Paul Robeson (April 9, 1898 – January 23, 1976) - Ol' Man River (Showboat - 1936) "Ol' Man River" is a show tune from the 1927 musical Show Boat with music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, who wrote the song in 1925. The song contrasts the struggles and hardships of African Americans with the endless, uncaring flow of the Mississippi River. It is sung from the point of view of a black stevedore on a showboat, and is the most famous song from the show. The song is meant to be pe

Ol’ Man River may be historic, but this Temptations performance of the beloved classic remains timeless! 59 years ago, Melvin “Blue” Franklin led The Temptations in an iconic rendition of “Ol’ Man River” during their 1967 appearance on ‘The Mike Douglas Show.’ | Temptations