Avalon is a 1920 jazz standard written by Al Jolson, Buddy DeSylva and Vincent Rose, referencing Avalon, California. It was introduced by Jolson and interpolated in the stage musicals Sinbad and Bombo, with the sheet music published on September 4, 1920. Jolson's 1920 recording reached number two on the charts in 1921. The tune is named after the resort of Avalon on Santa Catalina Island, and its opening melody resembles Puccini's aria E lucevan le stelle, which led to a 1921 lawsuit in which Puccini's publishers won royalties. Over the years it has been recorded by many artists including Cab Calloway, Coleman Hawkins and Eddie Durham, and the Benny Goodman Quartet performed it in his 1938 Carnegie Hall concert. The song has appeared in films such as The Jolson Story, Casablanca and It's a Wonderful Life, and was featured on albums such as Chester and Lester by Chet Atkins and Les Paul (1976). It remains a staple of the jazz standard repertoire and is still played in gypsy jazz circles.
