I am a fan of the Rat Pack, BUT, if anyone were to ask me I would have to say Sammy Davis had all the talent. Frank and Dean were great don't get me wrong... but if there were a talent show and Sammy, Dean and Frank were competing against each other- Sammy would EASILY win! How can anyone not love this man? We probably won't see another talent quite like this EVER!
john boone Its even sad to see how hard he tried to fit in with his straight hair and the way he talks like a white man and not his own race, he felt really bad that he had to do that to get along and make a living and that his people couldnt see that was all he was doing, he wasnt abandoning them.
john boone I think that's a crock- people are people. Looking and talking one way or another that should have nothing to do with what color you are. Saying he talked like a white guy to make a living is just non-sense. He talked how he wanted to talk, and was uniquely himself. Expecting a person to act one way or another due to their color is in itself racist. Music is universal, it has to do with taste...NOT COLOR. Ray Charles was told country music was "white mans music" but Ray said "music is music, it's about what you like and what you feel... I like country music and I can FEEL country music... I can relate to the stories and I think the fans will too". So he recorded an album called "Modern Sounds in Country/Western Music" . It was his top selling album of all time, and it is still revered today as one of the greatest albums of all time. The album stayed number one on the pop charts for 14 weeks. In 2004 it was chosen as one of the top selling internet albums. 5 songs on the album hit number one, 3 others in at least the top five, 3 more in at least the top twenty, and the remaining songs on the album hit in at least the top sixty. That means every song on the album charted in the top 100 and that is almost unheard of!! I sincerely took offense to what you just said. People are people and need to stop being separated! White guys sing the blues, white guys rap, white guys sing R&B, and black guys sing country music, rock and roll and pop music. Charley Pride who is a "black" country singer is one of RCA's best selling artists of all time!! It doesn't matter what color you are! Thinking people of different colors should be doing one type of music or another is childish and stereotypical- it is up to the person as to what they feel!!! The same goes for Sammy, he did what he wanted to do, acted the way he wanted to act, and he sang for all people as a whole. He didn't care what color his fans were as long as they liked what he did. He had all colors of fans as well he should have. The man was as talented as anyone has EVER been PERIOD!!! Saying the he "felt bad" about the way he was and was just doing what he had to do to "get along" it complete BULLSHIT!! Sammy Davis was a huge in the civil rights movement, was a very public part of the '63 march on Washinton, refused to sing in clubs or casinos that segregated... the list goes on and on... The man wanted to get along alright, he wanted everyone to get along as one and not be racially separated!!! I happen to agree with him, and respect him very much as an entertainer, and for his efforts in the civil rights movement. My admiration for him has nothing to do with his color, it comes from my reverence for the MAN he was, the wonderful HUMAN BEING he was... That is the way everyone should be.
john boone Your opinion is poppycock, Sammy just loved to perform - that's all! Virtuoso-level performers all run counter to their contemporaries in thought, perception and social dexterity, they have to - less they be average too! That his worldly outlook wasn't what the average black or white person saw, speaks to the alluring uniqueness of such an exquisite talent.
+Steven McBrien ....would you pay to see him perform if he was still alive? If you answer yes, then you'd probably vote for that scumbag Hillary Clinton.
SoulVibez ~> We still can see his genius as a performer on reruns of such shows as Make Room For Daddy, I Dream Of Jeannie and Carol Burnett Show as well as his brilliance as a dramatic actor on shows such as The Rifleman and Ben Casey. And despite his success and wealth he remained humble. When other stars of his stature would just sit down and talk to Johnny Carson, Sammy always insisted on performing a song even though he didn't have to. He had a lifetime love affair with his audience. ☺ ♥
It's not that they aren't there; it's just that we've become such a niche society, there is no longer a category or a platform for the "all around" entertainer except maybe on a youtube channel.
Have to agree, Sammy is up there. Not many of today's artists can physically play instruments (drums, guitars, piano etc), do impressions, tap, comedy, sing (without auto-tune) and captivate an audience without frills. Artists from yesteryear, had to have those qualities.
yeah. you would never have caught him doing hip hop rap crap just like you never would've caught the late great ray charles or nat king cole doing that shiite!
If I were to describe the scope of this man's talent / genius to someone who did not know him, they simply would not believe it, and you couldn't blame them as Sammy was a phenomenon.
An obsolute genius of any and all art's of entertainment, in my honest opinion the best of the rat pack, the guy literally had everything, long may he live in our hearts and mind's.
If you weren't desperately lucky, like I was, to see him live on stage, for two and half utterly mesmerizing hours, then, very sadly, you won't be able to fully appreciate why he was the greatest entertainer the world has ever known. Thank you, Sammy Davis Jnr.
Agreed. Amazing in everything he ever did. My parents were lucky enough to have seen him at The Palladium but I never did unfortunately. I loved that the fact that he used to say that: I'm the only black one eyed Jew, married to a white woman - and still looking for a gimmick!
+Rhythmista That's certainly not true. Sammy was a great artist that may never be replicated but it's not fair nor true to compare his talent to all of today's music industry. Every culture brings something new and beautiful to music. I don't know you're background but I hope you're just exaggerating to make a point.
pine2apple It is true., and i'm not exaggerating.. I'm speaking in terms of Hollywood talent. Most of today's actors can't dance or sing.. SD jr. Not only danced and sang, but he played drums and piano like an accomplished musician. I've been a professional touring and session musician (drummer, vocalist, rhythm guitar) for the past 26 years and have played music my entire life. I know real talent when i see it, and this man certainly had it. Yes, there are exceptions in today's industry where you'll have a handful who were just as talented, but my point is that most are not. We all know that it's all about sex in today's industry, and talent is secondary.. Very different in the past.. With that being said, i think my background speaks for itself..
