Did I enjoy him as a performer? Did he give the world of entertainment something? It ain’t my business what he did. Only thing I want to know what A lot of people don’t realize that Sammy Davis Jr. the legendary singer, actor, and dancer had a real history with Elvis Presley that went all the way back to the 1950s and lasted until Elvis’s final days.
Sammy was not just some random celebrity in the crowd. He had already made his name performing with Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack in Las Vegas during the 1960s while also shining as a solo star. So, when Elvis took over Vegas in the 1970s Sammy had to see it for himself. He even appears in the 1970 documentary Elvis That’s the Way It Is where he’s seen as one of the VIP guests speaking with Elvis after the show at an after party.
If you enjoy celebrity news, Hollywood drama, and entertainment stories, hit subscribe. It costs you nothing, but that one click helps this channel more than you know. But what did Sammy Davis Jr. really think about Elvis Presley? The answer might surprise you, so keep watching. Has there been an artist that when his name went on the marquee or they knew he was coming, people came from all over the world? And I never I never heard of that.
That famous 1970 concert wasn’t the first time Elvis and Sammy crossed paths. In fact the two had known each other for more than a decade with their friendship stretching back to 1958. Long before Elvis became a Las Vegas headliner Sammy was already working Elvis into his own stage performances in a way that audiences loved.
Singer, actress, and model Kitty Dolan, who dated Elvis on and off between 1957 and 1958 later shared a memorable story about one of their nights together. According to Kitty, Elvis took her to see Sammy Davis Jr. perform at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas during the fall of 1957. What happened next left a big impression on her.
“It was too much,” said Kitty. “Sammy Davis does a take-off of Elvis at the end of his show, and Elvis loves it. He has a wonderful sense of humor.” It ain’t my business what he did. Only thing I want to know was he my friend. The act became so popular that it even made headlines. A news clipping from February 1958 reported, quote, “Sammy does Elvis, howling out lyrics to You Ain’t Nothing But a Hound Dog.
Sammy Davis Jr. mimics rock and roller Elvis Presley during performance show at Hollywood’s Moulin Rouge.” According to the report, Elvis was sitting ringside and roared with laughter as Sammy delivered his spot-on imitation. It was clear that Elvis enjoyed seeing talented performers put their own spin on his famous style and stage presence.
What makes this story even more interesting is that Sammy Davis Jr. wasn’t the only major black entertainer who once dressed up as Elvis. Another legendary star and friend of Sammy’s, Nat King Cole, also paid tribute to Elvis in a memorable way. Did I enjoy him as a performer? Did he give the world of entertainment something? Yes, on all counts.
And that’s the name of that tune. Can you understand what I mean? Good. Cuz without the jazz element Elvis’s long-time friend, Memphis DJ George Klein, recalled an unforgettable moment at a Hollywood Halloween party in October 1957. As guests showed off their costumes, one outfit immediately stood above the rest.
“I walked into one of the party rooms,” George said, “and saw a costume that topped them all. Nat King Cole was dressed as Elvis with a black leather jacket, pasted on sideburns, and a guitar around his neck. George introduced himself to Nat, who told him he wanted to meet Elvis. George then went to find his friend.
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I went to find Elvis. And at first it was hard to get him away from the pretty girls he was talking to. But as soon as I told him who Nat King Cole was dressed as, he had me lead him there. I’ll never forget the sight of Mardi Gras Elvis standing there talking to Nat King Cole Presley. At the um Hilton uh lounge in Las Vegas, and somebody came and handed me a note and said, “Presley.
” And uh so Elvis was in the audience, you know. And uh of course that makes you get on your P’s and Q’s and uh play some of your new stuff or whatever, you know, and I did. And near the end of the number and the show, uh they uh did a little step in the aisle, too. It’s a remarkable image. Two music icons sharing a lighthearted moment together.
Sadly, both Elvis and Nat King Cole would pass away far too young, leaving behind legacies that continue to influence music fans around the world. The connection between these music legends didn’t stop with them. Years later, their daughters would help introduce their fathers’ voices to new generations in a very special way.
Natalie Cole famously recorded the hit duet Unforgettable with her father’s original vocals in 1991, creating a worldwide sensation. Lisa Marie Presley would later do something similar, recording four duet projects with Elvis beginning in 1997. The first three were created as special gifts for fans during Elvis Week celebrations at Graceland, and were never officially released to the public.
While those tributes came years later, the friendship between Elvis and Sammy Davis Jr. kept growing throughout their careers. Sammy visited Elvis on the set of King Creole in 1958, showing that their connection went far beyond public appearances. Then, after Elvis returned from military service, the two reunited professionally when Sammy joined the star-studded cast appearing alongside Elvis on the Frank Sinatra Show in 1960.
