Paul Robeson played Joe and sang “Ol’ Man River” in the 1936 film version of “Show Boat.”
It’s safe to say that no one has ever lived a life quite like Paul Robeson’s. Born and raised in Princeton and educated at Rutgers College (now Rutgers University) in New Brunswick, he was an all-American football player, received a law degree while playing in the National Football League, and then became one of the country’s most popular singers and actors, as well as a Civil Rights activist. He was also a controversial figure because of his positive views on Communism. A member of both the College Football Hall of Fame and the American Theater Hall of Fame, as well as the winner of a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award, he died in 1976, at the age of 77.
Musically, he is remembered most for his inimitable bass voice; for helping to bring African-American spirituals to the attention of concert audiences all over the world; and for his powerful performance of “Ol’ Man River” in the 1936 film version of the Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein II musical, “Show Boat.” Check it out below.
New Jersey celebrated its 350th birthday in 2014. And in the 350 Jersey Songs series, we marked the occasion by posting 350 songs — one a day, from September 2014 to September 2015 — that have something to do with the state, its musical history, or both. To see the entire list, click here.
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