Okay, you just wrote all of today's music industry but you were only referring to music in Hollywood. I can say you are right in that a lot of music in the mainstream US market is about selling music and not about talent but it really just depends on your perspective and where you are in the world. Talent is subjective anyway, I went to one of the top 5 music colleges in the world and almost every student and professional has had a different interpretation of talent. All in all, the metric we use to measure talent is baseless, to some extent.
Actually lots of talent in Hollywood can sing and dance, but Hollywood doesn't make musicals anymore so you'd never know it. I mean if they'd never done a film version of Le Mes, American audiences wouldn't even know Hugh Jackman could sing. Lamenting the good old days because audiences and general tastes have changed is delusory, because it simply means that people who possess those talents today simply aren't marketed to the public as they once were. You've got to stumble across them by luck, or go that extra mile to find them
No offense, but when you hear yourself make a comment like that, you are officially old! The other day I said " you call that music" and realized, at some point, I had changed from a man with a future, to a man with a past. I'd been in denial!
Sammy Davis is a talent like no other...just imagine.....all rolled in one person.....tap dancer ,drummer ,vibraphone player ,impersonator,actor,and singer.....and all par excellence.....the man's a genius !!!!
I'm from India, I just happened to watch Sammy's video. Hell, how did I miss him all these years. What a genius he is. Has there ever been an entertainer like him ever? He tap dances, plays drums like hell, plays piano, impersonates, sings....what a talent. I am big fan of Victor Borge, but Sammy is just...........
Someone commented that Sammy's talent was God-given. And I won't disagree with that. But I've read quite a bit about this man. How he would spend hours, just deciding how he was going to tip his hat. He spent years perfecting how to do Western-style gun tricks and gunplay. He spent decades devotedly working on his dance and his song. All this while fighting and suffering prejudice and racism. Sam was dating and marrying interracially in the 1950s. And you know why the women went for him? They didn't see color. They only saw, the coolest man in the room. God Bless You Sam. And like all the really great men, who march to their own drummer, as you did, both literally and figuratively, you paid a very high price. If there is a "better place", I'm damn sure you're there. Making it better. In a cloud of cool.
brez9091 Well said he was ahead of his time in many ways.White folks an black loved him,I love an miss him.You ever seen All in the family.He kissed Archie..lol omg the good old days
03:11 Jerry Lewis(?) 06:10 Fred Astaire 07:20 Frank Sinatra 09:00 Humphrey Bogart 09:36 Cary Grant 10:06 Marlon Brando 11:01 Dean Martin ...please help me and add the names of the other peers Sammy impersonated before these (of whom he didn't mentioned their names).
hobbies spiele Not sure, but I think it's a skit either out of the "Colgate Comedy Hour with Dean and Jerry" or "The Jerry Lewis Show" from the sixties. Jerry is singing playback and doing his iconic faces. The dancing surely is more Sammy than Jerry, who never took dancing lessons himself.
Additional impersonations he did; or, a, general, yet, partial listing of impersonations which were in his repertoire: Brooke Benton; James Cagney; Errol Flynn; Ronald Coleman; Nat King Cole; Laurence Olivier; Willie Bess; Bill Robinson; Arthur Prysock, Lou Rawls; Gene Kelly; Jerry Butler; Joe Turner; Gene Chandler; Jack Cassidy; Fred Astaire; Dean Martin; Frank Sinatra; Rod Steiger; Jerry Lewis; Georgie Jessel; Marlon Brando; Cary Grant; Bing Crosby; Sam Cooke; Louis Armstrong; Jackie Wilson; James Brown; Ray Charles; Johnny Mathis; Robert Goulet; Steve Lawrence; Paul Robeson; Brock Peters; Cab Calloway; Harry Belafonte; Ben E. King; Clyde McPhatter; Frankie Lymon; Billy Eckstein, Frankie Lane; Vaughn Monroe; Michael Jackson; Jimmy Stewart; Frank Gorshin; George Jessel; Edward G. Robinson; Errol Flynn; Steve Lawrence; Tony Bennett; Perry Como; Bill "Bojangles" Robinson; Louis Armstrong; Fred Astaire; Gene Kelly; John Wayne; Humphrey Bogart; Basil Rathbone; Laurence Olivier; Cary Grant; Tony Martin; Jack Jones; Louie Prima; Al Martino; Maurice Chevalier; Donald O'Connor; Bill Cosby, Mel Torme; Tommy Davidson; Wayne Newton; Charles Laughton; Bill Medley; Elvis Presley; Anthony Newley;...&, numerous Black performers, mostly unknown to White audiences;...ETC., Etc.; etc. Please Note: This list does Not include impersonations he also did of other types of artists, like: musicians; dancers, actors, personalities, celebrities, politicians; &, those of both genders;...etc.; for example: Buddy Rich; Lionel Hampton; Eydie Gorme; Ella Fitzgerald; Sarah Vaughn; Nancy Wilson; Diahann Carroll; Tom Jones; Gregory Hines; Howard "Sandman" Sims; Ben Vereen; Muhammad Ali; Savion Glover; Cab Calloway; Lena Horne; Della Reese; The Nicholas Brothers; Liza Minelli; Peter Lawford; J.F.K., Jr.; Gene Krupa; Joe E. Lewis; Sugar Ray Robinson; Jack E. Leonard; Jack Benny; Bob Hope; Doris Day; Julie London; Tony Orlando; Desi Arnez; Jackie Gleason; Groucho Marx; George Sanders; James Mason; Richard Burton; June Lockheart; George Kirby; George Wallace-(the comic); &, Bob Fosse; LeVar Burton; Harry Belafonte; Sidney Poitier; Jimmy Cagney; Boris Karloff; Ronald Coleman; and, of course: "Amos; &, Andy"; amongst other examples, as well. Lastly, for now;...in addition, to the above, forementioned; he also did these, in mixed forms, combining: dance, song, comedy, assorted humor forms; commentary; political criticism; acting, performance, tap, musical theater; vaudeville; film, tv, stage entertainment stylisms; musical conducting; Lounge Act entertaining; Bway showcasing; Vegas Show Stylings; &, purer forns of stripped back theatricalities; etc.; all together, into one blended form.
