Paul Robeson (1898-1976)
Last updated: 30.11.25
According to the Internet source given below, Paul Leroy Robeson was an American (born in Princeton, New Jersey) bass baritone concert artist and stage and film actor who became famous both for his cultural accomplishments and for his political activism. An extraordinary personality who achieved so much. A top athlete, actor and singer at the prestigious Rutgers College only the third African-American student ever enrolled there. He later studied at Columbia Law School and in 1934 at the London School of Oriental and African Studies (1934) learning Swahili.
He was a highly regarded staunch supporter of the working class whatever their ethnicity An unrepentant Stalinist however was controversial leading to him being blacklisted during the McCarthy period and the revoking of his passport leaving him unable to leave the USA.
He is remembered for many performance of Othello by William Shakespeare as well as Joe in Show Boat, particularly for his rendition of Ol' Man River.
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Paul Robeson | Biography by wikipedia.org. |
| Title (Release Year) | Composer | Performers | Issue |
|---|
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Down De Lover's Lane (1928) | W.M. Cook | Paul Robeson | HMV B2777 |
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Plantation Songs (1928) | S. Foster | Paul Robeson | HMV C1588 |
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Wagon Wheels (1934) | P. de Rose | Paul Robeson | HMV 8135 |
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Mah Lindy Lou (1932) | L. Strickland | Paul Robeson | HMV B4309 |
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I Got a Home in Dat Rock (1927) | Traditional | Paul Robeson | HMV B2727 |
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Hammer Song / Lil' David (1937) | Traditional | Paul Robeson | HMV B8550 |
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Ezekiel Saw De Wheel (1927) | Traditional | Paul Robeson | HMV B2838 |
| Title (Release Year) | Composer | Performers | Issue |
|---|
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Jes' Mah Song (1936) | L. Strickland | Paul Robeson | Gramophone: 0EA2727 |
| Composer | Title | Performer |
|---|
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S. Foster | Way down upon the Swanee River (3:15) | Paul Robeson |
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J. Kern | Ol' Man River (4:18) | Paul Robeson |
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Traditional | Drink to me only with thine eyes (3:22) | Paul Robeson |
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Traditional | Nobody knows the trouble I've seen (2:44) | Paul Robeson |
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Traditional | Oh, no, John! (2:05) | Paul Robeson |
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Traditional | When Israel was in Egypt's land (2:02) | Paul Robeson |
The peformer is featured on 14 sheet music/recording covers. It does not claim to be complete and represents only the number of items located. Keys: (w&m)
ER
| Title | Composer | Attribution | Items |
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Down De Lover's Lane (1900) | Will Marion Cook | Paul Lawrence Dunbar (words)
Paul Robeson (perf.) |
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Way Down Upon the Swanee River (1935) | Stephen Collins Foster | Stephen Foster (words)
Paul Robeson (perf.) |
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Plantation Songs (1928) | Stephen Collins Foster | Paul Robeson (perf.) |
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Ol' Man River (1927) | Jerome Kern | Oscar Hammerstein II (words)
Paul Robeson (perf.) |
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Wagon Wheels (1934) | Peter de Rose | Billy Hill (words)
Paul Robeson (perf.) |
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Mah Lindy Lou (1920) | Lily Strickland(w&m) | Paul Robeson (perf.) |
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Jes' Mah Song (1936) | Lily Strickland(w&m) | Paul Robeson (perf.) |
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Ezekiel Saw De Wheel (1927) | Traditional | Paul Robeson (perf.) |
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Hammer Song / Lil' David (1937) | Traditional | Paul Robeson (perf.) |
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Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes (?) | Traditional | Ben Jonson (words)
Paul Robeson (perf.) |
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⇑I Got a Home in Dat Rock (1927) | Traditional | Paul Robeson (perf.) |
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Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen (1867) | Traditional | Paul Robeson (perf.) |
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Oh, No, John! (?) | Traditional | Paul Robeson (perf.) |
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When Israel Was in Egypt's Land (?) | Traditional | Paul Robeson (perf.) |