Sammy Davis Jr.’s remarkable journey began on vaudeville stages when he was just two years old. Performing alongside his father and the Will Mastin Trio, the young artist showed early signs of extraordinary talent that would shape American entertainment history. His childhood performances in the 1920s marked the beginning of a stellar career that would see him rise as America’s first Black superstar.

His artistic brilliance knew no bounds. From his groundbreaking film debut at age seven to his iconic status with the Rat Pack, Davis shattered racial barriers while mastering every facet of entertainment. His legacy spans over 50 albums, unforgettable Broadway performances, and prestigious accolades including the Kennedy Center Honors. More than just an entertainer, Davis became a cultural pioneer whose principled stand against segregation opened doors at Miami Beach and Las Vegas clubs, forever changing America’s entertainment landscape.

Samuel George Davis Jr. entered the world on December 8, 1925 in Manhattan’s Harlem neighborhood. His earliest memories formed under the watchful eye of his paternal grandmother. Both parents, Sammy Davis Sr. and Elvera Sanchez, brought their vaudeville expertise to the Will Mastin Troupe.

Early Years in Harlem

Life shifted dramatically for young Sammy when his parents’ marriage ended. His father’s custody decision at age three charted a new course – the beginning of life on tour. Before this turning point, his grandmother Rosa B. Davis provided a nurturing home at 140th Street and Eighth Avenue, offering Sammy a childhood unlike any other.

Life on the Vaudeville Circuit

The Great Depression years saw Sammy’s education give way to family survival through vaudeville shows. Though his father arranged occasional tutoring during tours, Sammy’s reading world remained limited to comic books until his military days. Yet the stage proved his greatest teacher, gifting him remarkable artistic abilities:

• Tap dancing excellence under Bill “Bojangles” Robinson
• Musical mastery across trumpet, drums, piano, and vibraphone
• Sharp skills in mime and comedy

Young Sammy Davis Jr’s First Performances

Success reshaped the Will Mastin Trio’s identity. Their billing evolved from “Will Mastin’s Gang Featuring Little Sammy” to proudly showcase “The Will Mastin Trio, Featuring Sammy Davis Jr.”. Seven-year-old Sammy reached a career milestone starring in “Rufus Jones for President,” sharing screen time with the legendary Ethel Waters.

Educational authorities’ concerns about Sammy’s schooling sparked creative solutions – his father claiming his son was a midget to sidestep regulations. The rigorous schedule of travel, rehearsals, and shows molded Sammy into entertainment excellence. His magnetic stage presence, paired with exceptional tap dancing and vocal abilities, marked him as an extraordinary young talent.

Military draft papers arrived for Davis at age 17, marking his first confrontation with systemic racism in 1943.

Military Service and Awakening

Raw hatred greeted the young entertainer in one of the first integrated infantry units. His fellow soldiers unleashed brutal abuse – defacing his body with racial slurs, launching physical attacks, and contaminating his drinks. The violence left permanent scars, including a nose broken three times during group attacks. These brutal experiences forged Davis’s artistic philosophy. “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 declared.

Challenging Segregation in Entertainment

Davis emerged from military service ready to dismantle entertainment industry barriers. His bold stance created history at New York’s Copacabana night club in 1964, where he became the first African American headliner. True to his principles, Davis rejected any venue maintaining segregation policies. Canadian audiences welcomed his talents without prejudice, rewarding him with his own television special “Sammy’s Parade” in 1959.

Integration of Las Vegas Venues

Las Vegas witnessed Davis’s most profound impact. His groundbreaking 1944 performances at El Rancho Motel & Casino opened the Strip to Black artists. His victories mounted:

• First Black performer to receive complimentary room and board at the Frontier
• Secured a groundbreaking USD 25,000 per week contract at the Sands
• Instrumental in pressuring casino resorts to desegregate through his influence with the Rat Pack

Davis’s fight for equality reached beyond entertainment circles. He stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during civil rights marches while providing crucial financial backing to the movement. King himself celebrated Davis’s unwavering commitment to equality. These persistent efforts bore fruit in 1971 when Nevada law finally official end of discrimination in Las Vegas hotels and casinos by Nevada statute.

Davis’s artistic brilliance sparkled across four decades of recordings. His musical legacy lives through releases on prestigious labels like Capitol, Decca, Verve, Motown, MGM, and 20th Century.

Developing His Signature Style

Jazz legends helped shape Davis’s distinctive sound. Musical partnerships flourished with Carmen McRae, Count Basie, and guitar virtuosos Mundell Lowe and Laurindo Almeida. Master bandleaders Sam Butera and Buddy Rich, alongside arrangers Quincy Jones and Marty Paich, added rich layers to his musical identity.

Mastering Multiple Performance Arts

Raw talent met disciplined artistry in Davis’s performances. His legendary 1963 Ed Sullivan Show appearance dazzled audiences as he moved seamlessly between drums, vibes, piano, and dance. Creative boundaries disappeared when he recorded a full album of masterful impersonations in 1962.

Notable Songs and Recordings

Musical excellence fills Davis’s over 50 albums across countless genres. Standout achievements include:

• “The Candy Man” – Billboard chart champion for 20 weeks in 1972
• “What Kind of Fool Am I?” – Grammy Record of the Year nominee
• “I’ve Gotta Be Me” – Personal anthem that defined his spirit

Musical boundaries melted as Davis moved effortlessly through Broadway, jazz, pop, disco, and country. Chart success followed with 18 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart and 13 albums gracing the Billboard Top 200.