The trouble with his impersonations was that he danced better than Astaire, sang better than Sinatra, and acted as well as Bogart, Grant, and anyone else. The only one he couldn't be better than was Sammy Davis.
But it was you who said he was better not me. I felt after your comment that in my opinoin fred was a better dancer. Sammy was great no disputes. But if you put a view forward surely you must expect opposition?
They are there, but now you have to really look for them. We live in a completely different time now, and there aren't the platforms out there for performers who had the versatility of a Sammie Davis Jr; nor I daresay a large audience that would truly appreciate them . The idea of class in the 21st century is on life support.
Nobody these days has this kind of talent. You might have one person who can sing and another who can dance. But you don't have any entertainers anymore. There haven't been any new ones since the 60s/70s. These types of great entertainers are gone now.
Vocally, Sammy could never hope to impersonate Frank or Dean because his voice was so superior and distinctive. There are so few male vocalists who have ever come up to the lofty heights of Sammy Davis, maybe Mel Torme was up there vocally in his own style. Entertainers of Sammy Davis Jnr's calibre come along once in a lifetime, if you're lucky.
Sammy Davis Jr was such a multi talented man. Comedy, singing, dancing, and what I never knew, impressions. His Dean Martin had me laughing out loud. "Which way is the audience?" and his Cary Grant was perfect!
There is absolutely no one who can replicate this man's presence or anyone of that era's today. Though it may have past, we still have these films and audio of the greats, such as Sammy, to keep us smiling and singing along.
I was just a kid back in the sixties, I loved to watch Sammy perform on all those variety shows they had back in those days watching them with my parents. I love tap dancing to this day and he was the reason why I did. Sammy was a talented man.I was very sad the day that he passed. Miss ya Sammy!
A Talent - he has the energy - he doesn't even have to name the ones he imitates, I know who is who right away...Cary Grant ,Marlon Brando and Dean Martin - I almost fell off the couch 🤣🤣🤣
Sammy Davis was one of kind , super talented person. I have not seen anyone else with this incredible multiple abilities. Never got credit he deserved.
Words cannot describe the admiration, adoration and respect I have for Sammy Davis, Jr. A more perfect, magnetic and talented performer could not exist. His impeccable comedic timing, velvet voice, light and perfectly executed dance movements, the impersonations and stage presence all immaculately packaged together are something that can never be replicated. Yes, people will always try to be like him but they'll never be another Sammy Davis Jr! I will forever love you! Rest In Peace Sammy ❤️
Loved this man.so full of energy.anytime he was on he caught my attention.he was loved by all colors and cultures.surley he incountered racism as a young man.he overcame and stayed his course to becoming world famous.what a great story about a great American man.we should not allow all he did to bring all people's together to be undone.do not judge people's by the color of thier skin.judge them by the content of thier character.Martin Luther King said that.i believe it.that is the way I believe and live my life.treat others as you would like to be treated.
The Best Performer ever, no one comes close. Sammy Davis Jr. owned the stage, the entertainment's entertainer. Brilliant singer, dancer, impersonator, simp!y the best!
Mr. Sammy Davis Jr., you are truly one of the Gifted Greats! A Legendary Spirit. I love you and wish that I could have held hands with you to dance and sing. Thank you for sharing your beautiful passion with us.....
What Sammie went threw along with Billie holiday,Sarah Vaughn,sidney, Cosby an Mr basie an still showed the talent an compassion for others is just so amazing.
I was in Vegas when he died. They turned the lights out on The Strip in honour of him. I don't think that has ever been done for any other entertainer. He was that much of a legend, and that much of a life lived in humanity for others. No one holds a candle to him. The candle was in his heart and his light will never fade.
they also just do it for Jerry Lewis in August cause that was where his telethon was held for many years. Funny that these 4 superstars was so closely associated together. Even Dean and Jerry after being apart for so many years these 4 man was always close to each other in many many ways. They all got the light dimmed on the strip.
Always loved this man and have seen him live. His only failing in my opinion is he was black in a racist world that would not could not see that his amazing talent was greater than anyone around him.
May 16, 1990: The world of entertainment and the world in general lost (quite possibly) the greatest entertainer of this or any generation, Sammy Davis Jr. R.I.P.
I had tickets to his performance in August 8,1975 in Reno on my honeymoon. Always loved him and all the amazing things he was great at! He was ill and had Bill Cosby fill in for him. I never got the chance again. Sammy was a beautiful little man with a giant talent! God bless him
Wow - the most talented person I have ever seen. Phenomenal singer, superb dancer, someone who can impersonate how his friends sing and dance, not just talk. That's amazing. So versatile, he can improvise anything. I would have loved to be at this concert! So I guess Jimmy Fallon didn't make up jumping to end the music!
I am glad that there are so many people who appreciate this extraordinary talent. There will always be the occasional individual who will somehow come across quality like this and use it to attract attention to themselves. How about we ignore them?
***** What year was this? I know this was way before my time, but it speaks to me. Thanks for uploading. Just getting to know who this talented man was in these past few minutes.
There never has been, nor do I think there ever will be one as talented as Sammy Davis Junior. The man was pure genius no matter what he laid his hand or voice to.
