The 7 Greatest Entertainers of All Time

Greatest Performers of All Time

Performing well is one thing, but grabbing the attention of the audience every time is another. This is the magic that only the greatest entertainers have. There are seven who had this magic, and will continue to thrill audiences for years to come. Here are the seven greatest entertainers of all time.

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7. Johnny Carson

Known as the King of Late Night TV, Johnny Carson was the host of The Tonight Show for over 30 years. He completely changed Late Night television, and it hasn't been the same since his retirement in 1992.

Mr. Carson was very funny and quick-witted. He did not want to be the center of attention. Instead he played off the talents of his guests, and let Ed McMahon, Doc Severinsen and The Mighty Carson Art Players contribute. This combination worked great, and was one of the things that made The Tonight Show the best show on TV for over 30 years.

He was not just another comedian, but something very special. Mr. Carson came into the homes of people every night, and made them feel so good about themselves.

6. James Brown

Known as the Godfather of Soul, James Brown's dynamic stage presence and showmanship set the standard for live performances and cemented his place in music history.

He was the master of funk, soul, and Rhythm & Blues, and his hits such as "I Feel Good" and "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" are still loved by many today.

His dance moves continue to inspire performers around the world.

5. Liberace

There are piano players, and, there is Liberace. He was a master showman who captivated audiences with his virtuoso piano playing and charming personality.

If Liberace had not been a piano player, he would have been the best Fortune 500 marketing executive of all time. The way he promoted himself, with his flamboyant style, extravagant costumes and his Candelabra was a stroke of genius.

During the course of his career, he set the standard for anyone who wanted to learn how to play the piano. It was very common for people to say to the new, aspiring piano student, "You may be another Liberace." That saying still goes today, because Liberace is someone who will never be forgotten.

When Liberace was a guest on The Tonight Show, the first thing Johnny Carson said to him was, "You sure give people their money's worth."

4. Lucy

There is no need to say her last name because when the name Lucy is mentioned, the whole world knows you are talking about Lucille Ball.

From her iconic role as Lucy Ricardo in I Love Lucy to her successful production company, Desilu Productions, Lucy's impact on the entertainment industry is immeasurable.

Because of Desilu, Lucy paved the way for others who had successful careers in television. Among the people she made famous are, Andy Griffith, Ron Howard, Jim Nabors, Rory Calhoun and Robert Stack.

Lucy was the greatest at what she did. This amazing lady is still making people laugh today, and will continue to do so for many years to come.

One of her trademarks in the I Love Lucy series shows how great she really is. Many times on the show, there were guest celebrities, playing the role of themselves. Some of these were, William Holden, Charles Boyer, Richard Widmark, Cornel Wilde and many others. Lucy would come apart at the seams everytime she met one of these celebrities, and do something crazy. The amazing thing is, she was greater than all of them put together.

3. Al Jolson

You Ain't Heard Nothin' Yet!

The man who made this phrase famous was a singer, comedian, and actor who rose to fame in the early 20th century.

As his career skyrocketed, everybody referred to him as the world's greatest entertainer until his death on October 23, 1950.

Mr. Jolson had a major impact on the movie industry. He appeared in The Jazz Singer, released in 1927. This was the first feature-length movie that known at the time as a talking picture, which was the beginning of the end of the silent picture era.

There are two classic movies about his life and career. The first is The Jolson Story, released in 1946, and the sequel is Jolson Sings Again, released in 1949. These are two great movies, and well worth watching. They show that it's not enough to hear Al Jolson sing. To really appreciate the man, you have to see him sing.

2. Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson is widely regarded as one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Some consider him to be THE greatest entertainer of all time, and this is very well justified.

Michael is, and always will be in a class by himself.

Anytime you're at a party and a Michael Jackson song comes on, watch the dance floor. It will immediately become crowded with people, of all backgrounds. Only a few artists, living or deceased, have the power to bring people together and make them feel good, as Michael did. There is something about his music that can cause that type of unity in people that you rarely see.

Michael credited James Brown as his major influence. He grew up watching his idol on television and loved the singer's moves, which he thought were effortless. We can see where Michael got some of his moves.

1. Elvis

Elvis is known to the world on a first name basis because he is The King. If you are an Elvis fan, you will feel like you know him personally. No other entertainer in history had this effect on people.

He was a game changer. Elvis totally changed music. He integrated country and blues into something that was completely new and different. People hadn’t heard anything quite like it before. He set the standard for the way music was performed and played.

John Lennon once said “Before Elvis there was nothing”. While this isn’t entirely true, it was as far as John was concerned.

Before Elvis, John and Paul McCartney didn’t consider music as a career. They were not necessarily destined to be musicians, but Elvis changed this for them. Elvis was the driving force that made them decide they wanted to play music. They weren’t the only ones. Bob Dylan had the same reaction along with countless others.

Elvis was truly one of a kind and his abilities made him stand out from other rock legends.

Conclusion

There are performers, and, there are entertainers. As you can see, the entertainers in this article have that secret sauce that separates them from the others who are merely performers.

As long as people continue to listen to music, watch movies and watch videos, these seven entertainers will never die, and will always be a part of people's lives.

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