This page will contain blogs about Sammy Davis, Jr., as they become available.Sammy Davis, Jr.Sammy Davis, Jr. photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1956Sammy Davis, Jr. (December 8, 1925 - May 16, 1990) was an American "all-around" entertainer. He danced, sang, played vibraphone, trumpet, and drums, did impressions, and acted. BiographyHe was born in Harlem, New York City to Elvera Sanchez, a Puerto Rican, and Sammy Davis, Sr., an Afro-American, who were vaudeville dancers. As an infant, he was raised by his paternal grandmother. When he was three years old, his parents split up. His father, not wanting to lose custody of his son, took him on tour. As a child he learned how to dance from his father, Sammy Davis, Sr. and his "uncle" Will Mastin, who led the dance troupe his father worked for. Davis joined the act as a young child and they became the Will Mastin Trio. Throughout his long career, Davis included the Will Mastin Trio in his billing. Mastin and his father had shielded him from racism. Snubs were explained as jealousy, for instance, but during World War II, Davis served in the United States Army, where he was first confronted by strong racial prejudice. As he said later, "Overnight the world looked different. It wasn't one color anymore. I could see the protection I'd gotten all my life from my father and Will. I appreciated their loving hope that I'd never need to know about prejudice and hate, but they were wrong. It was as if I'd walked through a swinging door for eighteen years, a door which they had always secretly held open." While in the service, however, he joined an entertainment unit, and found that the spotlight removed some of the prejudice. "My talent was the weapon, the power, the way for me to fight. It was the one way I might hope to affect a man's thinking," he said. After he was discharged, he rejoined the dance act and began to achieve success. He suffered a setback in 1954, when an automobile accident resulted in the loss of an eye. Later that year, he converted to Judaism, and the next year he released his second album. The next move in his growing career was to appear in the Broadway show Mr. Wonderful. In 1959 he became a charter member of the Rat Pack, which was led by his old friend Frank Sinatra. After he achieved success he refused to work at venues which would practice racial segregation. His demands eventually led to the integration of Miami Beach nightclubs and Las Vegas casinos. In 1960, Davis caused controversy when he married white Swedish-born actress May Britt. At that time interracial marriages were forbidden by law in 31 US states out of 50, and only in 1967 those laws were abolished by the US Supreme Court. The couple had one daughter and adopted two sons. They divorced in 1968. That year Sammy Davis, Jr. started dating Altovise Gore, a dancer in one of his shows. They were wed in 1970 by Rev. Jesse Jackson. They remained married until Sammy Davis, Jr.'s death in 1990. In either the late 1960s or early 1970s, Davis joined Anton LaVey's Church of Satan. In Japan, Davis appeared in television commercials for coffee. In his autobiography, Davis describes his swinger lifestyle which included alcohol, cocaine, and women. He also chronicles his financial difficulties. He died in Beverly Hills, California on May 16, 1990 of complications from throat cancer, a result of his many years of smoking. Davis is interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California. Filmography
Autobiographies
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He also chronicles his financial difficulties. Sawyer left in 1983, and the band continued to tour for two more years before completely splitting up in 1985. In his autobiography, Davis describes his swinger lifestyle which included alcohol, cocaine, and women. Hook", and their chart hits became mostly ballads (including "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan"). In Japan, Davis appeared in television commercials for coffee. The band toured constantly but spent all the money they earned on partying; their fifh album was aptly called "Bankrupt". Eventually they shortened the band's name to "Dr. In either the late 1960s or early 1970s, Davis joined Anton LaVey's Church of Satan. It also got the band on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, although as a caricature rather than a photograph. They remained married until Sammy Davis, Jr.'s death in 1990. "Sylvia's Mother," a ballad from their first album, became a big hit, and "Cover of the Rolling Stone" from the followup album, "Sloppy Seconds" attracted the attention of those who would like their silly stage show and its monologues done as fictional characters. Jesse Jackson. Silverstein composed most of the songs on their first few albums. They were wed in 1970 by Rev. Haffkine also became their new manager and got the band a record deal. started