British creative genius flowed into Davis’s 1960s repertoire through Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley. Their London meeting sparked magical collaborations – “Once In A Lifetime,” “If I Ruled The World,” and “What Kind Of Fool Am I”. These powerful anthems perfectly matched Davis’s magnetic stage presence.

Television audiences welcomed Davis into their homes through “The Sammy Davis Jr. Show” in 1966. Small screen success continued into the 1980s, crowned by an Emmy-nominated performance on “One Life to Live”.

Building the Vegas Legend

Magic sparked nightly at the Sands Hotel’s Copa Room where Sammy Davis Jr. created entertainment history throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s.

The Rat Pack Era

Vegas entertainment reached new heights in 1960 as Davis joined forces with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop for “Ocean’s 11”. Their nightly spectacles at the Sands Hotel, dubbed “The Summit,” drew crowds from every corner of America. Golden moments from this era shine through:

• Star turns in “Ocean’s 11,” 1960’s 8th highest-grossing film
• Packed houses night after night at the Copa Room
• Groundbreaking integrated performances with fellow Rat Pack members

Headlining Major Vegas Venues

The Will Mastin Trio first brought Davis’s talents to El Rancho Vegas in 1946. His magnetic presence graced Strip venues continuously from the 1940s through the 1980s. Sweet reunion filled the air when Davis joined dear friends Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin to launch UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center in 1983. Bally’s proudly showcased his talents until his final curtain call in 1990.

Business Ventures and Financial Success

Sharp business instincts matched Davis’s artistic genius. Theater ownership beckoned as he claimed stakes in Mill Run outside Chicago, Circle Star near San Francisco, and Circle Star in Houston. His portfolio grew to include an 8% ownership stake in the Tropicana Hotel.

Wisdom guided his investment choices. Success followed this measured approach as Davis built substantial entertainment venue holdings throughout his career. Smart diversification marked his business strategy, reaching well beyond show business investments.

Vegas hearts broke when Davis departed in 1990. The Strip’s lights dimmed for a full minute in unprecedented tribute. His legacy lives on through Industrial Road’s 2015 transformation to Sammy Davis Jr. Drive.

Legacy and Cultural Impact

Sammy Davis Jr.’s artistic brilliance continues to illuminate American entertainment history. His extraordinary path from vaudeville stages to worldwide acclaim lights the way for performers who follow.

Influence on Modern Entertainers

Musical giants Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder found guidance under Davis’s mentorship. His performances wove together rich artistic traditions, blending minstrel theater, jazz rhythms, blues soul, and pop sensibilities. Scholars celebrate Davis as a “palimpsest of American culture” – his artistry became the canvas where diverse musical traditions found harmony.

Contributions to Civil Rights

Davis stood tall among civil rights champions during the 1960s. His benefit performances opened hearts and wallets, raising more funds for equality than any other celebrity of any background. His passionate commitment generated $750,000 for civil rights organizations throughout the 1950s and 1960s.

Dr. King’s 1961 letter captured Davis’s special role: “Not very long ago, it was customary for Negro artists to hold themselves aloof from the struggle for equality…. Today, greats like Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier, Mahalia Jackson, and yourself actively participate in it”. Davis answered this call through bold action:

• Headlining the 1961 Carnegie Hall “Tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.” – raising $50,000 for SCLC
• Standing proud at the March on Washington in 1963
• Walking for freedom from Selma to Montgomery in 1965

Awards and Recognition

Excellence earned Davis countless honors. The NAACP celebrated his achievements with the Spingarn Medal in 1968. His artistic mastery garnered recognition across decades:

• Kennedy Center Honors crowned his achievements in 1987
• Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award honored his legacy in 2001
• National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame welcomed his spirit in 2017

Television embraced Davis’s magic through Emmy nominations for “The Swinging World of Sammy Davis Jr.” and “The Cosby Show”. Nine Emmy nods, Tony recognition, and multiple Grammy nominations paint a picture of artistic excellence. His star shines eternal at 6254 Hollywood Boulevard on the Walk of Fame.

Harry Belafonte’s words capture Davis’s true impact: “Sammy did a lot of things for Dr. King and our movement. His commitment was never really fully recognized historically. He stepped up to the table and not only gave money but got a lot of his friends involved”. Through boundless talent and unwavering conviction, Davis reshaped entertainment while championing equality, creating bright possibilities for artists of color.

Pure talent met unwavering spirit in Sammy Davis Jr.’s rise from vaudeville stages to entertainment royalty. His artistic genius sparkled across every performance medium – song, dance, drama, and comedy – marking him as a singular voice in 20th-century entertainment.

Bold principles guided Davis’s fight against discrimination throughout show business. His steadfast refusal to accept segregated venues sparked real change, particularly in Las Vegas where his stance helped dismantle racial barriers. His commitment to civil rights matched his artistic brilliance – generous financial support paired with personal presence in pivotal moments of the movement.

Prestigious accolades like the Kennedy Center Honors and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award speak to Davis’s enduring mark on American arts. Fresh talent blooms in the garden he planted, nurtured by the paths he cleared. His remarkable story lives on through the 360Wise McDonald’s Salutes Faces of Black History Time capsule.

Davis painted his masterpiece with more than spotlights and standing ovations – he showed how artistic excellence could fuel social progress. His journey from Harlem’s vaudeville circuit to America’s first Black superstar rewrote both entertainment history and society’s story.