Al Jolson was born as Asa Yoelson in what was then the village of Srednik, now known as Seredžius, in the Kaunas region of Lithuania.
Al Jolson (May 26, 1886-October 23, 1950) was an American singer, comedian, and actor who was dubbed as “The World’s Greatest Entertainer.” In the 1930s, he was America’s most famous and highest paid entertainer. He is best remembered as the star in the first (full length) talking movie. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Jolson became the first star to entertain troops during WWII, and again in 1950, the first star to entertain troops in Korea. Defense Secretary, George Marshall, awarded the Medal of Merit, posthumously, to Jolson’s family.