Early life
Samuel George "Sammy" Davis, Jr. was born in New York City, New York to Elvera Sanchez (1905-2000)[1], a Puerto Rican tap dancer, and Sammy Davis, Sr. (1900-1988), an African-American entertainer. The couple were both dancers in vaudeville. As an infant, he was raised by his paternal grandmother. When he was three years old, his parents split up. His father, not wanting to lose custody of his son, took him on tour. During his lifetime Sammy Davis, Jr. stated that his mother was Puerto Rican and born in San Juan.[2] As a child he learned how to dance from his father and his "uncle" Will Mastin, who led the dance troupe his father worked for. Davis joined the act as a young child and they became the Will Mastin Trio. Throughout his long career, Davis included the Will Mastin Trio in his billing.
Mastin and his father had shielded him from racism. Snubs were explained as jealousy, for instance. When Davis served in the United States Army during World War II however, he was confronted by strong racial prejudice. As he said later, "Overnight the world looked different. It wasn't one color anymore. I could see the protection I'd gotten all my life from my father and Will. I appreciated their loving hope that I'd never need to know about prejudice and hate, but they were wrong. It was as if I'd walked through a swinging door for eighteen years, a door which they had always secretly held open."
Career
While in the service, however, he joined an integrated entertainment Special Services unit, and found that the spotlight removed some of the prejudice. "My talent was the weapon, the power, the way for me to fight. It was the one way I might hope to affect a man's thinking," he said.[3]
Sammy Davis, Jr. (left) with Roy Wilkins (right) at the 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C.
After he was discharged, Davis rejoined the dance act which played at a wide variety of spots around Portland Oregon, and began to achieve success on his own as he was singled out for praise by critics. The next year, he released his second album. The next move in his growing career was to appear in the Broadway show Mr. Wonderful in 1956.
In 1959, he became a member of the Rat Pack, which was led by his old friend Frank Sinatra, and included such fellow performers as Dean Martin, Joey Bishop, Peter Lawford, and Shirley MacLaine. Initially, Sinatra called the gathering of fast-living friends "the Clan," but Sam voiced his opposition, saying that it invoked thoughts about the Ku Klux Klan. Sinatra renamed the group "the Summit"...but nevertheless, the media kept on calling it the Rat Pack all along.
Davis was a headliner at The Frontier Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada for many years, yet was required to accept accommodations in a rooming house on the west side of the city, rather than reside with his peers in the hotels, as were all black performers in the 1950s. For example, no stage dressing rooms were provided for black performers, so they were required to wait outside by the swimming pool between acts. [4]
During his early years in Las Vegas, he and other African-American artists like Nat King Cole and Count Basie could entertain on the stage, but often could not reside at the hotels at which they performed, and most definitely could not gamble in the casinos or go to the hotel restaurants and bars. After he achieved superstar success, Davis refused to work at venues which would practice racial segregation. His demands eventually led to the integration of Miami Beach nightclubs and Las Vegas casinos. Davis was particularly proud of this accomplishment. [5]
Although James Brown would claim the title of "Hardest Working Man in Show Business," the argument could be made that Sammy Davis, Jr. deserved it more. For example, in 1964 he was starring in Golden Boy at night and shooting his own New York-based afternoon talk show during the day. When he could get a day off from the theater, he would either be in the studio recording new songs, or else performing live, often at charity benefits as far away as Miami, Chicago and Las Vegas, or doing television variety specials in Los Angeles. Even at the time, Sam knew he was cheating his family of his company, but he couldn't help himself; as he later said, he was incapable of standing still.
Although still a huge draw in Las Vegas, Davis' musical career had sputtered out by the latter years of the 1960s, although he had a #11 hit (#1 on the Easy Listening singles chart) with "I've Gotta Be Me" in 1969. An attempt to update his sound and reconnect with younger people resulted in some embarrassing "hip" musical efforts with the Motown record label.[6] But then, even as his career seemed at its nadir, Sammy had an unexpected worldwide smash hit with "Candy Man". Although he didn't particularly care for the song and was chagrined that he was now best known for it, Davis made the most of his new opportunity and revitalized his career. Although he enjoyed no more Top 40 hits, he did enjoy some extra popularity with his performance of the theme song from the T.V. series Baretta (1975-1978) which was not released as a single but was given extensive radio play and he remained a successful live act beyond Vegas for the remainder of his career. He would still occasionally land television and film parts, including high profile visits to the All in the Family series playing himself. In the 1970s, he also appeared in a series of memorable commercials in Japan for Suntory whiskey.
On December 11, 1967, NBC broadcast a musical-variety special entitled Movin' With Nancy. In addition to the Emmy Award-winning musical performances, the show is famous for Nancy Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. greeting each other with a kiss, one of the first black-white kisses in U.S. television history.[7]
In Japan, Davis appeared in television commercials for coffee, and in the U.S. he joined Sinatra and Martin in a radio commercial for a Chicago car dealership.
