Sammy Davis Jr., 65, singer, throat cancer

Sammy Davis, Jr. was an American entertainer. He was a dancer, singer, multi-instrumentalist (playing vibraphone, trumpet, and drums), impressionist, comedian, and actor. While in the service, however, he joined an entertainment 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. After he was discharged, he rejoined the dance act and began to achieve success. The next year, he released his second album. The next move in his growing career was to appear in the Broadway show Mr. Wonderful. He became a charter member of the Rat Pack, which was led by his old friend Frank Sinatra. After he achieved success, he refused to work at venues which would practice racial segregation. His demands eventually led to the integration of Miami Beach nightclubs and Las Vegas, Nevada casinos. Davis, Jr. died in Beverly Hills, California on May 16, 1990 of complications from throat cancer at age 64. Davis was burried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California next to his father.