I have loved Sammy for years and years. Read is autobiography when I was a teenager. What a life! Self-made, talented beyond belief and a delight to listen to and to watch. I especially loved his positive attitude about life -- like all of us -- he faced many obstacles -- but look at all he accomplished! His humor was spot on -- and his imitations of others -- just as great! Shows you what one person can do through developing their God-given talents! I do wish we still had him around. Love to you Sammy Davis!
Completely unique styles. Also - Sinatra was a great actor - Much to his own frustration, Sammy was a lightweight in that category. But why compare them at all. How very stupid of you.
Wow. He died too soon, but he lived hard, lost it all, but damn, it was HIS money, and he enjoyed his life the way he wanted. I remember the tribute for him, while he was in attendance (which I loved, he knew it was because he was dyin but at least he received the love b4 he died) & he got up & danced with another who went too soon. I cried during the special knowing he wouldnt be around long. I'm sure you know the special. His wife tried to hold his arm so he wouldn't get up & dance.Great story
So glad I got to see the genius perform with Frank and LIza. I also was able to meet him one night when out to dinner, he was with his wife and Elizabeth Taylor so I got to meet and speak with her as well. Something I will always remember and cherish. Sammy Davis, there will never be another like him a national treasure.
I have always loved Sammy! I know better than to lift anyone by bashing someone else.....and FS was very good to SDJ, I've read....but SDJ has been quoted as saying he wanted to sing as well as FS. Well.......he far, far surpassed him. SDJ's voice was spectacular. That power and volume and pleasing tone from that compact body---incredible. He could act. Sing. Dance his bum off. The man was pure talent and few could stand with him. I also have always loved Dino and my admiration of Sammy takes nothing away from Dean. DM's voice was pure satin. He always sounded like he was smiling when he sang. Even Elvis told Deana, Dean's daughter, "I may be the King of Rock, but your dad is the King of Cool."
I am a fan of the Rat Pack, BUT, if anyone were to ask me I would have to say Sammy Davis had all the talent. Frank and Dean were great don't get me wrong... but if there were a talent show and Sammy, Dean and Frank were competing against each other- Sammy would EASILY win! How can anyone not love this man? We probably won't see another talent quite like this EVER!
You hit the nail on the head! Sammy is the greatest entertainer that ever lived!!!
So true and just because of the times and his color he wasnt/didnt get the recognition he deserved...sad:(
john boone Its even sad to see how hard he tried to fit in with his straight hair and the way he talks like a white man and not his own race, he felt really bad that he had to do that to get along and make a living and that his people couldnt see that was all he was doing, he wasnt abandoning them.
john boone I think that's a crock- people are people. Looking and talking one way or another that should have nothing to do with what color you are. Saying he talked like a white guy to make a living is just non-sense. He talked how he wanted to talk, and was uniquely himself. Expecting a person to act one way or another due to their color is in itself racist. Music is universal, it has to do with taste...NOT COLOR.
Ray Charles was told country music was "white mans music" but Ray said "music is music, it's about what you like and what you feel... I like country music and I can FEEL country music... I can relate to the stories and I think the fans will too". So he recorded an album called "Modern Sounds in Country/Western Music" . It was his top selling album of all time, and it is still revered today as one of the greatest albums of all time. The album stayed number one on the pop charts for 14 weeks. In 2004 it was chosen as one of the top selling internet albums. 5 songs on the album hit number one, 3 others in at least the top five, 3 more in at least the top twenty, and the remaining songs on the album hit in at least the top sixty. That means every song on the album charted in the top 100 and that is almost unheard of!!
I sincerely took offense to what you just said. People are people and need to stop being separated! White guys sing the blues, white guys rap, white guys sing R&B, and black guys sing country music, rock and roll and pop music. Charley Pride who is a "black" country singer is one of RCA's best selling artists of all time!! It doesn't matter what color you are! Thinking people of different colors should be doing one type of music or another is childish and stereotypical- it is up to the person as to what they feel!!!
The same goes for Sammy, he did what he wanted to do, acted the way he wanted to act, and he sang for all people as a whole. He didn't care what color his fans were as long as they liked what he did. He had all colors of fans as well he should have. The man was as talented as anyone has EVER been PERIOD!!!
Saying the he "felt bad" about the way he was and was just doing what he had to do to "get along" it complete BULLSHIT!! Sammy Davis was a huge in the civil rights movement, was a very public part of the '63 march on Washinton, refused to sing in clubs or casinos that segregated... the list goes on and on...
The man wanted to get along alright, he wanted everyone to get along as one and not be racially separated!!! I happen to agree with him, and respect him very much as an entertainer, and for his efforts in the civil rights movement. My admiration for him has nothing to do with his color, it comes from my reverence for the MAN he was, the wonderful HUMAN BEING he was... That is the way everyone should be.
john boone Your opinion is poppycock, Sammy just loved to perform - that's all! Virtuoso-level performers all run counter to their contemporaries in thought, perception and social dexterity, they have to - less they be average too! That his worldly outlook wasn't what the average black or white person saw, speaks to the alluring uniqueness of such an exquisite talent.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you... the Ultimate Performer
+Steven McBrien ....would you pay to see him perform if he was still alive? If you answer yes, then you'd probably vote for that scumbag Hillary Clinton.
+lenspaulding that comment confuses me...
W Thomas ?
You never see entertainers like Sammy no more, its such a shame . . .
SoulVibez yes and thank God for that!
SoulVibez ~> We still can see his genius as a performer on reruns of such shows as Make Room For Daddy, I Dream Of Jeannie and Carol Burnett Show as well as his brilliance as a dramatic actor on shows such as The Rifleman and Ben Casey. And despite his success and wealth he remained humble. When other stars of his stature would just sit down and talk to Johnny Carson, Sammy always insisted on performing a song even though he didn't have to. He had a lifetime love affair with his audience. ☺ ♥
It's not that they aren't there; it's just that we've become such a niche society, there is no longer a category or a platform for the "all around" entertainer except maybe on a youtube channel.
