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Video & Multimedia

JohnnyRingo

(20,879 posts) Fri Mar 1, 2013, 03:18 PM Mar 2013

Sammy Davis Jr on the drums... I had no idea [View all]

I swear, having grown up in the age of the Rat Pack, I had no idea Sammy Davis Jr had such talent. I knew he was in movies and he sang light melodies in Vegas, but after seeing this appearance on The Ed Sullivan Shew, I believe he had every right to call people cats.

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Here Davis dons a pair of tap shoes and shows how he got his start in the family business:

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Davis was apparently a very underrated performer in his day.

34 replies

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Highlight:

Sammy Davis Jr on the drums... I had no idea [View all] JohnnyRingo Mar 2013 OP

Sammy Davis Jr could do anything Auggie Mar 2013 #1

Read his autobiography riqster Mar 2013 #2

I read it 3 times riverwalker Mar 2014 #29

I remember seeing him play some fast riffs on the electric guitar aint_no_life_nowhere Mar 2013 #3

Underrated performer in his day? Leslie Valley Mar 2013 #4

He was wildly popular. Underrated? Don't think so... Buzz Clik Mar 2013 #19

No, he wasn't underated, BUT, his multiple talents put Sinatra, Martin, maddiemom Mar 2014 #27

He played trumpet, too frazzled Mar 2013 #5

I had to blow it up to full screen- What boundless talent! NBachers Mar 2013 #6

Wow ,thanks for posting Tanelorn Mar 2013 #7

Kick and Rec for Sammy! I'm not old enough to remember him in his prime... Cooley Hurd Mar 2013 #8

Real musicians can play multiple instruments wilt the stilt Mar 2013 #9

Very popular, with a TV show and now somewhere gone: Barbara Mandrell: I saw her perform playing maddiemom Mar 2014 #31

Amazing, amazing performer. SwissTony Mar 2013 #10

Didn't you know all them Jews got rhythm? marybourg Mar 2013 #11

Awesome! What is the name of the song Sammy dances to after he's done singing Choreography? mac56 Mar 2013 #12

I think you mean "Cute." It's by Neal Hefti. immoderate Mar 2014 #28

I think Sammy was quite appreciated in his day. He was big in Vegas. nm rhett o rick Mar 2013 #13

Childhood prodigy LeftInTX Mar 2013 #14

Oh ya, that little dude had HUGE talent. Always loved him. Sing, dance, act, percussion, all of it. RBInMaine Mar 2013 #15

Let us not forget his impersonations... amazing! stlsaxman Mar 2013 #16

Many years ago during some really bad winter weather in Pittsburgh, my then maddiemom Mar 2013 #17

Now that says a lot. JohnnyRingo Mar 2013 #18

Forgot to add yesterday: at the end of his performance, he took his bows to our maddiemom Mar 2013 #21

K&R DeSwiss Mar 2013 #20

When did he lose the cigarette? Too bad he made smoking look so cool. joanbarnes Mar 2013 #22

Smoking only stopped looking cool to the younger Baby Boomers sometime around the latter Seventies maddiemom Mar 2013 #23

A year later than your post, trying to pinpoint exactly when I saw Sammy Davis Jr. on a miserable maddiemom Mar 2014 #24

Woops! Sorry for the repeat post. Confused myself on another site maddiemom Mar 2014 #25

Coolest concert story ever. JohnnyRingo Mar 2014 #32

No, we didn't actually hang out with Sammy, but his "invitation" drew wild maddiemom Mar 2014 #33

Yes, the original QS&L is in Sharon. JohnnyRingo Mar 2014 #34

Johnny Carson was a pretty good drummer, as well. Hoyt Mar 2014 #26

was great in Porgy and Bess riverwalker Mar 2014 #30