Show Boat's African American Singer: A Historic Performance

The African American singer in Show Boat was Paul Robeson, who played Joe, a black dock worker who sang the song Ol' Man River. Robeson was a prominent 20th-century actor and civil rights activist, with an unmistakable bass-baritone voice. The song became his signature, and he is closely associated with the character of Joe. Robeson refused to take the role during the musical's initial run on Broadway, but accepted the part for a 1928 London production, and played Joe for the next ten years.

The African-American singer in Show Boat was Paul Robeson, who played Joe

Robeson was unavailable for the original production of Show Boat, so the role of Joe was first played by Jules Bledsoe. However, Robeson played Joe in four notable productions of the musical: the 1928 London premiere, the 1932 Broadway revival, the 1936 film version, and a 1940 stage revival in Los Angeles.

The song "Ol' Man River" was written for Robeson and became his trademark. Robeson's dignified approach to the role of Joe challenged racial boundaries on the musical stage and provided new opportunities for future actors playing the character.

In addition to his acting and singing career, Robeson was also a lawyer and athlete. Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen described him as "the renaissance man of the 20th century".

Robeson refused to take the role of Joe during the initial run of Show Boat

Paul Robeson, the African-American bass-baritone, refused to take the role of Joe during the initial run of Show Boat. The role was first played by Jules Bledsoe, a Black operatic baritone. Robeson, however, played the role in London in 1928, and he also performed in the 1936 film adaptation.

The reason for Robeson's initial refusal was due to delays in the production. Show Boat was set to debut in the spring of 1927, but the producers decided to open the theatre with a traditional Follies-style musical, Rio Rita, instead. When Rio Rita proved to be a hit, Show Boat was delayed indefinitely. Robeson had initially committed to the show, but when it was delayed, he was forced to pull out.

Despite his initial refusal, Robeson's association with the song "Ol' Man River" has lasted for decades, leading many to presume that he performed it in the musical. The song was specifically written for Robeson by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein, and it became one of his most famous songs.

In the musical, Joe is a dock worker on the show boat Cotton Blossom. He is the husband of Queenie, the ship's cook. Joe sings the iconic song "Ol' Man River," which reflects the resilience of the African-American labourer surviving in a racist society.

The character of Joe was expanded from the novel by Kern and Hammerstein specifically for Robeson. They increased the prominence of the character and shifted the metaphor of the Mississippi River from Magnolia, the show's heroine, to Joe through "Ol' Man River."

The song 'Ol' Man River' was written for Robeson to perform

The song "Ol' Man River" was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II for Paul Robeson to perform. Kern and Hammerstein wrote the song with Robeson in mind, but he was committed to other projects and unable to perform in the original Broadway production of Show Boat.

Robeson was a noted African-American bass-baritone who had created a sensation on the stage in 1925 with his performance in Eugene O'Neill's The Emperor Jones. Robeson's success was a mirror of the determined defiance in the face of oppressive circumstances expressed in the song.

The song was first performed in the original stage production of Show Boat on December 27, 1927, by Jules Bledsoe. However, the most famous rendition of it was sung by Robeson in James Whale's classic 1936 film version of Show Boat. Robeson also performed the song in the 1928 London production and the 1932 Broadway revival.

Robeson's distinctive baritone voice and powerful performance of "Ol' Man River" have made his rendition the definitive version of the song for many. The song has become a pop standard, with numerous musicians and musical groups covering it since the 1920s.

The character of Joe was based on Robeson's career and musical style

The character of Joe in Show Boat was based on Paul Robeson's career and musical style. Robeson was an African-American bass-baritone concert artist, actor, professional football player, and activist. He was also the third African-American student to be enrolled at Rutgers University, where he excelled in both scholastics and athletics. Robeson's rendition of "Ol' Man River" in Show Boat became the benchmark for all future performers of the song.

Robeson's career as a lawyer ended abruptly when a stenographer refused to take down a memo, saying, "I never take dictation from a nigger". He then turned to acting and singing as a career. Robeson's acting career started to take off when he accepted the role of Joe in a London production of Show Boat. Robeson gave concerts in London at Albert Hall and Sunday-afternoon performances at Drury Lane. Robeson's powerful, warm, soothing voice and stage presence were undeniable.

Robeson was embraced by the media during the 1920s. In the New Yorker, Mildred Gilman wrote during that decade that Robeson was "the promise of his race," "King of Harlem," and "Idol of his people." Robeson returned briefly to the United States in 1929 to perform before a packed Carnegie Hall. In May of 1930, after establishing a permanent residence in England, he accepted the lead role in Shakespeare's Othello. This London production at the Savoy Theatre was the first time since the performance of well-known black actor Ira Aldridge in 1860 that a major production company cast a black in the part of the Moor. Robeson, a tall, strikingly handsome man with a deep, rich, baritone voice and a shy, almost boyish manner, so captivated the audience that the first performance included twenty curtain calls.

Robeson's portrayal of Joe challenged racial boundaries on the musical stage

Paul Robeson's portrayal of Joe in Show Boat challenged racial boundaries on the musical stage in several ways. Firstly, Robeson's dignified approach to the role of Joe, a dock worker on the Mississippi River show boat Cotton Blossom, set a new standard for the character. Every actor who played Joe after Robeson was, to some extent, impersonating him and tapping into his peculiar effect on white audiences. Robeson's powerful performance as Joe also challenged racial boundaries by providing new opportunities for future generations of Black actors.

Additionally, the inclusion of Robeson's star power in the musical influenced the expansion of the Joe character and the prominence of the song "Ol' Man River". The song, which became a Robeson trademark, was written specifically for Robeson's vocal talents and to showcase his stage presence. "Ol' Man River" became the show's greatest star and a standout moment in any production, often garnering a standing ovation early in Act 1. The song's lyrics and melody, inspired by African American spirituals, also served as a form of protest against racial injustice, giving voice to an oppressed people.

Furthermore, Robeson's involvement in Show Boat contributed to the musical's racially charged history and its efforts to address larger issues of race, music, and national identity in America. While the musical took steps towards equitable race relations by featuring an interracial cast and showcasing Black performers, it also faced criticism for its use of racial slurs and stereotypes. Robeson himself experienced racism during the London run of Show Boat when he was refused seating at the Savoy Grill, prompting him to issue a press release describing the incident.

In conclusion, Paul Robeson's portrayal of Joe in Show Boat had a significant impact on the musical's racial dynamics and challenged racial boundaries on the musical stage. His performance set a new standard for the character, expanded opportunities for Black actors, and highlighted the power of music as a form of protest and a means of addressing racial injustice.

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