The Life of Sammy Davis Jr.
A joyous performer who used his fame to fight racism
The Start of His Fame
In 1943, Sammy Davis Jr was drafted into the army, at the height of World War ll. There, he experienced terrible racial prejudice and harassment from the white soldiers. However, he managed to find comfort in entertaining the soldiers, earning their respect and keeping himself safe. After the war, he continued performing with the Will Mastin Trio, who also performed with the famous Frank Sinatra.
The Accident, Recovery and Beyond
Sammy Davis Jr refused to let his injury stop him from performing. Soon, he released his first 2 albums, and made many appearances on TV and in concert. He starred with Chita Rivera in the 1956 musical Mr. Wonderful.
Sammy Davis Jr was part of the well-known Rat Pack of musicians. He was in the group with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop.
Along with his many other achievements, Sammy Davis Jr started his own TV show, The Sammy Davis Jr Show in 1966, and Sammy and Company from 1975-1977.
Social Activism
The End of his Life
Sammy Davis Jr was famous for bringing joy to whatever stage he performed on, whether with comedy, singing, dancing, acting or anything else. He used his fame for standing up against racism, and he will be remembered well for all that he did.