Sammy Davis, Jr.

[Angel Dumott Schunard]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 3:14pm

I've heard that he's amazing, so what are some of his best songs/performances?

[ConvinceMe2]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 3:22pm

I heard him singing THE CANDY MAN in the supermarket, this morning. I don't know much about him, but I like his voice, and from the old clips I've seen of him, he is extremely talented.

Updated On: 6/21/05 at 03:22 PM

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 3:29pm

What Kind Of Fool Am I?
I've Gotta Be Me
Mr. Bojangles
The Candy Man
Talk to the Animals

.....are some of my favorites.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 3:31pm

He's one of the greatest entertainers in history, but unfortunately not a lot of first-rate footage of him exists. His nightclub act was legendary, but I don't believe it was ever filmed (there might be something on one of those Rat Pack documentaries). He also made dozens of tv guest spots, some of which might be captured on compilations.

The only decent moments of him in film that stand out in my mind is an electric tap number he did with a machine gun in "Robin and the 7 Hoods" (co-starring the rest of the Rat Pack) and as Daddy, he did the "Rhythm of Life" number from the film of "Sweet Charity" (not much dancing there, though).

Perhaps, the Museum of Television and Broadcasting would have clips that are better representative of his his many talents.

Updated On: 6/21/05 at 03:31 PM

[ConvinceMe2]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 3:31pm

Listening to THE CANDY MAN in the supermarket, I was struck but just how great a mediocre song can be, with the right voals and arrangement. It's a superb recording, and made me want to buy a CD of his stuff.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 5:19pm

The greatest Davis performance, after his FANTASTIC one on "All in the Family" (as himself), was detailed in Linda Lovelace's autobiography, "Ordeal." It involved the author's husband Chuck Traynor and Mr. Davis. I'd type the story out here but it's a real mouthful.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 5:25pm

namo, i find that story a little hard to swallow.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 5:36pm

Linda didn't. It was Sammy. On Chuck. A racist.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 5:38pm

oh geez, i thought it was gonna be something really racy like sammy taking out his eye and offering chuck something really exotic.

[robbiej]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 5:40pm

Page 67

And as Sammy opened the door to leave, never to be seen by either of us again, he turned and said, 'I'll keep an eye out for ya!'


My personal fave recording of his is 'A Lot of Livin' to Do'

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 6:16pm

My personal favorite is a concert version of Lady Is A Tramp that was just fantastic!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 6:22pm

Oh, I remember a particularly sad excerpt from Entertainment Tonight of him doing "Music of the Night" from "Phantom." A close up on his face during a musical interlude as he rasped "Christine, Chrissssssssssstiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine," with his lip drooped, as he imagined the Phantom would look. It was sad. He was trying to jump on that hep Broadway bandwagon that hadn't been hep since everybody and his uncle was doing "What I did for Love" on talk shows in 1975/6.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 6:27pm

Whenever there is talk of the greatest all-around entertainer that we've seen so far, three names invariably come up: Judy Garland, Al Jolson and Sammy.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 6:29pm

I can never separate Sammy's showbizzy schtick from Lily Tomlin as Tommy Velour, kicking the band off with a "Konk, chee, konk, ka-konk chee konk."

[Nina]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 8:53pm

Sammy also a very brief stint on Broadwayw which few people are aware of. In 1956 he starred in a show entitled MR. Wonderful. It ran less than 400 performances and Sammy never attempted Broadway again. It wasn't a bad show. I think it just wasn't Sammy's time yet. Had he returned to Broadway, he may have been as big a smash there as he was in Vegas.

[NCGuy]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 9:01pm

Re: "Sammy never attempted Broadway again"

Nina, Sammy also appeared on Broadway in GOLDEN BOY and (I think) a revival of "STOP THE WORLD..."

I like your avatar, by the way...Is that Hedy Lamarr?

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 9:05pm

That reminds me of Blazing Saddles

"That's Hedley!"

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 9:09pm

Yeah, Golden Boy was a much bigger hit than Mr. Wonderful, running nearly 600 performances. He also did a solo show called "Sammy" in the 70s, as well as the "Stop the World" revival (I have the cast album). His Broadway career was quite impressive and isn't as nearly as little known of as you think.

[Nina]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 9:10pm

Oh God, you're right. I feel rather foolish to have forgotten Golden Boy. I don't keep up much with what has gone on in theater

Yes, that is Heddy Lamar