<P> The song was first performed in the original stage production of Show Boat on December 27 , 1927 , by Jules Bledsoe , who also sang it in the part - talkie 1929 film , although that film version had little to do with the stage musical . Bledsoe also recorded the song years later . However , the most famous rendition of it , one that is still noted today , was sung by Paul Robeson in James Whale 's classic 1936 film version of Show Boat . ( Robeson had performed the song before in the 1928 London production of the show and in the 1932 Broadway revival . ) The first known recording of the song was by ' Kenn ' Sisson and His Orchestra , recorded on December 27 , 1927 , with Irving Kaufman on vocals . The song became an American classic , and was performed by many musicians and musical groups , including Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra , Bix Beiderbecke , Bing Crosby , Frank Sinatra , Harry James , Gordon MacRae , Robert Merrill , Sam Cooke , Roy Hamilton , Sammy Davis , Jr. , Al Jolson , Screaming Jay Hawkins , Cilla Black , Melanie , Django Reinhardt , Ray Charles , Cher , Jim Croce , Jimmy Ricks and the Ravens , The Beach Boys , Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed , The Jeff Beck Group , Muslim Magomayev , Aretha Franklin , Jane Siberry and Al Hirt . William Warfield sang it in the 1951 Technicolor film version of Show Boat in another rendition that became very famous . ( It became his signature song , and he performed it several times on television and in several stage revivals of Show Boat . ) Melvin Franklin , the famous bass singer of The Temptations , performed it at most concerts , eventually making it his signature song . Judy Garland , one of the few female singers to attempt the song , sang a powerful rendition on her television show in 1963 , followed by a studio recording . Indian Singer , Bhupen Hazarika had also sung a version in Hindi and his native Assamese called `` O Ganga tu behti hai kyon '' . Cilla Black released a jazz version of the song on her first album in 1965 Cilla which Bing Crosby subsequently described as the best version he 'd ever heard . </P>
<P> The song was first performed in the original stage production of Show Boat on December 27 , 1927 , by Jules Bledsoe , who also sang it in the part - talkie 1929 film , although that film version had little to do with the stage musical . Bledsoe also recorded the song years later . However , the most famous rendition of it , one that is still noted today , was sung by Paul Robeson in James Whale 's classic 1936 film version of Show Boat . ( Robeson had performed the song before in the 1928 London production of the show and in the 1932 Broadway revival . ) The first known recording of the song was by ' Kenn ' Sisson and His Orchestra , recorded on December 27 , 1927 , with Irving Kaufman on vocals . The song became an American classic , and was performed by many musicians and musical groups , including Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra , Bix Beiderbecke , Bing Crosby , Frank Sinatra , Harry James , Gordon MacRae , Robert Merrill , Sam Cooke , Roy Hamilton , Sammy Davis , Jr. , Al Jolson , Screaming Jay Hawkins , Cilla Black , Melanie , Django Reinhardt , Ray Charles , Cher , Jim Croce , Jimmy Ricks and the Ravens , The Beach Boys , Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed , The Jeff Beck Group , Muslim Magomayev , Aretha Franklin , Jane Siberry and Al Hirt . William Warfield sang it in the 1951 Technicolor film version of Show Boat in another rendition that became very famous . ( It became his signature song , and he performed it several times on television and in several stage revivals of Show Boat . ) Melvin Franklin , the famous bass singer of The Temptations , performed it at most concerts , eventually making it his signature song . Judy Garland , one of the few female singers to attempt the song , sang a powerful rendition on her television show in 1963 , followed by a studio recording . Indian Singer , Bhupen Hazarika had also sung a version in Hindi and his native Assamese called `` O Ganga tu behti hai kyon '' . Cilla Black released a jazz version of the song on her first album in 1965 Cilla which Bing Crosby subsequently described as the best version he 'd ever heard . </P>
who sang old man river in the film showboat
who sang old man river in the film showboat
Paul Robeson
Paul Robeson