Eddie Leonard
Encyclopedia
Eddie Leonard born Lemuel Golden Toney, was a vaudevillian and a man considered the greatest American minstrel
Minstrel
A minstrel was a medieval European bard who performed songs whose lyrics told stories of distant places or of existing or imaginary historical events. Although minstrels created their own tales, often they would memorize and embellish the works of others. Frequently they were retained by royalty...

 of his day, at a time when minstrel show
Minstrel show
The minstrel show, or minstrelsy, was an American entertainment consisting of comic skits, variety acts, dancing, and music, performed by white people in blackface or, especially after the Civil War, black people in blackface....

s were still acceptable as entertainment. He performed in vaudeville for 45 years before that medium faded in the 1920s, and was known for such songs as "Ida, Sweet As Apple Cider" and "Roly Boly Eyes". He published his memoirs—titled What a Life I'm Telling You -- in 1934. He died on July 29, 1941.

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