Cultural depictions of Sammy Davis, Jr.

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The life, career, and personal appearance of Sammy Davis, Jr. has been subject to many name-checks and parodies in popular culture.

Contents

[edit] Music

  • Sammy And Me, a musical by Eric Jordan Young and Wendy Dann, gives thoughtful tribute to and examination of the life of Sammy Davis, Jr.

[edit] Namechecks in songs

  • Adam Sandler mentions Sammy Davis, Jr. in his song, "Love to Eat Turkey":
Turkey and sweet po-ta-to pie
Sammy Davis, Jr. only had one eye.
  • L.A. Punk stalwarts The Dickies wrote a song about Sammy Davis, Jr., entitled "Where Did His Eye Go?". It featured on their second album "Dawn of the Dickies" (A&M Records, 1979).
  • Sammy Davis, Jr. is mentioned by Alice Cooper in the 1980 song "Model Citizen":
I might be the saviour, here to save us
I'm a friend of Sammy Davis'
Casually
You were there, before we came
You took the hurt, you took the shame
They built the walls to block your way
You beat them down, you won the day
It wasn't right, it wasn't fair
You taught them all, you made them care
Yes, you were there, and thanks to you
There's now a door we all walk through
And we are here, for all to see
To be the best that we can be
Yes, I am here
Because you were there
She didn't understand
That I'm a happy dappy Sammy Davis, Jr. man.
  • The band Lagwagon wrote a song about Sammy Davis, Jr.'s death entitled "May 16".

[edit] Depictions in films


[edit] Film references

  • The character Josephus in History of the World Part I, while pretending to be Jewish, told Roman soldiers that "Sammus Davis, Jr." would "vouch for him."
  • In the film Everything Is Illuminated, the family dog is named Sammy Davis, Jr., Jr., after the grandfather's favorite singer.
  • In the film The Hebrew Hammer, Sammy Davis Jr. Jr. is the first black Jewish agent of the Jewish Defense League.
  • Danny Elfman said in an interview that the character Mr Bonejangles was influenced by Sammy Davis, Jr.[citation needed]

[edit] References in popular culture

  • Bill Cosby, a good friend of Davis' (who in fact once guest starred on a 1989 episode of The Cosby Show in what would be one of his last television appearances), wore a black pin that read "SDJR" in commemoration of his friend's death, from 1990 until the show's end in 1992.
  • The Soul Train Music Awards have an award named in Sammy's honor, given to the entertainer who has lived up to the high standards of quality and achievement that he himself met. Michael Jackson was one of the first awardees.
  • On the TV series All in the Family (playing himself), Sammy left something in Archie Bunker's taxi. Archie, when relating the whole thing to Edith, was ecstatic about giving Sammy a ride, and the fact that he would be coming to the house to reclaim his property. (Archie completely dropped his bigoted views.) At the conclusion of Sammy's visit, he gave Archie a sustained kiss on the cheek while posing for a photo, much to the chagrin of a flummoxed Bunker.
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