In Black and White: The Life of Sammy Davis, JR.

by Wil Haygood

Book Overview

For decades one of America's most recognizable stars, the real Sammy Davis, Jr. has long remained hidden behind the persona the performer so vigorously generated--and so fiercely protected. In Black... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 037540354X
• ISBN13: 9780375403545
• Release Date: October 2003
• Publisher: Knopf Publishing Group
• Length: 528 Pages
• Weight: 1.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 6.6" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

A Rock Solid Read

Reading about Sammy Davis Jr is always a Must for me.the Man was not only a Multi-Talented Person but also a Soul Brother who had to deal with alot of Obstacles not that long ago.He held His own in the Rat Pack.He dealt with Racisim & Other forces working against Him & still made folks respect His hard Work as a Entertainer.the Author Wil Haygood explores so much & Brings many elements into the life of Sammy Davis Jr.very detailed book from start to finish.

AN INTRIGUING BIO AND CHRONICLE

Sammy Davis, Jr., the true "I Gotta Be Me," man was not only a topnotch entertainer but also a tortured individual according to this exhaustive biography by journalist Wil Haygood. More than simply a comprehensive biography "In Black and White" is an intriguing chronicle of black entertainment in our country. Trained by his father and uncle Sammy had no classroom education but a world of stage smarts. As a small child he mastered soft shoe and tap to become the star of the vaudeville threesome "The Will Mastin Trio." There seemed to be nothing the youngster couldn't do whether it was singing, dancing, playing an instrument or miming other performers. This energetic bundle of talent couldn't be contained. He burst upon the television screen and was soon a member of Hollywood's celebrated "Rat Pack" paling around and joking on stage with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Joey Bishop. Nonetheless, Sammy was black and they were white. He was very aware of the difference - where he could stay and where he could not. Once married to a black girl he later started dating blond white actresses and eventually wed May Britt, a union that shocked. He survived a 1954 car accident which caused him to lose an eye, and his face with the black eye patch soon became familiar. For reasons unknown and only surmised he converted to Judaism. When he told Jerry Lewis of his plan, Lewis asked, "Don't you already have enough problems?" Problems were to dog him for all of his life. Beneath the happy veneer was a wellspring of anguish. "In Black and White" is a memorable biography of a one-of-a-kind entertainer and an eye-opening glimpse of the world of entertainment as it once was. - Gail Cooke

Great Biography

The author takes you inside Sammy Davis Jr. - a performer who became almost a caricature to the public in his last two decades - with an incredibly-researched portrait. Even though the book is very harsh and truthful about Davis, the last chapters are still very moving and the humanity of the man is never lost.

Bravo! Outstanding

Wil Haygood, if you're reading this, please know: if I ever amount to anything, I hope you write my biography. I was always a casual Sammy fan, but now I'm fascinated. A story well told, beautifully written. For the generation who (sadly) only knows Sammy from the Billy Crystal imitations, this is a must-read. Sammy was a true giant in American entertainment for more than 50 years, and now he finally has the biography he deserves, warts and all. Sammy had his flaws, but also had more talent than all of today's pop stars put together.