Nelson Smith and now it's all about video production and editing anyway
Not what one man can do on his own, live
The man had sheer unadulterated magnetism! It's mesmerising to watch, the greatest entertainer the world has, and will ever, see!
Sorry Elvis. Sorry Michael. Behold, the Greatest Entertainer EVER.
Have to agree, Sammy is up there. Not many of today's artists can physically play instruments (drums, guitars, piano etc), do impressions, tap, comedy, sing (without auto-tune) and captivate an audience without frills. Artists from yesteryear, had to have those qualities.
Force of nature ...Miss Sammy ....Rip
Sinatra recognized that and called him that -
he truly was inspired by Sammy
...everyone with talent was -
Soul Peace - forever Sammy...
yeah. you would never have caught him doing hip hop rap crap just like you never would've caught the late great ray charles or nat king cole doing that shiite!
If I were to describe the scope of this man's talent / genius to someone who did not know him, they simply would not believe it, and you couldn't blame them as Sammy was a phenomenon.
Sammy was the true embodiment of "Jack of all trades". He could do anything and everything with amazing skill
He was embodiment of "master of all trades".
Connor you got that spot on man. That's why he outshone everyone else in the rat pack
An obsolute genius of any and all art's of entertainment, in my honest opinion the best of the rat pack, the guy literally had everything, long may he live in our hearts and mind's.
Judy Garland ... Jacqueline of all trades
Jack of all trades master of all…
Loved this man, a special human being, the greatest entertainer ever, could do anything.
If you weren't desperately lucky, like I was, to see him live on stage, for two and half utterly mesmerizing hours, then, very sadly, you won't be able to fully appreciate why he was the greatest entertainer the world has ever known.
Thank you, Sammy Davis Jnr.
im jealous!
Agreed. Amazing in everything he ever did. My parents were lucky enough to have seen him at The Palladium but I never did unfortunately. I loved that the fact that he used to say that: I'm the only black one eyed Jew, married to a white woman - and still looking for a gimmick!
No Truer words were ever typed!!
There was more talent in this man's pinky finger nail , than there is in ALL of today's music industry combined.
+Rhythmista That's certainly not true. Sammy was a great artist that may never be replicated but it's not fair nor true to compare his talent to all of today's music industry. Every culture brings something new and beautiful to music. I don't know you're background but I hope you're just exaggerating to make a point.
pine2apple It is true., and i'm not exaggerating.. I'm speaking in terms of Hollywood talent. Most of today's actors can't dance or sing.. SD jr. Not only danced and sang, but he played drums and piano like an accomplished musician. I've been a professional touring and session musician (drummer, vocalist, rhythm guitar) for the past 26 years and have played music my entire life. I know real talent when i see it, and this man certainly had it. Yes, there are exceptions in today's industry where you'll have a handful who were just as talented, but my point is that most are not. We all know that it's all about sex in today's industry, and talent is secondary.. Very different in the past.. With that being said, i think my background speaks for itself..
Okay, you just wrote all of today's music industry but you were only referring to music in Hollywood. I can say you are right in that a lot of music in the mainstream US market is about selling music and not about talent but it really just depends on your perspective and where you are in the world. Talent is subjective anyway, I went to one of the top 5 music colleges in the world and almost every student and professional has had a different interpretation of talent. All in all, the metric we use to measure talent is baseless, to some extent.
Actually lots of talent in Hollywood can sing and dance, but Hollywood doesn't make musicals anymore so you'd never know it. I mean if they'd never done a film version of Le Mes, American audiences wouldn't even know Hugh Jackman could sing.
Lamenting the good old days because audiences and general tastes have changed is delusory, because it simply means that people who possess those talents today simply aren't marketed to the public as they once were. You've got to stumble across them by luck, or go that extra mile to find them
No offense, but when you hear yourself make a comment like that, you are officially old! The other day I said
" you call that music" and realized, at some point, I had changed from a man with a future, to a man with a past. I'd been in denial!
Sammy Davis is a talent like no other...just imagine.....all rolled in one person.....tap dancer ,drummer ,vibraphone player ,impersonator,actor,and singer.....and all par excellence.....the man's a genius !!!!
Dec.8: Happy birthday Mr. Sammy Davis Jr. (Perhaps) the world's greatest entertainer. RIP. Thanks for the upload. Blessings
I'm from India, I just happened to watch Sammy's video. Hell, how did I miss him all these years. What a genius he is. Has there ever been an entertainer like him ever? He tap dances, plays drums like hell, plays piano, impersonates, sings....what a talent. I am big fan of Victor Borge, but Sammy is just...........
Sammy: I'll have one for my baby AND A WHOLE CASE FOR THE ROOOAAAAADDD
That's a damn mood 🥃🤨🥃
This was the single-most amazing thing I've ever seen. Sammy is so underrated.
guess you're easily pleased--looked like crap to me
Congratulations.
whatt ever MO RON......
lenspaulding And what, pray tell, would be considered amazing to you? You have no respect and therefore you deserve none.
MChipsTV Sammy Davis Jr. gave me the creeps....and he probably did to you too......darn Liar!!!
You can see the influences Sammy gave Michael Jackson.
Someone commented that Sammy's talent was God-given. And I won't disagree with that. But I've read quite a bit about this man. How he would spend hours, just deciding how he was going to tip his hat. He spent years perfecting how to do Western-style gun tricks and gunplay. He spent decades devotedly working on his dance and his song.
All this while fighting and suffering prejudice and racism.
Sam was dating and marrying interracially in the 1950s.
And you know why the women went for him?
