The World's Greatest Minstrel

Clive Baldwin

with

Pearl Seiben

circa 1971

In 1971 when I first met Clive Baldwin, The Worlds Greatest Minstrel, that handsome devil that swept me off my feet was residing in Long Island at the home of Pearl Sieben.

My broken heart quickly recovered when after only five days the voice called me and invited me up for a visit for the weekend at Pearlie's. He sprung a hundred bucks for my round trip ticket on Eastern Airlines and away I went.

Early in her life Pearl Goldstein had gone to a theatre in New York to interview Al Jolson for a high school newspaper and thus began her lifelong obsession with this wonderful entertainer. He liked her a lot, called her Goldie, and kidded her in the fascinating style that he had. But for Pearl it was more than just a teenage trucking around after a Broadway star. He became her idol and for a while she was included in his life, in many ways. She would go up to his suite with a lot of the 'guys' after shows to watch him play cards and bring him cigars and newspapers.

She successfully wrote a wonderful book called, 'The Immortal Jolson' after his death and was called upon as consultant and advisor by David Wolper for a Lux Radio Theater of the Air presentation of a documentary drama based on the life of Al Jolson and narrated by Joseph Cotton. Her name appeared as the credits rolled at the end of the show. That made her proud because she was doing something for Al.

I like to think that even now, many years later, when Clive sings a 'Mammy Song' a little angel with black hair and a golden pencil and notepad is watching him from above .... and applauding.