Jules Bledsoe facts for kids
Julius Lorenzo Cobb Bledsoe (born in 1898 – died July 14, 1943) was an American singer with a deep voice, called a baritone. He was one of the first African-American artists to get regular jobs on Broadway, which is famous for its plays and musicals.
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Early Life and School
Jules Bledsoe was born in Waco, Texas, in 1898. His parents were Henry L. and Jessie Cobb Bledsoe. When his parents separated in 1899, Jules lived with his mother and the Cobb family.
He went to Central Texas Academy from 1905 to 1914. He was the top student when he graduated! After that, he studied at Bishop College and earned his first degree in 1918. He also attended Virginia Union University from 1918 to 1919, where he was part of the ROTC. Finally, he studied medicine at Columbia University from 1920 to 1924. While he was in school, he also learned music from special teachers like Claude Warford, Luigi Parisotti, and Lazar Samoiloff.
Career
Jules Bledsoe started his professional singing career in New York City at Aeolian Hall on April 20, 1924. A famous manager named Sol Hurok helped him get started. Throughout his career, he traveled all over the United States and Europe. He performed, acted, and even wrote music.
Opera and Music Performances
Bledsoe sang in many big operas. People really wanted him because he could sing in different languages and had an amazing voice. In 1926, he played Tizan in an opera called Deep River.
His most famous role was playing Joe in the musical Show Boat in 1927. He was the first person to sing this part! He also made the song "Ol' Man River" very popular.
Bledsoe also sang the role of Amonasro in the Chicago Opera's show of Verdi's Aida. In 1930, he tried to create his own musical version of The Emperor Jones. Even though another composer got the main role, Bledsoe still played the character in productions in places like Amsterdam (1934), Paris, Vienna, Brussels, London, and later in New York City. He also played the main character in Mussorgsky's opera Boris Godunov.
Bledsoe's only recording of "Ol' Man River" is sometimes played on NPR. He was also filmed singing the song for the 1929 movie version of Show Boat.
Film Appearances
Between 1929 and 1930, Jules Bledsoe was in three short musical films: Old Man Trouble, On the Levee, and Dear Old Southland. He worked in Hollywood in 1940 and 1941. He played the part of Kalu in the movie Drums of the Congo. He might have also acted in Safari, Western Union and Santa Fe Trail.
Partial Filmography
- Drums of the Congo (1942)
Legacy and Death
Jules Bledsoe passed away in Hollywood, California, on July 14, 1943. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Waco, Texas. His personal papers, including his sheet music, photos, and letters, are kept at The Texas Collection at Baylor University. The Bledsoe-Miller Community Center, a fun place in Waco, is named after him and Doris Miller.
See also
In Spanish: Jules Bledsoe para niños
