Sammy Davis, Jr. was born into show business. His mother was a chorus girl and his father a lead dancer. Sammy was raised primarily by his grandmother and father. With his father and Will Mastin he was featured as the star of their act, "The Will Mastin Trio". They started out as a flash dancing team and added more to the act so that Sammy could use all his talents. People took notice of this young man with all his energy and talent. The Will Mastin Trio became headliners in Las Vegas and other places featuring young Sammy Davis, Jr.

Sammy was destined for stardom. During his rise he faced many challenges. There were too many times and places he could perform, but he could not stay in the hotels. Black people couldn't even go to the places he performed. Black performers would have to find lodgings in the Black areas of town and even in private homes. There were cities he worked that he had to have a permit to even be out in the white areas of town after certain hours.

Sammy Davis, Jr., along with some of his closest friends helped open doors that allowed Black people to enter the hotels and other venues in places like Las Vagas.

Sammy became part of a group of equally talented young men--the "Rat Pack"--which included Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford and a few others. The group of young men became legendary. They workd and played togather. The were the some of the most exciting playboys of the time. They all became lifelong friends.

Sammy donated a lot of time and money to charity. This superstar was the last of the great Black showmen of his time. Sammy was loved by many generations and will be well remembered for many years to come.