Poll Robeson American black singer (bass-baritone) and actor Date of Birth: 09.04.1898 Country: USA

1. Biography of Paul Robeson
2. Success as a Singer
3. Film Career and Political Activism
4. Political Persecution and Later Years
5. On January 23, 1976, the great singer passed away.

Biography of Paul Robeson

Paul Robeson was an American African-American singer (bass-baritone) and actor who possessed perfect pitch and an extraordinary beautiful baritone bass voice. He loved to sing traditional African-American songs and spirituals. He was born on April 9, 1898, in Princeton, New Jersey, to a minister and a teacher. After completing high school, Paul became the third African-American student in the history of Rutgers College (now University). He quickly became popular in college, both as one of the top students and as a brilliant football player. Paul Robeson was the first African-American graduate of Columbia Law School, which he completed with honors in 1923. Although he started working at a law firm, he was drawn to a different career - the theater. He became an actor. Robeson gained worldwide theatrical fame for his portrayal of the title role in Shakespeare's "Othello" - first in London in 1930, and then on Broadway in New York in 1943.

Success as a Singer

In addition to his acting career, Paul Robeson was known for his exceptional singing voice. He loved to sing traditional African-American songs and spirituals. In 1925, he held his first solo concert, which was a tremendous success. He captivated the audience with his sincerity, emotion, depth of feeling, and simplicity in his performance style. His repertoire was extensive, as he sang in 25 different languages, successfully conveying the cultural essence of each song.

Film Career and Political Activism

Following his success as a singer, Paul Robeson also gained fame as a film actor. In the 1930s and early 1940s, he appeared in notable films such as "The Emperor Jones," "Song of Freedom," "King Solomon's Mines," "The Proud Valley," and "Tales of Manhattan."

In 1931, Robeson met director Sergei Eisenstein in New York, and at Eisenstein's invitation, he visited the Soviet Union for the first time in 1934. In 1936-37, Robeson traveled to Spain with concerts. This trip, he wrote, became a turning point in his life, as he realized that fighting fascism should become his primary and most important cause. Upon returning home, Robeson gave lectures about his trips to Spain and the Soviet Union, continuing his concert career, which took on a journalistic and propagandistic character.

Paul Robeson became one of the organizers of aid to the Soviet Union in its war against Nazi Germany and called for the swift opening of a second front. In 1943, he was awarded the Abraham Lincoln Medal for his outstanding contributions to public service. In 1944, he received the Medal of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Medal of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In 1949, Robeson, a staunch supporter of peaceful coexistence between the United States and the Soviet Union, visited our country again.

Political Persecution and Later Years

In 1950, during the height of McCarthyism, the House Un-American Activities Committee stripped Robeson of his right to travel abroad for performances, stating that "his recent activities indicated that he was primarily a propagandist for communist ideas, and then a singer." That same year, Robeson was awarded the International Peace Award for "Songs of Peace" and was elected a member of the World Peace Council. In 1953, he became the laureate of the International Stalin Peace Prize for strengthening peace among nations. In 1958, the Moscow Conservatory awarded Robeson the title of honorary professor. In 1960, Robeson gave his final concerts in New Zealand and Australia. Starting in 1963, he withdrew from public performances.

On January 23, 1976, the great singer passed away.