Description

Sammy Davis Jr. was a consummate showman whose formidable talent propelled him from the vaudeville circuit to the entertainment industry's most glittering venues. Scarcely more than a toddler when he began his career, Davis emerged as a featured singer and dancer with the Will Mastin Trio in the 1930s. Drafted during World War II, he experienced vicious racial attacks while in the army, and returned to civilian life determined to prove his worth by becoming a top-tier entertainer. Progressing rapidly from warm-up act to headliner, Davis attained bona fide stardom in the 1950s with his high-energy nightclub act, popular recordings, and acclaimed performances on stage and screen. In the 1960s he gained notoriety as a member of Hollywood's fast-living "Rat Pack" and subsequently achieved mega-hit status with his memorable renditions of songs such as "Candy Man" and "Mr. Bojangles."

Record Contributed By

National Portrait Gallery

Record Harvested From

Smithsonian Institution