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Samuel George Davis Sr. (December 12, 1900 – May 21, 1988) was an American dancer and the father of entertainer
Sammy Davis Sr. in photograph of the Will Mastin Trio c. 1935
with Sammy Davis Jr. and Will Mastin * {{DEFAULTSORT:Davis, Sammy Sr. Vaudeville performers American male film actors African-American male actors African-American male dancers African-American dancers American male dancers Actors from Wilmington, North Carolina 1900 births 1988 deaths Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) 20th-century American male actors Sammy Davis Jr.
Samuel George Davis Sr. (December 12, 1900 – May 21, 1988) was an American dancer and the father of entertainer Sammy Davis Jr.
Samuel George Davis Jr. (December 8, 1925 – May 16, 1990) was an American singer, dancer, actor, comedian, film producer and television director.
At age three, Davis began his career in vaudeville with his father Sammy Davis Sr. and the ...
Early life
Davis was born inWilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and the county seat of New Hanover County in coastal southeastern North Carolina, United States.
With a population of 115,451 at the 2020 census, it is the eighth most populous city in the state. Wilmington is the ...
, to Rosa B. Taylor (1870–1957) and Robert Davis (1868–1948). He and his former wife Elvera Sanchez
Elvera "Baby" Sanchez Davis (September 1, 1905 – September 2, 2000) was an American dancer and the mother of Sammy Davis Jr.
Davis Jr. stated that his mother was Puerto Rican and born in San Juan; however, in the 2003 biography ''In Bla ...
were both dancers in a vaudeville
Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...
troupe. The couple split up when their son Sammy Jr. was three. Davis took custody of his son, who then went into show business with his father. He and Will Mastin
Will Mastin (June 20, 1878 – March 14, 1979), also credited as Will Maston, was a dancer and singer.
Career on the dance floor
Mastin was the leader of the Will Mastin Trio, which included Sammy Davis Sr. and his son Sammy Davis Jr. Will Ma ...
, the leader of the dance troupe, taught Sammy Jr. how to dance and they performed together as the Will Mastin Trio.
Sammy Jr. once stated, "When I was nine I told my father, 'I can outdance you'. 'Oh yeah? What makes you think that?' he asked. 'Cause you taught me everything I know'. 'Yeah, but I didn't teach you everything ''I'' know.'"
Career
Davis began dancing early in life, and as a young man joinedWill Mastin
Will Mastin (June 20, 1878 – March 14, 1979), also credited as Will Maston, was a dancer and singer.
Career on the dance floor
Mastin was the leader of the Will Mastin Trio, which included Sammy Davis Sr. and his son Sammy Davis Jr. Will Ma ...
to form a dancing troupe. Soon Sammy Jr. joined the act and they became known as the Will Mastin Trio
The Will Mastin Trio (also Will Maston Trio on some bills) was a troupe of dancers and singers formed by Will Mastin, Sammy Davis Sr., and Sammy Davis Jr. The original members were Sammy Davis Sr., Howard M. Colbert Jr., and Will Mastin, although ...
. The three appeared in the 1956 Broadway musical
Broadway theatre,Although ''theater'' is generally the spelling for this common noun in the United States (see American and British English spelling differences), 130 of the 144 extant and extinct Broadway venues use (used) the spelling ''Th ...
'' Mr. Wonderful''.
Davis also appeared in two movie
A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...
s, '' Sweet and Low'' (1947) with the Will Mastin Trio, and ''The Benny Goodman Story Dick Winslow
''The Benny Goodman Story'' is a biographical film starring Steve Allen and Donna Reed, directed by Valentine Davies, and released by Universal-International in 1956. The film was intended as a follow-up to Universal's 1954 hit ''The G ...
'' (1956), in which he played the bandleader and arranger Fletcher Henderson
James Fletcher Hamilton Henderson (December 18, 1897 – December 29, 1952) was an American pianist, bandleader, arranger and composer, important in the development of big band jazz and swing music. He was one of the most prolific black musi ...
.
Death
Davis died May 21, 1988, inBeverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. A notable and historic suburb of Greater Los Angeles, it is in a wealthy area immediately southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. B ...
, at the age of 87, of natural causes
In many legal jurisdictions, the manner of death is a determination, typically made by the coroner, medical examiner, police, or similar officials, and recorded as a vital statistic. Within the United States and the United Kingdom, a distinct ...
, two years before the death of his son, Sammy Davis Jr.
Samuel George Davis Jr. (December 8, 1925 – May 16, 1990) was an American singer, dancer, actor, comedian, film producer and television director.
At age three, Davis began his career in vaudeville with his father Sammy Davis Sr. and the ...
References
External links
*Sammy Davis Sr. in photograph of the Will Mastin Trio c. 1935
with Sammy Davis Jr. and Will Mastin * {{DEFAULTSORT:Davis, Sammy Sr. Vaudeville performers American male film actors African-American male actors African-American male dancers African-American dancers American male dancers Actors from Wilmington, North Carolina 1900 births 1988 deaths Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) 20th-century American male actors Sammy Davis Jr.