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Thread started 07/27/12 11:56am

missfee

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Sammy Davis, Jr.'s book "Why Me" circa 1989

I just finished reading this...has anyone else here read it? It's truly a great read. Very interesting life Sammy had. Here are my observations:

1) As great as an entertainer Sammy was, it seemed like he was never really 100% happy...even after he got really famous...mostly because he cared about what people thought about him.

2) I always had this perception that Sammy was this sweetheart, always smiling, hardly ever angry type of guy. After reading the book, I guess I know now that he was more human than anything else..and was at times quite a selfish asshole.

3) When he talks about Frank (Sinatra), I either was dying laughing or there was a huge smile on my face. I love the friendship those two had. I also loved how Sinatra was never afraid to tell it like it is to his friend..though they did waste three years of not talking, it only took them 3 minutes to make up!

4) I didn't know Sammy was into devil worshipping at one point...it seemed like some kind of Hollywood fad...so glad when he finally said he snapped out of that period. Urgh.

5) It's no secret that Sammy was a womanizer, but DAMN the way he would throw parties that turned into drug induced orgy fests, how is that he never got an STD or was hit with a paternity suit? geek

6) Even though this point may not be popular with many, but I thought it was kind of cool how he could call Sam Giancana to ask if there were any hits out on him...and how Giancana (through his connection with Frank) basically looked out for Sammy.

7) Overall, before reading the book, I've always been a fan of Sammy, but after reading his book, I've come to love him as a person...especially with all he went through to overcome. It seems that he was always trying to help someone else, so that they could have an easier time making it than he did. Sure he took his family for granted, made a lot of mistakes along the way, but overall he was a kind, thoughtful and sweet human being. Wish I could been around during his hey day to see him perform live and in the flesh. nod thumbs up!

I will forever love and miss you...my sweet Prince.
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Reply #1 posted 07/27/12 12:38pm

Ottensen

Thanks for this review. This sounds like a good summer read, I'm putting this on the reading list for my amazon bookshelf!

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Reply #2 posted 07/27/12 12:52pm

missfee

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Ottensen said:

Thanks for this review. This sounds like a good summer read, I'm putting this on the reading list for my amazon bookshelf!

Yes nod Definitely. I started reading this Monday and finished last night. Couldn't put it down. I'm looking for some more books to read. I was so into this book that I had to DVR my usual tv shows because the TV was definitely OFF this week.

I will forever love and miss you...my sweet Prince.
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Reply #3 posted 07/27/12 12:58pm

Empress

I read this book, but it was many years ago so I can't recall too many details. All I know is that I liked the book and love Sammy. He had a hell of a life filled with great times and sad, hard times. He was an amazing entertainer, that's for sure.

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Reply #4 posted 07/27/12 1:51pm

Harlepolis

That Kim Novack bit was crazy.

And even after what he went through, he still didn't lose his passion for the p*ssy lol he was really into women, Pam Grier had to fight him off at some point, under his own wife's nose at that.

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Reply #5 posted 07/27/12 4:49pm

missfee

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Harlepolis said:

That Kim Novack bit was crazy.

And even after what he went through, he still didn't lose his passion for the p*ssy lol he was really into women, Pam Grier had to fight him off at some point, under his own wife's nose at that.

Really? The whole devil worshipping phase is what got me. To me I thought it was his big WTF moment. Especially when he painted his pinky nail red. confused

[Edited 7/27/12 16:52pm]

I will forever love and miss you...my sweet Prince.
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Reply #6 posted 07/27/12 5:06pm

Harlepolis

missfee said:

Harlepolis said:

That Kim Novack bit was crazy.

And even after what he went through, he still didn't lose his passion for the p*ssy lol he was really into women, Pam Grier had to fight him off at some point, under his own wife's nose at that.

Really? The whole devil worshipping phase is what got me. To me I thought it was his big WTF moment. Especially when he painted his pinky nail red. confused

[Edited 7/27/12 16:52pm]

Its because her and his habbit of following his own dick that got him to lose his eye. You'd think after the mob missed with him he would leave certain women alone, but nooooope he kept right on in lol

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Reply #7 posted 07/27/12 5:11pm

missfee

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Harlepolis said:

missfee said:

Really? The whole devil worshipping phase is what got me. To me I thought it was his big WTF moment. Especially when he painted his pinky nail red. confused

[Edited 7/27/12 16:52pm]

Its because her and his habbit of following his own dick that got him to lose his eye. You'd think after the mob missed with him he would leave certain women alone, but nooooope he kept right on in lol

Well, he was the type person if you told him he couldn't do something, he'd do it. In the book he admitted that if interracial dating had been accepted back in those days and wasn't taboo, then he wouldn't had even dated Kim in the first place. There wouldn't had been no point. No one to piss off. lol

I will forever love and miss you...my sweet Prince.
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Reply #8 posted 07/27/12 5:14pm

missfee

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Is it me or do they both look like if they hadn't been in front of a live audience that they would had ripped each other's clothes off after the Porgy & Bess performance? lol Great performance though by the way.

I will forever love and miss you...my sweet Prince.
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Reply #9 posted 07/27/12 10:25pm

morningsong

I never read the book, but a few of those things I've heard about him over the years. I know he had been through a lot. I admired him.

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Reply #10 posted 07/27/12 11:02pm

JoeBala

Nice I'd like to read it. Did you read his first book Yes I Can?

Just Music-No Categories-Enjoy It!
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Reply #11 posted 07/27/12 11:17pm

Abdul

missfee said:

I just finished reading this...has anyone else here read it? It's truly a great read. Very interesting life Sammy had. Here are my observations:

1) As great as an entertainer Sammy was, it seemed like he was never really 100% happy...even after he got really famous...mostly because he cared about what people thought about him.

2) I always had this perception that Sammy was this sweetheart, always smiling, hardly ever angry type of guy. After reading the book, I guess I know now that he was more human than anything else..and was at times quite a selfish asshole.

3) When he talks about Frank (Sinatra), I either was dying laughing or there was a huge smile on my face. I love the friendship those two had. I also loved how Sinatra was never afraid to tell it like it is to his friend..though they did waste three years of not talking, it only took them 3 minutes to make up!

4) I didn't know Sammy was into devil worshipping at one point...it seemed like some kind of Hollywood fad...so glad when he finally said he snapped out of that period. Urgh.

5) It's no secret that Sammy was a womanizer, but DAMN the way he would throw parties that turned into drug induced orgy fests, how is that he never got an STD or was hit with a paternity suit? geek

6) Even though this point may not be popular with many, but I thought it was kind of cool how he could call Sam Giancana to ask if there were any hits out on him...and how Giancana (through his connection with Frank) basically looked out for Sammy.

7) Overall, before reading the book, I've always been a fan of Sammy, but after reading his book, I've come to love him as a person...especially with all he went through to overcome. It seems that he was always trying to help someone else, so that they could have an easier time making it than he did. Sure he took his family for granted, made a lot of mistakes along the way, but overall he was a kind, thoughtful and sweet human being. Wish I could been around during his hey day to see him perform live and in the flesh. nod thumbs up!


I just got it off Amazon, can't wait to read it!

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Reply #12 posted 07/28/12 5:02am

missfee

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JoeBala said:

Nice I'd like to read it. Did you read his first book Yes I Can?

Nope I haven't read that one and was thinking reading that one next...even though I know it came out long before "Why Me". lol

I will forever love and miss you...my sweet Prince.
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Forums > Music: Non-Prince > Sammy Davis, Jr.'s book "Why Me" circa 1989