They didn't see color.
They only saw, the coolest man in the room.
God Bless You Sam.
And like all the really great men, who march to their own drummer, as you did, both literally and figuratively, you paid a very high price.
If there is a "better place", I'm damn sure you're there.
Making it better.
In a cloud of cool.
brez9091
Well said he was ahead of his time in many ways.White folks an black loved him,I love an miss him.You ever seen All in the family.He kissed Archie..lol omg the good old days
brez9091 _ Hell yeah. Sammy michael prince fats duke sarah ella barry white etc etc etc. .oh but SAMMY ! Nuff said.
Hieno Kaveri Geesh. What a loser.
brez9091 A great tribute!
WOW !
What century do you live in ?
Sammy could REALLY tapdance. And he was a first class impersonater...the complete entertainer of his generation...including singing well.....
03:11 Jerry Lewis(?)
06:10 Fred Astaire
07:20 Frank Sinatra
09:00 Humphrey Bogart
09:36 Cary Grant
10:06 Marlon Brando
11:01 Dean Martin
...please help me and add the names of the other peers Sammy impersonated before these (of whom he didn't mentioned their names).
hobbies spiele This "spain" singing and dancing act just before the announced impersonations was a friendly nod at the great Jerry Lewis
Hannes Nemec Thanks a lot! Did _Sammy_ refer to a certain *Jerry Lewis* movie here?
hobbies spiele Not sure, but I think it's a skit either out of the "Colgate Comedy Hour with Dean and Jerry" or "The Jerry Lewis Show" from the sixties. Jerry is singing playback and doing his iconic faces. The dancing surely is more Sammy than Jerry, who never took dancing lessons himself.
in a skit that Jerry often do is one he sing as Spanish singerdancer or sometime time a opera singer which I had seen Sammy do a Jerry singing opera.
Additional impersonations he did; or, a, general, yet, partial listing of impersonations which were in his repertoire:
Brooke Benton; James Cagney; Errol Flynn; Ronald Coleman; Nat King Cole; Laurence Olivier; Willie Bess; Bill Robinson; Arthur Prysock, Lou Rawls; Gene Kelly; Jerry Butler; Joe Turner; Gene Chandler; Jack Cassidy; Fred Astaire; Dean Martin; Frank Sinatra; Rod Steiger; Jerry Lewis; Georgie Jessel; Marlon Brando; Cary Grant; Bing Crosby; Sam Cooke; Louis Armstrong; Jackie Wilson; James Brown; Ray Charles; Johnny Mathis; Robert Goulet; Steve Lawrence; Paul Robeson; Brock Peters; Cab Calloway; Harry Belafonte; Ben E. King; Clyde McPhatter; Frankie Lymon; Billy Eckstein, Frankie Lane; Vaughn Monroe; Michael Jackson; Jimmy Stewart; Frank Gorshin; George Jessel; Edward G. Robinson; Errol Flynn; Steve Lawrence; Tony Bennett; Perry Como; Bill "Bojangles" Robinson; Louis Armstrong; Fred Astaire; Gene Kelly; John Wayne; Humphrey Bogart; Basil Rathbone; Laurence Olivier; Cary Grant; Tony Martin; Jack Jones; Louie Prima; Al Martino; Maurice Chevalier; Donald O'Connor; Bill Cosby, Mel Torme; Tommy Davidson; Wayne Newton; Charles Laughton; Bill Medley; Elvis Presley; Anthony Newley;...&, numerous Black performers, mostly unknown to White audiences;...ETC., Etc.; etc.
Please Note:
This list does Not include impersonations he also did of other types of artists, like: musicians; dancers, actors, personalities, celebrities, politicians; &, those of both genders;...etc.; for example: Buddy Rich; Lionel Hampton; Eydie Gorme; Ella Fitzgerald; Sarah Vaughn; Nancy Wilson; Diahann Carroll; Tom Jones; Gregory Hines; Howard "Sandman" Sims; Ben Vereen; Muhammad Ali; Savion Glover; Cab Calloway; Lena Horne; Della Reese; The Nicholas Brothers; Liza Minelli; Peter Lawford; J.F.K., Jr.; Gene Krupa; Joe E. Lewis; Sugar Ray Robinson; Jack E. Leonard; Jack Benny; Bob Hope; Doris Day; Julie London; Tony Orlando; Desi Arnez; Jackie Gleason; Groucho Marx; George Sanders; James Mason; Richard Burton; June Lockheart; George Kirby; George Wallace-(the comic); &, Bob Fosse; LeVar Burton; Harry Belafonte; Sidney Poitier; Jimmy Cagney; Boris Karloff; Ronald Coleman; and, of course: "Amos; &, Andy"; amongst other examples, as well.
Lastly, for now;...in addition, to the above, forementioned; he also did these, in mixed forms, combining: dance, song, comedy, assorted humor forms; commentary; political criticism; acting, performance, tap, musical theater; vaudeville; film, tv, stage entertainment stylisms; musical conducting; Lounge Act entertaining; Bway showcasing; Vegas Show Stylings; &, purer forns of stripped back theatricalities; etc.; all together, into one blended form.
Sammy will always be remembered as a great showman long live his memory !
This man is SWAG personified. Class act.
What a great talent he was. Thanks for sharing this.
The coolest cat that ever graced the stage !
My God, he nailed Dean Martin!
sammy davis is the greatest entertainer of all time. He did it all. Love Sammy.
The trouble with his impersonations was that he danced better than Astaire, sang better than Sinatra, and acted as well as Bogart, Grant, and anyone else. The only one he couldn't be better than was Sammy Davis.
Yeah, youre right
You're right.
Barakx8 talented yes extremely so. better dancer than fred astaire???????? never!!
