Sammy Davis, Jr.

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Harlem, New York NY, United States (1928 – 1990)

Samuel George “Sammy” Davis, Jr. (born December 8, 1925 in Harlem, New York; died May 16, 1990 in Beverly Hills, California) was a Grammy Award winning singer, Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning actor, dancer, multi-instrumentalist and only black member of Frank Sinatra’s The Rat Pack. Davis began his career with his father and uncle in the Will Mastin Trio and he toured nationally with them, only leaving due to military service. He became an overnight sensation following a nightclub performance at Ciro’s after the 1951 Academy Awards, became a successful recording artist and then made his first film performances later that decade.

Davis, Jr. was born in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, to Elvera Sanchez, a dancer, and Sammy Davis, Sr., an African-American entertainer. The couple were both dancers in vaudeville. 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. Sammy Davis Jr. claimed that his mother was Puerto Rican, however the 2003 biography In Black and White alleges that he made this claim due to the political sensitivities of the 1960s (during the Cuban Missile Crisis), and that his mother was born in New York of Cuban descent rather than in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

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 in 1928 and they became the Will Mastin Trio. Throughout his long career, Davis included the Will Mastin Trio in his billing.
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  • needleofdeath

    a room without windows, a room without doors :*

    Thursday morning

  • five17

    The Jefferson's Theme "Movin' On Up" is on Best Of Sammy Davis, Jr. & The Mike Curb Congregation. Not his best stuff, unfortunately.

    23 days ago

  • MusicHallofFame

    The Music Hall of Fame are delighted to induct Sammy Davis, Jr. into the Class of 1974. Congratulations. Please vist our page too see the latest inductees into the Music Hall of Fame

    last month

  • granpubah

    Got to see Sammy live!!!

    last month

  • EricValeev

    Mr. Bojangles....)

    March 2012

  • PamGordon

    I have a Sammy Davis Jr You tube channel with tons of his music spanning his career for anyone who would like to enjoy his music: http://www.youtube.com/user/1PamGordon?feature=mhee

    March 2012

  • gendervariant

    I was trolling youtube and ran across this gem. Alternate version of the Jefferson's theme song. Was it ever officially released? I would love to have it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKYH4HYZCtg&feature=related

    February 2012

  • stuntcat

    YAY Sammy! (better late than never huh :P)

    September 2011
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