Best known now as arguably the coolest member of the rat pack, sammy davis jr. This is one of the best autobiographies i have read. He was a dancer, singer and instrumentalist playing vibraphone, trumpet and drums, comedian and actor. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. It is also a frank, painful and intimate expose of racism as it existed during the lifetime of sammy davis, jr. Before he became universally beloved, davis had to endure, and overcome, brutal bigotry. This page is automatically generated based on what facebook users are interested in, and not affiliated with or endorsed by anyone associated with the topic. Sammy davis, jr would pop up on television shows singing cheesy songs and making lame jokes about being black, jewish, and oneeyed. Ive got to get so big, so powerful, so famous that the day will come when theyll look at me and see a man, and then. If you have any questions as to how his life changed in the years after this book was published do not forget to read his daughters, tracy davis, biography about her famous father named sammy davis jr. Story, rhino records has assembled an impressive fourcd package of the crooners greatest moments. Recorded live at the sands hotel, las vegas at discogs.
First edition of davis autobiography, boldly inscribed. In yes i can, his 1965 worldwide number one best selling autobiography, sammy davis recounts the extraordinary obstacles he overcame to become the undisputed worlds greatest entertainer. I like how he quotes himself using slang how he actually spoke, make be feel like i was right there in the 60s with him. He was brought up by his fathers mother, rosa davis, while his parents, both vaudevillians, were on tour. Adored the world over, he was now labelled the greatest entertainer ever.
Im puerto rican, jewish, colored and married to a white. And all that came through in the book without sammy trying to make it that way. He captured some of the most amazing people in the entertainment industry in the most intimate settings. The first half of the 60s saw sammy swinging with the rest of his pals in vegas, the likes of which have never been seen by the world since. Octavo, original black cloth, original dust jacket.
Yes i can is, first, the story of a remarkable entertainer as told to his close friends, jane and burt boyar, in the 1960s. Davis became hugely successful as a stage singer and recording artist and when asked to play at segregated places where africanamericans. December 8, 1925 may 16, 1990 was an american singer, musician, dancer, actor, vaudevillian, comedian, and activist known for his impressions of actors, musicians, and other celebrities. Apr 08, 2018 to honor the passing of burt boyar, here is sammy singing yes i can. December 8, 1925 may 16, 1990 was an american entertainer. Aka the hollywood rat pack biography series this three part biographystyle program series presents the lives and times of frank sinatra, sammy davis jr. He was a very good writer, but less than halfway throughthe book becomes almost entirely conversation. Yes i can is the selfportrait of one of the extraordinary men of our time, who became a figure of controversy because he dared to live his life not as a negro but as a man. I ve got to be a star like another man has to breathe, write sammy davis. At age three davis began performing in vaudeville with his father and uncle, will mastin, in the will mastin trio. December 8, 1925 may 16, 1990 was an american singer, musician, dancer, actor, vaudevillian, comedian and activist known for his impressions of actors, musicians and other celebrities. Onstage, nobody could match the wham of sammy davis jr. Sammys autobiography, of the same name, was written with the help of burt and his wife jane, published in september 1965. Story is that it brings together material controlled by time warner, emicapitol, universal, and the davis.
To honor the passing of burt boyar, here is sammy singing yes i can. On smile, darn ya, smile a track thats been out of print for 45 years, the 23yearold vocalist shows little of the grace, style, and vocal warmth he would bring to such classics as hey there, the candy man, and ive. Yes i can describes sammy daviss personal conviction, the view of success that both propelled him to stardom from ghetto obscurity and served as his armor against racism. A will was created in altovises name in 2004, leaving her estate to her two business partnerstwo new yorkerswhom she subsequently accused of. This page is automatically generated based on what facebook users are interested in, and not affiliated with or. A half century after it became an immediate bestseller, yes i can is still an intensely absorbing book, full of the vitality and aggressive greatness of sammy davis, jr. Wonderful 1956 and in a 1964 revival of clifford odetss golden boy and in films, including porgy and bess 1959 and sweet charity 1969. Sammy was a star who was down to earth with a great heart. Entertainment, a dynamic performer who knew how to utilize music, movement and gesture onstage, and no one captured much of.
They worked together but only when they began writing their first book, sammy davis, jr. One simple reason for the delay is that davis discography is a licensing nightmare, so the initial triumph of warner archivesrepriserhinos fourdisc yes i can. A will was created in altovises name in 2004, leaving her estate to her two business partnerstwo new yorkerswhom she subsequently accused of defrauding her. I love sammy davis and loved the beginning of his book. Yes i can, a documentary television series yes i can, a 1964 song by sammy davis, jr.
A new coffee table book featuring photos taken by davis is on sale now. Aug 03, 2012 yes i can is the selfportrait of one of the extraordinary men of our time, who became a figure of controversy because he dared to live his life not as a negro but as a man. Sammy s autobiography, of the same name, was written with the help of burt and his wife jane, published in september 1965. Gee im afraid to go on, has turn into yes i can take a look what do you see 3 pounds of confidence me. In simple, downtoearth prose, the late sammy davis, jr. Ive got to be a star like another man has to breathe, write sammy davis. All content from kiddle encyclopedia articles including the article images and facts can be freely used under attributionsharealike license, unless stated otherwise. First edition of davis autobiography, inscribed to talent manager mimi weber. A musica, inclusive, chegou a tocar nas radios e virou um hit na epoca. Edited by gerald early 2001 sammy davis, jr me and my shadow a biographical memoir.
414 1427 209 150 257 1157 1609 1439 803 378 521 234 375 610 819 1337 364 1429 63 1043 37 1441 172 22 117 1402 648 541 314 1432 883 334 630 424 525