Davis was one of the first male celebrities to admit to watching television soap operas, particularly the shows produced by the American Broadcasting Company. This admission led to him making a cameo appearance on General Hospital and playing the recurring character Chip Warren on One Life to Live for which he received a Daytime Emmy nomination in 1980. He was also a game show fan, making a cameo on the ABC version of Family Feud in 1979, and hosting a question with Richard Dawson watching from the sidelines. He appeared on Tattletales with third wife Altovise Davis in the 1970s. He also made a cameo during an episode of the NBC version of Card Sharks in 1981.
Davis was an avid photographer who enjoyed shooting family and acquaintances. His body of work was detailed in a 2007 book by Burt Boyar. "Jerry [Lewis] gave me my first important camera, my first 35 millimeter, during the Ciro's period, early '50s," Boyar quotes Davis. "And he hooked me." Davis used a medium format camera later on to capture images. Again quoting Davis, "Nobody interrupts a man taking a picture to ask... 'What's that nigger doin' here?' ". His catalogue of photos include rare shots of his father dancing onstage as part of the Will Mastin Trio. Also, intimate snapshots of close friends: Jerry Lewis, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, James Dean, Nat "King" Cole and Marilyn Monroe. His political affiliations also were represented in his images of: Robert Kennedy, Jackie Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr. His most revealing work comes in photographs of wife May Britt and their three children, Tracey, Jeff and Mark.
(Credit Wikipidia.org)
Candyman
Sammy Davis Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Hey, Candy man)
Alright everybody gather 'round
The Candy Man is here
What kind of candy do you want
Sweet choc'late
Choc'late malted candy
Gum drops
You've come to the right man
'Cause I'm the Candy Man
Who can take a sunrise (who can take a sunrise)
Sprinkle it with dew (sprinkle it with dew)
Cover it with choc'late and a miracle or two
The Candy Man (the Candy Man)
Oh, the Candy Man can (the Candy Man can)
The Candy Man can
'Cause he mixes it with love
And makes the world taste good
(Makes the world taste good)
Who can take a rainbow (who can take a rainbow)
Wrap it in a sigh (wrap it in a sigh)
Soak it in the sun and make a groovy lemon pie
The Candy Man (the Candy Man)
The Candy Man can (the Candy Man can)
The Candy Man can
'Cause he mixes it with love
And makes the world taste good
(Makes the world taste good)
(The Candy Man makes everything he bakes)
(Satisfying and delicious)
Now you talk about your childhood wishes
You can even eat the dishes
Oh, who can take tomorrow (who can take tomorrow)
Dip it in a dream (dip it in a dream)
Separate the sorrow and collect up all the cream
The Candy Man (the Candy Man)
Oh, the Candy Man can (the Candy Man can)
The Candy Man can
'Cause he mixes it with love
And makes the world taste good
(Makes the world taste good)
(The Candy Man makes everything he bakes)
(Satisfying and delicious)
Talk about your childhood wishes
You can even eat the dishes
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Who can take tomorrow (who can take tomorrow)
Dip it in a dream (dip it in a dream)
Separate the sorrow and collect up all the cream
The Candy Man (the Candy Man)
The Candy Man can (the Candy Man can)
The Candy Man can
'Cause he mixes it with love
And makes the world taste good
(Makes the world taste good)
Yes, the Candy Man can
'Cause he mixes it with love
And makes the world taste good
(Makes the world taste good)
A-Candy Man, a-Candy Man, a-Candy Man
(Makes the world taste good)
A-Candy Man, a-Candy Man, a-Candy Man
A-Candy Man, a-Candy Man, a-Candy Man
(Makes the world taste good)
A-Candy Man, a-Candy Man, a-Candy Man
The song "Candyman" by Sammy Davis Jr. is a joyous and upbeat tune that celebrates the idea of sweetness, both in candy and in life. At its heart, the song is about the power of love and positivity to transform the world around us. The Candy Man himself is a figure of pure joy and happiness, brimming with an almost childlike sense of wonder and delight. He is able to take mundane, everyday things like a sunrise or a rainbow and transform them into something magical through the power of his own imagination and creativity.
The lyrics are playful and witty, making use of clever wordplay and rhymes to create a sense of rhythm and fun. The Candy Man is depicted as a kind of legendary figure, with the ability to make even the most jaded adults feel like children again. The song is an ode to the power of imagination and the way that even the simplest things can bring us happiness, so long as we approach them with an open heart and a sense of wonder.
Overall, the message of "Candyman" is one of joy and positivity, celebrating the simple pleasures of life and the power of love to transform our world. It's a song that invites us to let go of our worries and cares, if only for a moment, and allow ourselves to be swept up in the magic of the Candy Man's infectious spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
(Candy man)
Introducing the Candy Man, the subject of the song.
