Sammy Davis Jr. lived more lives than most entertainers dream of. Singer, dancer, actor, comedian—Sammy did it all, and he did it all with style. As the most electric member of the fabled Rat Pack, Davis could hold his own alongside Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, often stealing the spotlight with sheer talent and charm. He was also one of the first major Black entertainers to cross over into white audiences at a time when the country was still deeply segregated. Davis called himself “the world’s greatest entertainer” and even his toughest critics had a hard time disagreeing with that fact. In short, the dude was a living legend in a time when America’s most notorious entertainment legends were just being born.
His debut album Starring Sammy Davis Jr. dropped in 1955 and quickly proved he was more than just a novelty nightclub act. The record mixed show tunes, ballads, and pop standards all tied together by his unmistakable voice which was nimble, expressive, and endlessly smooth. It laid the groundwork for a long career in music, and while Davis would go on to have much bigger hits in the ensuing decades, this was the moment the spotlight first locked on and never let go.
Standout Songs: “And This Is My Beloved”, “Because Of You”, “The Lonesome Road”, “The Birth of the Blues”
