Sammy Davis Jr.

Samuel George Davis Jr. was the greatest entertainer of the twentieth century — a singer, dancer, actor, comedian, and impressionist whose talent was so transcendent that he broke through racial barriers in nightclubs, on Broadway, in Hollywood, and on television at a time when Black performers were expected to entertain white audiences and then leave through the back door. He was a member of the Rat Pack alongside Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, yet couldn't stay at the same hotels where he headlined in Las Vegas.

Born in Harlem on December 8, 1925, Davis began performing with his father and uncle in the Will Mastin Trio at age three. He served in the Army during World War II, where he experienced vicious racism that hardened his determination to succeed. He lost his left eye in a car accident in 1954 but returned to performing within months, wearing his iconic eye patch.

Davis could do everything: sing, dance, act, do impressions, play multiple instruments, and command any stage. He starred on Broadway in Mr. Wonderful and Golden Boy, appeared in numerous films, and hosted his own television variety show. He hugged Richard Nixon at the 1972 Republican National Convention — a moment that cost him dearly in the Black community. His life was a constant negotiation between his extraordinary talent and the limitations America placed on Black artists. He joined the ancestors on May 16, 1990, at 64.