But it was you who said he was better not me. I felt after your comment that in my opinoin fred was a better dancer. Sammy was great no disputes. But if you put a view forward surely you must expect opposition?
it is just two different styles..
Always loved Sammy's impersonation of Jerry Lewis. God bless Sammy!
I wish there were talented entertainers like this these days. How can anyone dislike this video??
good question..
They are there, but now you have to really look for them.
We live in a completely different time now, and there aren't the platforms out there for performers who had the versatility of a Sammie Davis Jr; nor I daresay a large audience that would truly appreciate them . The idea of class in the 21st century is on life support.
Nobody these days has this kind of talent. You might have one person who can sing and another who can dance. But you don't have any entertainers anymore. There haven't been any new ones since the 60s/70s. These types of great entertainers are gone now.
Jamie Foxx is worthy of the comparison
Well said Klunket!....I agree!💖💖💖He was a hard working entertainer!
Vocally, Sammy could never hope to impersonate Frank or Dean because his voice was so superior and distinctive. There are so few male vocalists who have ever come up to the lofty heights of Sammy Davis, maybe Mel Torme was up there vocally in his own style. Entertainers of Sammy Davis Jnr's calibre come along once in a lifetime, if you're lucky.
SO SO SO SO GREAT!!!! THANK U SAMMY U CHEERED ME UP TODAY!
Brilliant!!! Just Brilliant!!!
He WAS a class act. In a league of his own! RIP.
Simply the best at everything period !
Sammy Davis Jr was such a multi talented man. Comedy, singing, dancing, and what I never knew, impressions. His Dean Martin had me laughing out loud. "Which way is the audience?" and his Cary Grant was perfect!
There is absolutely no one who can replicate this man's presence or anyone of that era's today. Though it may have past, we still have these films and audio of the greats, such as Sammy, to keep us smiling and singing along.
The most talented man to ever walk a stage.
I was just a kid back in the sixties, I loved to watch Sammy perform on all those variety shows they had back in those days watching them with my parents. I love tap dancing to this day and he was the reason why I did. Sammy was a talented man.I was very sad the day that he passed. Miss ya Sammy!
Yes, and even though my stepfather was a racist back then he liked watching Sammy, everybody did.
A Talent - he has the energy - he doesn't even have to name the ones he imitates, I know who is who right away...Cary Grant ,Marlon Brando and Dean Martin - I almost fell off the couch 🤣🤣🤣
The man is an all in one Rat-pack XD
Sammy Davis was one of kind , super talented person. I have not seen anyone else with this incredible multiple abilities. Never got credit he deserved.
Words cannot describe the admiration, adoration and respect I have for Sammy Davis, Jr. A more perfect, magnetic and talented performer could not exist. His impeccable comedic timing, velvet voice, light and perfectly executed dance movements, the impersonations and stage presence all immaculately packaged together are something that can never be replicated. Yes, people will always try to be like him but they'll never be another Sammy Davis Jr! I will forever love you! Rest In Peace Sammy ❤️
Loved this man.so full of energy.anytime he was on he caught my attention.he was loved by all colors and cultures.surley he incountered racism as a young man.he overcame and stayed his course to becoming world famous.what a great story about a great American man.we should not allow all he did to bring all people's together to be undone.do not judge people's by the color of thier skin.judge them by the content of thier character.Martin Luther King said that.i believe it.that is the way I believe and live my life.treat others as you would like to be treated.
Absolutely! The Best!!! Thank God for these precious videos that keep Sammy and the Greats alive for each generation!
The Best Performer ever, no one comes close. Sammy Davis Jr. owned the stage, the entertainment's entertainer. Brilliant singer, dancer, impersonator, simp!y the best!
The Dean Martin impression was spot on!
Mr. Sammy Davis Jr., you are truly one of the Gifted Greats! A Legendary Spirit. I love you and wish that I could have held hands with you to dance and sing. Thank you for sharing your beautiful passion with us.....
the first time i've ever seen this.... i can die now and go to heaven.
What Sammie went threw along with Billie holiday,Sarah Vaughn,sidney, Cosby an Mr basie an still showed the talent an compassion for others is just so amazing.
I was in Vegas when he died. They turned the lights out on The Strip in honour of him. I don't think that has ever been done for any other entertainer. He was that much of a legend, and that much of a life lived in humanity for others. No one holds a candle to him. The candle was in his heart and his light will never fade.
They did it after for Dean and Frank -
I lived in So Nevada for nearly 20 years -
miss that
They did? Thank you for letting me know. I appreciate it. Blessings!
they also just do it for Jerry Lewis in August cause that was where his telethon was held for many years. Funny that these 4 superstars was so closely associated together. Even Dean and Jerry after being apart for so many years these 4 man was always close to each other in many many ways. They all got the light dimmed on the strip.
Also Jerry and Sammy was very close friends. just like Dean and Frank was. Sammy could do a very good impersonation of Jerry too.
There is no one alive that comes close to this kind of entertainment. It's so depressing.
Outstanding performance!!! Damn, where the talent has gone these days!!! New "artists" TAKE NOTE OF THIS, OK??
Loved this. Thought he was just too cute at the end when he was giving the stage managers a hard time about his going over time. lol
You can hear Dean Martin in the audience lol
Always loved this man and have seen him live. His only failing in my opinion is he was black in a racist world that would not could not see that his amazing talent was greater than anyone around him.
I LOVE him for all of this!! He's like the "Prince" of tap dancing!
Not the prince, the KING.
Sammy is classic personified ,one of the greatest entertainers that ever graced our screens.
His Marlon Brando was too good. Oh my God. Well, that and everything else he did was perfect.
What a talent! Loved him
My God, he's so fast, so brilliant, the audience can barely keep up- confidence, love and hard, hard, work!!!!!