dating Altovise Gore, a dancer in one of his shows. The band hooked up with composer Shel Silverstein when their manager sent in a demo tape to Ron Haffkine, who was in charge of doing the music for the movie Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me? Silverstein was writing songs for the film, and he and Haffkine both liked the demo enough to get the band to do all the songs for the movie. That year Sammy Davis, Jr. The band name is a reference to Captain Hook from Peter Pan; in fact, the original name proposed for the band was "Captain Hook and the Medicine Show". They divorced in 1968. Sawyer was particularly noticeable due to his trademark cowboy hat and the eyepatch he wore due to a car accident in 1967. The couple had one daughter and adopted two sons. Other members include Jance Garfat, Rik Elswit, and Jay David. At that time interracial marriages were forbidden by law in 31 US states out of 50, and only in 1967 those laws were abolished by the US Supreme Court. Bill Francis, John David, and George Cummings were also part of the original band, but their lineup changed quite a bit over the years. In 1960, Davis caused controversy when he married white Swedish-born actress May Britt. The original lineup consisted of core members Ray Sawyer and Dennis Locorriere. His demands eventually led to the integration of Miami Beach nightclubs and Las Vegas casinos. Hook & the Medicine Show is a pop-country rock band formed in Union City, New Jersey in 1968. After he achieved success he refused to work at venues which would practice racial segregation. Dr. In 1959 he became a charter member of the Rat Pack, which was led by his old friend Frank Sinatra. The next move in his growing career was to appear in the Broadway show Mr. Wonderful. Later that year, he converted to Judaism, and the next year he released his second album. He suffered a setback in 1954, when an automobile accident resulted in the loss of an eye. After he was discharged, he rejoined the dance act and began to achieve success. It was the one way I might hope to affect a man's thinking," he said. While in the service, however, he joined an entertainment unit, and found that the spotlight removed some of the prejudice. "My talent was the weapon, the power, the way for me to fight. It was as if I'd walked through a swinging door for eighteen years, a door which they had always secretly held open.". I appreciated their loving hope that I'd never need to know about prejudice and hate, but they were wrong. I could see the protection I'd gotten all my life from my father and Will. It wasn't one color anymore. As he said later, "Overnight the world looked different. Snubs were explained as jealousy, for instance, but during World War II, Davis served in the United States Army, where he was first confronted by strong racial prejudice. Mastin and his father had shielded him from racism. Throughout his long career, Davis included the Will Mastin Trio in his billing. Davis joined the act as a young child and they became the Will Mastin Trio. and his "uncle" Will Mastin, who led the dance troupe his father worked for. As a child he learned how to dance from his father, Sammy Davis, Sr. His father, not wanting to lose custody of his son, took him on tour. When he was three years old, his parents split up. As an infant, he was raised by his paternal grandmother. He was born in Harlem, New York City to Elvera Sanchez, a Puerto Rican, and Sammy Davis, Sr., an Afro-American, who were vaudeville dancers. He danced, sang, played vibraphone, trumpet, and drums, did impressions, and acted. Sammy Davis, Jr. (December 8, 1925 - May 16, 1990) was an American "all-around" entertainer. Sammy (with Burt and Jane Boyar) (2000) ISBN 0374293554 Consolidates the two previous books and includes additional material. Why Me? (with Burt and Jane Boyar) (1980) ISBN 0446360252. Yes I Can (with Burt and Jane Boyar) (1965) ISBN 0374522685. Tap (1989). Moon Over Parador (1988). Knights of the City (1986) (scenes deleted). The Perils of P.K. (1986). That's Dancing! (1985). Cannonball Run II (1984). Broadway Danny Rose (1984) (cameo). Cracking Up (1983). Heidi's Song (1982) (voice). The Cannonball Run (1981). Sammy Stops the World (1978). Gone with the West (1975). Save the Children (1973) (documentary). Elvis: That's the Way It Is (1970) (documentary). One More Time (1970). Sweet Charity (1969). Salt and Pepper (1968). A Man Called Adam (1966). Nightmare in the Sun (1965). Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964). Johnny Cool (1963). Of Love and Desire (1963). Convicts 4 (1962). Sergeants 3 (1962). Three Penny Opera (1962). Pepe (1960) (cameo). Ocean's Eleven (1960). Porgy and Bess (1959). Anna Lucasta (1959). Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956). Sweet and Low (1947). Rufus Jones for President (1933) (short subject). Seasoned Greetings (1933) (short subject). |