Singer, dancer, actor, impressionist, comedian, host, raconteur ... and whatever he did, he gave 100%. Marvelous entertainer.

"Yes I Can", a terrific book. He wrote more later, as well.

in High School. I've always had the biggest Sammy crush.

I can't recall if it was in a movie or on TV. I think he played at least half a dozen instruments.

I guess you had to be there young fella.

The only criticism I can recall was that it took him awhile to settle on a singing style of his own, once he did he was a complete entertainer who wasn't at all overshadowed by Sinatra, Martin, Carson or any of his contemporaries.

Oh, and get off my lawn!

and others to shame. His acceptance by them in those days was a true tribute to his amazing talent, particularly by Italian-American celebrities who came from an era where they had to overcome some prejudice themselves, and often would defensively pass it down. He was a skinny, black, one -eyed guy, and probably one of the most amazing talents ever.

Have you seen a 1960s film he stars in called (infelicitously) A Man Called Adam? He plays a jazz trumpeter in it, though the music was actually performed by Nat Adderly. Still, you can tell he knows how to blow a horn pretty well in it. Worth a look, even though it has a ridiculous plot, for acting by Davis, Cicely Tyson, Ossie Davis, and appearances by Louis Armstrong, Mel Torme, and others.

Here's a 1964 picture of Davis with a trumpet from Life Magazine:

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ON EDIT: Clip from A Man Called Adam

...every memory that I have about him is that he was a fucking HELL OF A GUY! Extremely talented!

I have a friend who was on Springsteen's last album. He stared on the clarinet in 7th grade and became a really good sax player and a great keyboard player. He is on about 200 albums and I think he is the sax in the Pina Colada song. He used to play with Rupert Holmes. He now writes movie scores. My own son taught himself drums on guitar hero and can play about 5 instruments and picks up instruments with ease. That is what musicians do.

a number of instruments, singing. dancing: absolutely knocked me out. This was at a corporate, national big deal convention. Prior to her performance, I was introduced to her, strolling around on a the arm of the CEO who'd her booked to perform. She was tiny and walking around on amazing high heels. Where did she go: apparently living a normal life with her family. (Super rich helps)

Multi-, multi-talented.

I remember seeing the drum clip in Australia in the 60s. I already knew he could sing and dance. But his drumming just blew me away. And, to tell you the truth, I'd forgotten about the xylophone.

Wow. Just wow.

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A great entertainer. Loved all those huge rings he wore. And oh boy did he and the rest of the Rat Pack PARTY BIGTIME. What a wild era in their heydays of the 1950's and 60's. But they were all still popular in the 1970's and into the 80's. Used to see Sammy on tv a lot in the 70's, and of course remember his #1 hit "Candy Man" in the early 70's. What a voice. I saw him in an interview late in life say his only regret was not doing more serious acting work. What a voice that man had. Seemed so nice.
Want to see a funny scene. YouTube him with Carroll O'Connor on ALL IN THE FAMILY. Hilarious ending to their bit. Yup, Sammy is soooooooooooooo missed, as are the others of his era.

Here he was in my home town with the Brat Pack doing a benefit at what was then Kiel Opera House.

husband and I saw Sammy Davis Jr. perform. We were twenty-somethings and more inclined to see rock groups, but we braved the weather to see Sammy and he remains the most impressive performer I've ever seen. The theater was only about half full, which he joked about, then said he was still going to give us his all. He sang, danced, joked, played various instruments and performed his western "fast draw" with a gun. I've seen many more famous entertainers perform live as the years have passed. That snowy night, the performance by Sammy Davis Jr. still tops them all.

When a performer gives 100% to 50% of the hall, he's the greatest. That story really touches my heart.

Thanx for sharing.

standing ovation. Then he said, "Let's all grab a taxi and go out for drinks!"

I was a college student in the mid to late sixties. Smoking was allowed everywhere on campus then, even in classrooms. Believe it or not, despite the Surgeon General's warning that appeared around that time, more students, even if they only did so socially, smoked than not. Smoking was so prevalent that some non-smokers made medical excuses why they could not. This seems unreal today, but I kid you not! I am one of those extremely lucky people that never felt a physical addiction to tobacco. To this day, I am tempted to smoke when I know I'll be among smokers, but can go indefinitely without a puff. I KNOW that I didn't imagine that attitude and era, but often today, my own (thankfully non-smoking) kid makes me believe I did.

night in Pittsburgh many years ago, I was disappointed to find no reference back to that night. I remember Sammy coming on stage, seeing the nearly empty house, and assuring us he'd still give us his best. That he DID! He sang, danced, played various instruments and dazzled with his western "quick draw." Afterwards he invited those of us who were there to join him to grab a cab and go somewhere to hang out. We were twenty-somethings at the time, usually going to rock concerts. We really loved Sammy, however, and his performance was unforgettable.

with a similar remembrance.

That must have really been something.

Near here in Sharon PA there was an annex to Quaker Steak & Lube call Hot Rod Cafe. Jigs the owner would book top blues bands, apparently for his own entertainment back in the '90s. Admission was free and no one came from miles around to see them. From a fledgling 16 year old Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeshi to Smokin' Joe Kubick and Dave Hole, we were given near private performances every Sunday night. Attendance was usually tallied on two hands and one foot. This continued for about two years.

After Johnny Lang released his first single "Lie To Me" when he was a teen I went to see the protege at Wilberts in Cleveland. There were 20 people there and I had him sign and date the door poster. We spoke at length with the whole band after the show, but none of that quite compares to meeting a superstar like Sammy, let alone hanging with him.

Thanx for (re)sharing.

applause. Wasn't the original "Quaker Steak..." somewhere around Sharon? Years ago I went for a drive with my brother and wife just to eat there and check it out. This was before their products were everywhere. I have met a few musical (and auto racing, due to an ex's passion) celebs over the years, but never S.D. Jr. personally. Still it was the best live performance I've ever seen.

I live just over the Ohio border on Mosquito Lake. I remember going there in the '70s when it was just an actual tiny converted gas station. It wasn't well known then, and chicken wings were still something people tossed to the dogs.

Better known at the time was Seafood Express across the parking lot. When that went out of business it was snatched up and by the fast growing company and became Hot Rod Cafe. A man know as "Jigs", one of the original founders of QS&L, used it as his personal hang out to our mutual benefit. If you didn't know who he was, you'd never know he was so wealthy.

HRC is gone now, turned into corporate HQ offices, and entertainment is at Tully's next door, also owned by the company. The bands there aren't as good, but "The Sauce Boss" Bill Wharten still makes his yearly pilgrimage to make a pot of his famous gumbo served up with blazing hot slide guitar licks. He tours your area if you're still near Pittsburgh, and I recommend seeing him at least once. He cooks his gumbo onstage during the show and feeds everyone at the end:

http://www.sauceboss.com/

I see now from the schedule that he'll be just down the Rt 5 bypass from me in a couple months at Up A Creek. I like authentic, but I hope he holds the crayfish this time.

as Sportin' Life, sang "It Ain't Necessarily So"