In the late 1940s, before either Frank Sinatra or Sammy Davis Jr. had achieved fame, Sinatra attended a performance in New York. After his own show, he ventured to Harlem to see the Will Maston Trio, led by a young Sammy Davis Jr. Sinatra was immediately struck by Davis’s extraordinary talent. After the performance, he invited Sammy to his own show.
A week later, Sinatra returned to Harlem to see Davis again, only to find that Sammy had not shown up. When Sinatra asked Davis why he hadn’t come, Sammy explained that he had tried to attend but was barred from entering. Outraged, Sinatra marched back to the theater, tore up his contract in front of the management, and vowed never to perform there again. This act of solidarity was just the beginning of their enduring friendship.
Throughout their careers, Sinatra and Davis faced numerous challenges together. When Davis was barred from performing at the Copacabana, Sinatra refused to play there as well. When Davis encountered racial discrimination and was denied a hotel room in Las Vegas, Sinatra offered his own room. After Davis suffered a car accident and lost his eye, Sinatra covered all of his medical expenses.
Their friendship, which spanned five decades and numerous performances, was defined by unwavering support and loyalty. When a reporter once asked Sinatra why he was so charitable to Davis, he succinctly replied, “He’s my brother.”
Their bond was a powerful testament to the strength of true friendship, transcending the racial and professional barriers of their time.
