When i was 18 i saw a Sammy Davis jnr concert (i never knew a man could be so talented) and one point he immitated other artists, when he impersonated Frank Sinatra he just stood still and did nothing and he was Frank, it was wonderful. i just had to let you know.

[Nancy]

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Nancy

[ARIES3032]

Hi Nancy, Somewhere in heaven these three gentlemen are having a fine time., and smiling down on us. They must be loving this web site. Have a great week-end. Love U, Leatrice

Good Afternoon,

Does anyone else have The Sammy Davis Jr. Story - 4CD set? I think it is a Warners/Reprise issue. I saw it in the Music Store forever and finally 'broke-down' and bought it

It is really good! I've always thought of him as a 'live' performer but I really like his recording style, he has such a beautiful and rich voice and I am really enjoying this set.

I've really only listened to CDS's 1 and 2 so far...I love his version of That Old Black Magic and Love Me or Leave Me..the Porgy and Bess songs...Teach me Tonite with Count Basie...I've got alot of Livin to do and Let there be Love.

Does anyone else have this or have any favorites or recommendations for CD's 3 and 4?

Thanks!

Selena

I wanted that boxset for the longest time but never bought it until about 2-3 months ago. I am glad I bought it as it is fantastic. All of it is absolutely wonderful. I don't have it right in front of me or else I would list some of my "faves," but they are all tremendous!

Signed,
Respectfully,

Todd

[Jake]

Selena65, I reccomend CD 3 of the box set. I usually take that CD out of the box, put the others away in storage, and marvel. He sings wonderfully, check out "Who can I Turn To", "Yes I Can", "Here I'll Stay", "I think I like you", "At The Crossroads", "Lover Come Back to Me", among others. The live CD is great, and I recently bought "Sammy Davis Jr. at the Cocoanut Grove". Spectacular.

I have always regarded Sammy Davis Jr. as the best all-round entertainer ever. Frank is for me the best in singing and dramatics and I adore the man immensely as regulars here know, but Sammy was always the best on stage. He could imitate, sing, dance, do tricks, joke and get genuine laughs, and really breathe for everyone there. He was truly Frank's brother as far as I'm concerned in that he was trying to break racial injustices as much as Frank and had to live through it personally. I have both his books and figure him to be great and one of my idols.

For Frank to have been there for Sammy all that time was a godsend for the latter and the former. Could you imagine the Summit without Sammy? Forget it! I'm sure the relationship may not have been easy at times, even to third parties like wives, but really you couldn't imagine one without the other for any extended period of time.

I have always wondered if Sammy would have been a worse performer had he been caucasian. Perhaps the race issue which seems to me the greatest stupidity in the history of humankind was the driving force that, although a barrier, gave Sammy the platform he needed to make himself known. Forget the drugs and the booze, but Sammy was immensely successful in breaking down so many injustices so that people like Michael Jackson and company even had the chance to make it big. He is a humanitarian of the highest degree because he made us aware what it's like to be human. Not just a jew, not just african-american, but a human, like all of us, not less.

Thank goodness for Frank and friends who contributed to help make Sammy what he is. Sammy's dedication to the art of entertaining is textbook material to any study on the subect, period.

Hi Jake,

Yes, I agree with you...Sammy is/was awesome..he really put his heart into his craft!

Does anyone know if you can purchase the 1965 benefit show that TVLand shows?

Sammy always blows me away on that one...I think Frank and Dean are great in that too...it's so fun to see Frank 'groove' on You Make Me Feel So Young....but I guess I am always most touched by Sammy in that show...

When he is doing his rhythym and drums number..he is just amazing and I hate to think of the racial aspect because we should all just be allowed to be who and what we are regardless of skin color and origin...but when he is up there doing his thing, really giving it to the crowd that appears to mostly be white..tho it could be mixed..I hope it was!.....I just feel that he has such dignity and integrity as a man and a performer, he is showing the folks what he has to give, which is so much..that nothing can be taken away from him...on stage he is totally equal to anyone and I think it must have been so hard and unfair that no matter how much he gave and showed himself that he still had to deal with 'issues' and prejudices that society tried to impose on him or wouldn't let him forget about.

So, I completely admire him for doing what he loved and giving so much of himself and I think that altho in many circles he was thoroughly acknowledged and appreciated in his time... I hate to think how hard he must have felt like he had to work to gain credit that others less talented or less giving might have come by more easily.

Thanks!

Selena

[Linda]

I remember the tribute that was given to Sammy shortly before his death. Sammy looked very thin and weak, but Gregory Hines held out Sammy's tap shoes and Sammy put them on and danced. It was wonderful - it was not a weak, very sick man dancing. It was as if his illness went away and the talent took over. It was so moving, I cried like a baby.

[steffen]

i know many numbers from the box set. i would like to have it, but it is rather expensive. i really want to collect his original cds, like i did with frank sinatras'.
i really like "love me or leave me". i have the whole sammy-basie album and the album with laurindo almeida. and i think he is really funky on "barrettas theme"/keep your eye on the sparrow.
steffen

What a wonderful performer he was, with and without Frank. I have the "Ultimate Event" tape with Frank, Liza and Sammy and, to me, Sammy was singing as well as he had ever done in his life. He did a splendid version of "The Music Of The Night" as the Phantom, which I'd never heard him perform before. What cruel irony that he was robbed of his voice near the end but, to me, one of the twentieth century's foremost entertainers.

[S V PELUZIO JR]

Hi folks,
What a terrific and complete artist !!!!
Sammy Davis Jr.
Regards,

Hi Everyone!

In 1988 I saw Dean, Sammy and Frank in concert. I really went to the concert to see Frank and Dean as I did not really appreciate Sammy.

Franks voice and aura was radiating that night, but Sammy owned the show. His singing, dancing, impersonating and energy was nothing I have ever seen before and do not think we will ever see again. A real experience that I will never forget.

I see why people really loved this man...My only regret is that I did'nt get to see him on stage alone.

Sammy's always been a bright light to me. He guest-starred on a lot of TV shows when I was growing up, and he was always a delight to see. Like Steffan, I love the "Baretta" theme too!