(Hey, Candy man)
Addressing the Candy Man directly, calling for attention.
Alright everybody gather 'round
Inviting everyone to come and listen to the Candy Man.
The Candy Man is here
Announcing that the Candy Man has arrived, ready to provide candy to all.
What kind of candy do you want
Asking the audience what kind of candy they would like to have.
Sweet choc'late
One of the possible candy options, in this case chocolate.
Choc'late malted candy
Another candy option, in this case chocolate malted candy.
Gum drops
A third candy option, in this case gum drops.
Anything you want
Assuring the audience that they can ask for any kind of candy they want.
You've come to the right man
Emphasizing that the Candy Man is the person to ask for candy.
'Cause I'm the Candy Man
Stating the reason why the Candy Man is the right person to ask for candy.
Who can take a sunrise (who can take a sunrise)
Asking a rhetorical question, implying that the Candy Man can do anything.
Sprinkle it with dew (sprinkle it with dew)
Describing the Candy Man's ability to enhance natural beauty with an extra touch.
Cover it with choc'late and a miracle or two
Describing how the Candy Man can make something even more special with a touch of his magic.
The Candy Man (the Candy Man)
Repeating the Candy Man's name, emphasizing his importance.
Oh, the Candy Man can (the Candy Man can)
Celebrating the Candy Man's ability to create and make the world a better place.
'Cause he mixes it with love
Explaining that the Candy Man's not only skilled, but also cares about what he's doing.
And makes the world taste good
Highlighting the fact that the Candy Man's candy makes people happy and brings joy to their lives.
(Makes the world taste good)
Reiterating the point that the Candy Man's candy has a positive effect on the world.
Who can take a rainbow (who can take a rainbow)
Asking another rhetorical question, implying that the Candy Man's skills know no bounds.
Wrap it in a sigh (wrap it in a sigh)
Describing how the Candy Man can make something ethereal and beautiful even more so.
Soak it in the sun and make a groovy lemon pie
Elaborating on the Candy Man's ability to create something special and unique with a touch of magic.
Talk about your childhood wishes
Asking the audience to think about their own childhood desires and dreams.
You can even eat the dishes
Suggesting that the Candy Man's skills are so incredible that even inedible objects could be turned into a delicious treat.
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Adding an element of excitement and anticipation, emphasizing the joy the Candy Man brings.
Dip it in a dream (dip it in a dream)
Describing the Candy Man's ability to enhance the intangible and make the impossible seem real.
Separate the sorrow and collect up all the cream
Explaining how the Candy Man can turn something dark and negative into something positive and light, with a touch of magic.
Yes, the Candy Man can
Declaring that the Candy Man is truly amazing and can accomplish anything he sets his mind to.
A-Candy Man, a-Candy Man, a-Candy Man
Repeating the Candy Man's name, emphasizing his importance and his impact on the world.
(Makes the world taste good)
Reiterating the point that the Candy Man's candy has a positive effect on the world.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, TARADAM MUSIC, INC.
Written by: Anthony Newley, Leslie Bricusse
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Art Jazz
Who can take a sunrise
Sprinkle it with dew
Cover it with chocolate and a miracle or two?
The Candy Man
Oh, the Candy Man can
The Candy Man can 'cause he mixes it with love
And makes the world taste good
Who can take a rainbow
wrap it in a sigh
Soak it in the sun and make a groovy lemon pie?
The Candy Man
The Candy Man can
You know The Candy Man can 'cause he mixes it with love
And makes the world taste good
*
The Candy Man makes everything he bakes
Satisfying and delicious
Now you talk about your childhood wishes
You can even eat the dishes
Who can take tomorrow
Put it in a dream
Separate the sorrow and collect up all the cream?
The Candy Man
The Candy Man can
You know The Candy Man can 'cause he mixes it with love
And makes the world taste good
(re)*
Bryan Leigh
Very sophisticated singing, stretching and bending phrases all over with total confidence. He fused jazz and soul seamlessly, and better than anyone.
Valorince
Ra HoWa NOBODY goes to a live show excepting to see the songs sung exactly how they were recorded.... unless you listen to rap, where they just play the recorded version and let the performer sing over it.
shivag73
When I was little and saw him tapping to many of his songs, I thought all singers did this.
sapper made
Bryan Leigh one of the best ever.....
sapper made
Ra Ho what are you talking about he’s a showman this is Sammy he’d do it no other way
You Joker
Ra HoWa utter rubbish
Jerry Lewis The Kid
With all my love for Frank Sinatra, I have to admit that Sammy Davis was arguably the best of the whole Rat Pack, the most complete. He knew how to do everything! And he knew how to do it splendidly
Charles Jackson
Could never stand him
J Crossan
@Charles Jackson Sam or Frank ?
Ann Foley
What a voice and presence