Sammy Davis Jr. Essentials

From his vaudeville days in the '30s to his Las Vegas stint with the Rat Pack in the '60s, singer/actor Sammy Davis Jr. brought irrepressible charm and energy to everything he did. Possessing a silky and charming croon, the Harlem-born entertainer began recording jazz and pop standards in the early '50s, immediately scoring Top 40 hits. He released dozens of albums in the next two decades—scoring his biggest hit in 1972—with material that ranged from big band swing to classic R&B. And whether working with orchestras or combos, Davis added the playful humour he brought to his stage and film roles. He died in 1990 at the age of 64.