of traveling and the lack of smiles along the way, the singer is determined to return to California. The repetition of the chorus drives home this desire, with the singer literally singing their intention to return to the state they love.
Overall, "California, Here I Come" is a song about the power of nostalgia and the emotional pull of home. The vivid imagery and catchy chorus make it a beloved classic, and it remains a staple of American popular music.
Line by Line Meaning
When the wintry winds are blowing and the snow is starting in to fall, then my eyes turn west-ward, knowing that's the place I love the best of all.
During winter season, the harsh winds and snowfall remind me to go back to my most favorite place which is California.
California , I've been blue, since I've been away from you. I can't wait 'til I get going. Even now I'm starting in to call, Oh
I have missed California so much since I have been away from it that it made me feel sad. I am eager to go back and I even started calling out for it.
California, here I come right back where I started from. Where Bowers of flowers bloom in the sun. Each morning at dawning, birdies sing an' everything. A sunkist miss said, "Don't be late" that's why I can hardly wait. Open up that Golden Gate, California here I come.
I am thrilled to go right back to California where I began my journey, with its sunny climate, bright flowers in full bloom, birds singing every morning, and a special person waiting for me, I am excited to be received through the Golden Gate.
Any one who likes to wander ought to keep this saying in his mind, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder" of the good old place you leave behind. When you've hit the train awhile, seems you rarely see a smile; that's why I must fly out yonder, where a frown is mighty hard to find! Oh
People who like to travel should remember the saying 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder' for the place they left behind. While traveling on a train, people appear sad and rarely smile, which is why I need to go out to California, where it's almost impossible to see a sad face.
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: AL JOLSON, B. G. DESYLVA, JOSEPH MEYER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@edwardcamp3376
When the wintry winds start blowing
And the snow is starting to fall
Then my eyes turn westward knowing
That's the place that I love best of all
California, I've been blue
Since I've been away from you.
I can't wait till I get going
Even now I'm starting in a call
California, here I come
Right back where I started from
Where bowers are flowers bloom in the spring
Each morning at dawning
Birdies sing and everything
A sun kissed miss said "Don't be late!"
That's why I can hardly wait,
Open up that Golden Gate!
California, here I come!
California, here I come, yeah!
Right where I started from
Where bowers are flowers bloom in the spring
Each morning at dawning
Birdies sing and everything
A sun kissed miss said "Don't be late!"
That's why I can hardly wait
Open up, open up, open up that Golden Gate!
California, here I come!
@chefie1072
When the wintry winds starts blowing,
And the snow is starting in the fall,
Then my eyes went westward knowing,
That's the place that I love best of all.
California I've been blue, Since I've been away from you,
I can't wait 'till I get going, Even now I'm starting in a call:
California, Here I Come, Right back where I started from.
Where bowers of flowers, Bloom in the spring.
Each morning at dawning, Birdies sing at everything.
A sun-kissed miss said, "Don't be late!" That's why I can hardly wait.
Open up that golden gate, California, Here I Come."
@HooDatDonDar
All together, now:
When the wintry winds start blowing
And the snow is starting to fall
Then my eyes turn westward knowing
That's the place that I love best of all
California, I've been blue
Since I've been away from you.
I can't wait till I get going
Even now I'm starting in a call
California, here I come
Right back where I started from
Where bowers of flowers bloom in the spring
Each morning at dawning
Birdies sing and everything
A sun kissed miss said "Don't be late!"
That's why I can hardly wait,
Open up that Golden Gate!
California, here I come!
[Now, vamp it!]
California, here I come, yeah!
Right where I started from
Where bowers are flowers bloom in the spring
Each morning at dawning
Birdies sing and everything
A sun kissed miss said "Don't be late!"
That's why I can hardly wait
Open up, open up, open up that Golden Gate!
California, here I come!
(Heard this sung in public, and some people try to ham it up, Jolson style. Fun, but no one can do Jolson. He was one of a kind).
@barneyfyfe8313
My dad boarded a troop ship in California. Ended up fighting in New Guinea and the Philippines. This song was their anthem when it was all over.
@roberthach8778
This past summer I got the opportunity to go through an old abandoned & boarded up farmhouse in Iowa. In the living room of the house was an old Victrola, with this very record still on it. I brought it all home, cleaned it up & played this song....wow! What an amazing voice Al had!
@loonylinda
remembering my dad...who sang all these old jolson songs around and about all his life....recently left us aged 87....what a crooner! thanks for these old memories.
@laurahoward5426
I dang them with my grandfather and father......red, red tobin, sitting on top of the world, toot toot tootsie.....good times❣
@ll_distribution
Amazing sound thanks for making this available. AL Jolson was my dad's favorite.
@sexonnaplatter
This was the most popular song the year my mother was born. She turns 90 today. It was written for a musical designed for Jolson called Bombo.
@AgrippaMaxentius
New Yorker my whole life and I still think this is the best of the state songs .
@kellyhigham4950
Grew up on his songs. They will always be in my heart ❤
@asafakiva1619
And don't think it hasn't been a little slice of heaven.
Cause it hasn't
@jasobres
Bugs Bunny, 1946