Paul Robeson, an all-American football player from Rutgers University, began a career as an actor and popular singer in the 1920’s, which lasted into the 1950’s. He was especially known for his deep baritone voice.
During the 1930’s, Robeson became active in left-wing causes, became an outspoken, hard-core Stalinist, and wound up as the Stalin Peace Prize laureate for 1953.
My record collection includes a recording from 1928 of him singing “Old Man River,” backed by Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra, as well as two Soviet patriotic songs from the 1940’s, “Shiroka Strana, Moya Rodnaya” (Vast Nation, My Homeland) and Ot Kraya i do Kraya” (From Border to Border), each sung in Russian and English.
I’m always learning something here on FR. Thank you.
I had no idea that Robeson was a big time football player - and a popular singer.
He must have done well - at least for a while - because he had a big estate outside of Hartford, CT at one time. Later he was boycotted because of his connections with communism.