SDJ had it ALL- Rest in Peace-
May 16, 1990: The world of entertainment and the world in general lost (quite possibly) the greatest entertainer of this or any generation, Sammy Davis Jr. R.I.P.
sammy had class,talent and a awesome personality, he can be easily group in with frank sinatra, both had true alpha male qualities.
Pure talent. Defined the golden age of show business.
1.50 "2, 4 ,6 ,8 we dont want to integrate" haha
No way will we ever see talent like this. Simply amazing!!!!
I had tickets to his performance in August 8,1975 in Reno on my honeymoon. Always loved him and all the amazing things he was great at! He was ill and had Bill Cosby fill in for him. I never got the chance again. Sammy was a beautiful little man with a giant talent! God bless him
Wow - the most talented person I have ever seen. Phenomenal singer, superb dancer, someone who can impersonate how his friends sing and dance, not just talk. That's amazing. So versatile, he can improvise anything. I would have loved to be at this concert! So I guess Jimmy Fallon didn't make up jumping to end the music!
Wish I was in the Audience, I love Sammy!
me too :)
that is priceless, only Sammy can pull that off he is brilliant
They don't make them like this anymore!
The ULTIMATE Entertainer!
I may or may not have watched this 8 times in the past 24 hours. The definition of talent and charisma. What a peach.
What an elegant, impressive, entertaining man! There shall surely never be another of his like....
The Dino impression was astounding. Sammy is so fucking talented.
+Yuki Iwama ....yes Sammy is talented ....if you have sh-it for Brains.
lenspaulding it's all relative, isn't it? :)
+Yuki Iwama ....yes of course Yuki. Everything is.
What an incredible talent 👏.
I have always loved this man .. That voice- the moves... the comedic timing.. Mr Davis had it all !
The talent of this guy! Does it know no end? How long do we have to wait for another one like this?
An eternity and beyond.
Sammy Davis was probably the most talented man in show business till this day ❤❤
I am glad that there are so many people who appreciate this extraordinary talent. There will always be the occasional individual who will somehow come across quality like this and use it to attract attention to themselves. How about we ignore them?
***** "extraordinary talent" my ass (LOL)
***** What year was this? I know this was way before my time, but it speaks to me. Thanks for uploading. Just getting to know who this talented man was in these past few minutes.
My Two Cents It was some time in the early-mid sixties.
***** Oh shut up Corporalhenshaw.
My Two Cents it speaks to you? yes he was talented ....if you have shit for brains.....now go smoke some more pot....(What a Stoner) LOL
What an absolutely class act Sammy Davis Jr was! A quite astonishing talent.
MsG
Sammy, take a bow, you legend!
The KING of Entertainment....
Mr ENTERTAINMENT.
Love you Sammy.
they worked at their art, not like today
Dee H this is 100% truth.
There never has been, nor do I think there ever will be one as talented as Sammy Davis Junior.
The man was pure genius no matter what he laid his hand or voice to.
I have loved Sammy for years and years. Read is autobiography when I was a teenager. What a life! Self-made, talented beyond belief and a delight to listen to and to watch. I especially loved his positive attitude about life -- like all of us -- he faced many obstacles -- but look at all he accomplished! His humor was spot on -- and his imitations of others -- just as great! Shows you what one person can do through developing their God-given talents! I do wish we still had him around. Love to you Sammy Davis!
I seen a tape of Sammy as a small child entertaining now that was amazing , he couldn’t have been older than about three to four
Sammy's got to be my favourite hoofer ever.
TALENT!!!!!
How can you NOT like this? Sammy's -in my opinion- is greater than Sinatra.
Completely unique styles. Also - Sinatra was a great actor - Much to his own frustration, Sammy was a lightweight in that category. But why compare them at all. How very stupid of you.
Yank ee I think they were saying as an overall talent Sammy was better
Wow. He died too soon, but he lived hard, lost it all, but damn, it was HIS money, and he enjoyed his life the way he wanted. I remember the tribute for him, while he was in attendance (which I loved, he knew it was because he was dyin but at least he received the love b4 he died) & he got up & danced with another who went too soon. I cried during the special knowing he wouldnt be around long. I'm sure you know the special. His wife tried to hold his arm so he wouldn't get up & dance.Great story
Amazing chops. The tap dancing, the scating, the charm, the 4 octive range, a genius
so great great real Artist .... gifted .one of the greatest of all time .. rip
WHAT AN ENTERTAINER!!!!!!!!! WOW. Never really seen him that much before,but after watching this.... He was THE BEST!
An incomparable talent!
Your legend lives.
So glad I got to see the genius perform with Frank and LIza. I also was able to meet him one night when out to dinner, he was with his wife and Elizabeth Taylor so I got to meet and speak with her as well. Something I will always remember and cherish. Sammy Davis, there will never be another like him a national treasure.
These guys could perform all night they loved what they did and did it well
They just don't make'em like that anymore that's for damned sure. The littlest giant I ever saw.
crankbv1 What a perfect description of this amazing man.
I have always loved Sammy! I know better than to lift anyone by bashing someone else.....and FS was very good to SDJ, I've read....but SDJ has been quoted as saying he wanted to sing as well as FS. Well.......he far, far surpassed him. SDJ's voice was spectacular. That power and volume and pleasing tone from that compact body---incredible. He could act. Sing. Dance his bum off. The man was pure talent and few could stand with him. I also have always loved Dino and my admiration of Sammy takes nothing away from Dean. DM's voice was pure satin. He always sounded like he was smiling when he sang. Even Elvis told Deana, Dean's daughter, "I may be the King of Rock, but your dad is the King of Cool."
That Dean impression was brilliant
I remember Sammy before he lost his eye and performed with dad and uncles-was terrific then and just got better