Sammy Davis Jr
Lionel Blair chooses his friend Sammy Davis Jr, one of the world's great all-round entertainers. With Matthew Parris. From 2010.
Dance and actor Lionel Blair chooses his friend and dancing partner Sammy Davis Jr.
Sammy described himself as a 'one-eyed black Jew' - and he was described by others as one of the greatest all-round entertainers of all time.
Lionel danced and sang with Sammy in a dazzling performance on the stage at the Royal Variety Performance in 1961, and he revisits that memory through an evocative archive recording.
Paul Gambaccini is on hand to help presenter Matthew Parris draw out the contradictions and triumphs of Sammy Davis Jr's great American life.
Producer: Beth O'Dea
First broadcast on 麻豆社 Radio 4 in December 2010.
Last on
Broadcasts
Tue 28 Dec 2010 16:30麻豆社 Radio 4- Fri 31 Dec 2010 23:00麻豆社 Radio 4
- Thu 5 Apr 2018 18:30麻豆社 Radio 4 Extra
- Fri 6 Apr 2018 00:30麻豆社 Radio 4 Extra
- Thu 4 Dec 2025 10:00麻豆社 Radio 4 Extra
- Thu 4 Dec 2025 16:00麻豆社 Radio 4 Extra
- Fri 5 Dec 2025 00:00麻豆社 Radio 4 Extra
Great Rock and Roll Lives
Stories of inspiration from great musicians from Bowie to Billie Holliday
Download this programme
Subscribe to this programme or download individual episodes.
Podcast
-
![]()
Great Lives
Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.