What makes their friendship even more interesting is that Sammy continued to support Elvis during a time when many people were debating rock and roll and its growing popularity. Even though Sammy’s close friend Frank Sinatra had openly criticized the genre during Elvis’s rise to fame, Sammy saw things differently.
As Sammy once explained, “Early on, somebody told me that Elvis was black and I said, ‘No, he’s white, but he’s down home.’ And that is what it’s all about, not being black or white, it’s being down home and which part of down home you come from.” Unquote. When Elvis exploded into superstardom during the 1950s, not everyone was cheering him on.
As his popularity skyrocketed and the media began calling him the king of rock and roll, criticism and controversy seemed to follow him everywhere. One of the biggest debates centered around his best-selling Christmas album released in 1957. At the heart of the storm was Elvis’s version of White Christmas.
Reports at the time claimed that songwriter Irving Berlin strongly disliked Presley’s recording and even pushed for radio stations to stop playing it. The song had been released in October 1957 and immediately sparked strong reactions from both fans and critics. Part of the controversy came from Elvis performing the song in a style similar to the R&B arrangement made popular by The Drifters.
While The Drifters version had already found an audience, it did not receive the same level of national attention. Elvis’s massive fame placed every move he made under a microscope, turning what might have been a simple recording into a nationwide talking point. According to reports, Berlin sent letters to radio stations around the country urging them not to play the song calling it a profanation of the spirit of Christmas.
Years later, after Elvis’s passing, Sammy Davis Jr. spoke publicly about his friend and the criticism that often surrounded him. At the time, there was widespread media speculation about the circumstances of Elvis’s death and many people were debating different theories and claims. Despite all the headlines, one thing is clear.
Sammy and Elvis shared a genuine friendship. The two spent time together in Las Vegas over the years and even rock and roll pioneer Chuck Berry recalled seeing both Sammy and Elvis attending one of his performances there. A moment that brought together three legendary names in music history. Elvis’s close friend Jerry Schilling was there that night and his memories paint an incredible picture of what happened behind the scenes.
In an interview, Jerry recalled that he and his wife Sandy joined Elvis and Priscilla for an evening in Las Vegas where they first went to see Sammy Davis Jr. perform. After the show, the group headed backstage to spend time with Sammy and his wife Altovise. We went backstage and hung out with Sammy and his wife Altovise.
Sammy and Elvis were kind of magic together. Sammy had that great personality and he kept Elvis laughing. That says a lot about the bond between the two stars. Whenever Sammy and Elvis got together, there was always plenty of laughter, stories, and good vibes. According to Jerry, the night wasn’t over yet. Elvis invited Sammy and Altovise to join the group back at his penthouse suite at the Hilton Hotel.
But on the way there, something unexpected caught everyone’s attention. As we’re walking through the lobby going to the elevators, we heard a very familiar Chuck Berry intro. And Sammy and Elvis just looked at each other. And with a smile, we all just turned around without anything being said. And we headed for the lounge.
Jerry remembered that the lounge was nearly empty with only one or two tables occupied. The group grabbed a booth near the front while Elvis, always excited about live music, started calling out songs. That’s when Chuck Berry spotted him and joked from the stage, “Hey Elvis, remember when we were battling for number one and you had this song and I had the other song?” The real payoff was when Elvis said, “Do Promised Land.
” And he’s sitting with Sammy Davis Jr. And they’re singing the lines along with Chuck about a poor boy wanting to go clean through Mississippi. Just imagine that scene for a second. Chuck Berry on stage, Elvis Presley and Sammy Davis Jr. singing along from the audience. And only a handful of people there to witness it.
That’s the kind of music history fans dream about. Here’s a fun fact. Elvis loved the song so much that he later recorded Chuck Berry’s Promised Land and released his version in 1974. Years later, Sammy’s wife, Altovise Davis, reflected on the friendship between the two icons. In an interview given 11 years after Sammy’s passing, she said, “I think their friendship meant a lot to both of them.
I think it was a very personal bond between both of them that they could both share because they both came from very humble beginnings. And if there was ever any doubt about how highly Sammy regarded Elvis, his own words settled it once and for all.” Sammy said, “On a scale of 1 to 10, I rate Elvis 11.
” What do you think was the secret behind Elvis and Sammy Davis Jr.’s lasting friendship? Let me know in the comments below. If you enjoyed this video, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to the channel. Ring the notification bell so you never miss future Elvis stories, and stick around for more amazing videos coming up next.
Disclaimer : This content may be created by AI for entertainment purposes. Any resemblance to real persons, events, or places is coincidental.
