Posted by | Ray Cornelius
The life and times of entertainment giant, Sammy Davis Jr. is coming to life thanks to media mogul Byron Allen. According to S&A, Allen’s company Entertainment Studios, has acquired the global rights to “Deconstructing Sammy” the hugely popular biography written by Matt Birkbeck.
Part of the deal includes a motion picture, a scripted television series and a documentary. The TV series will reportedly cover Davis’ career from the 1960’s through the 1980’s.
“I personally knew and worked with Sammy Davis, Jr.,” said Byron Allen, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Entertainment Studios. “Sammy hired me to open for him at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas when I was a 19-year-old standup comedian, and that’s where my fascination with his incredible story began. ‘Deconstructing Sammy’ is an amazing work of literature. It is the perfect foundation for a movie, a scripted television series, and a documentary about this legendary global icon.”
Davis was an entertainment legend whose career spanned over 60 years. He was a singer, an accomplished dancer, actor and civil right activist. He was also part of the original “Rat Pack” which also included Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop. Davis died in 1990 at age 64 from throat cancer.
So far, no one has been cast in the lead role. However, I would highly recommend Broadway actor, Eric Jordan Young, for the role. I had a chance to see his one-man-show, Sammy and Me, when it premiered in Atlanta back in 2010 and was blown away at his immense talent. The show follows Young’s childhood obsession with Davis and features such classic songs as “Where or When,” “Smile,” and “Candy Man.”
Check out Eric Jordan Young below singing “Mr. Bojangles” and stay tuned for more about this project as it continues to develop.
Photo Credit: Hommeschooled.com