no sammy davis jr. thread?

I was surprised to find nothing dedicated to this Rat Pack stalwart. I have a vague impression that critics have not been as kind to him as Sinatra or even Dean. I like the little stuff I've heard by him, but it's not been a substantial exploration of his discography. Any recommendations would be gratefully received.

What's ILX's view of him?

classic showbizzer, even when smarmy

did a great Jerry Lewis impression

Hard workin' dude.

Classic youtube, singing/dancing at age 8 or whatever, doing "I'll be glad when yr dead, you rascal you"

Also "Hit the floor and crawl to Daddy!"

Thought you folks were wishing him a posthumous happy birthday. He was born on December 8, 1925, and my local jazz and more station was playing some of his music yesterday. He has performed with both jazz singer Ethel Waters and Michael Jackson, the dj informed me. But I still don't know his music.

curmudgeon, that makes me wish I'd started this thread yesterday as I'd initially intended. I've never heard of his performing with Michael Jackson, although I know that MJ sang a song in tribute to him at the Grammys after Sammy's death in 1990.

I like his interpretation of "Mr. Bojangles", which I think was a big hit for him at the time (my dad certainly recalls hearing it a few decades ago/associating the song with him). Haven't heard "The Candy Man" enough to comment, although it seems to be one of those "My Ding-a-ling" situations where the artist's biggest hit isn't necessarily his finest...

never forget

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC1pquDrG7o

I've seen the Jackson 5's first TV performance, where Davis has a scripted comedy line calling Michael a "40-year-old midget."

If old-style Vegas/Broadway "big" singing irks you, Sam may be irritating. In the '60s and '70s he had hits with cringey crapola like "I've Gotta Be Me."

He could be a facile singer but as far all-round entertainer he was the best of the Pack.

*as far AS

I played this on the radio once, from a not very successful B'way musical (note the breaking the 4th wall allusion to Dean Martin)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxJXQLCz5AM

Drew Friedman marked his birthday yesterday on FB --
https://scontent-a-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1450184_773652365985268_1965053746_n.jpg

for some reason, i kind of love this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdT_jYJ-mxA

didn't know he went through a coke phase that Sinatra lectured him out of

speaking of Drew Friedman, and Nixon & SDJ:

http://drewfriedman.blogspot.com/2013_01_01_archive.html

I've been seeing and hearing that commercial with "I've Gotta Be Me" constantly. I thought it was Sinatra at first, and had it in my mind that it might be something from Man of La Mancha or The Fantasticks. I must have known it was Sammy Davis Jr. at some point in my life. God, it takes me back to being a kid. I liked it then, and I still do.

Definitely bathetic, but something about gets to me in a way that, say, "My Way" doesn't at all.

Just heard a short summary of the new bio (and "I've Gotta Be Me") on the Cocktail Nation podcast. Immensely talented dude who was in an almost intolerable position compared to his Rat Pack "buddies." Also, according to this book, pretty much an insufferable prick.

"The Candy Man" is an indelible part of my early childhood.

There are weird connections I read about somewhere between Davis, Satanism, and Rosemary's Baby (his autobiography is seen twice in the film).

Yeah it’s weird how Anton LaVey’s Church of Satan was kind of a hipster destination in LA circa 1967, one where Sammy, Jayne Mansfield, and Liberace might be found hanging out. Like a slightly saucier Playboy Club. I don’t know about the Rosemary’s Baby connection but not surprised there would be one.

Rosemary reading Yes I Can:

https://i.postimg.cc/0Qp9r0Hz/sammy.jpg

On the bookshelf:

https://i.postimg.cc/XNHzdCSq/sammy-2.jpg