Did Sammy Davis Jr. play trumpet/cornet?

Robert P · Heavyweight Member Joined: 28 Feb 2013 Posts: 2595

I find video of him playing drums, vibes and piano with a two-finger vibes technique ala Lionel Hampton. I find numerous photos of him holding a cornet and a bio that stated trumpet as one of the instruments he played but don't find any video of him actually playing. There's a movie where he portrayed a jazz cornet player but he's dubbed by Nat Adderly.

Anyone know for sure if he played?
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GeorgeB · Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2019 2:28 am Post subject:

In various obits it was written that along with drums and piano he also played trumpet. I remember seeing a casual picture of him somewhere holding a Dizzy Gillespie style trumpet. I also read somewhere that he sometimes played trumpet during Rat Pack performances. I am not aware that anyone has disputed these various obits or written accounts, and realizing just how super talented this guy was, I would tend to believe that he did play trumpet.

Tony Scodwell may know the truth.
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Richard III · Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2019 7:14 am Post subject:

Available on DVD, Sergeants 3 shows him playing. I haven't seen it in years but check it out and see if it looks like the real deal. Like many of the Rat Pack movies, it is just for fun. Released in 1962.
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Tony Scodwell · Heavyweight Member Joined: 17 Oct 2005 Posts: 1961

Having worked with Sammy Davis, Jr many times here in Las Vegas and Reno, he did play the trumpet, albeit with rudimentary skills unlike Wayne Newton who barely got through a few notes on "Saints". Sammy was skilled enough to actually make some music and he really could play the vibes. He was certainly the most talented entertainer I've had the privilege to work with and a very down to earth guy who liked to hang with the band after the shows. Bill Harrah loved him and rolled out the red carpet whenever Sammy worked his Reno and Lake Tahoe casinos. Harrah was the Rolls Royce distributor for the west coast and I'll always treasure the sight of Sammy driving the big Phantom Rolls out West Virginia Street in Reno, his little body barely sitting up high enough to see out.

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GeorgeB · Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2019 9:22 am Post subject:

Thanks, Tony. I was certain you'd know the answer. I was huge fan of Sinatra, Dean and Sammy and read somewhere that you played and were friends with Sammy. What an era to be alive and part of.
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1960s King Super 20 Silversonic
2016 Manchester Brass Custom
1938-39 Olds Recording
1942 Buescher 400 Bb trumpet
1952 Selmer Paris 21 B
1999 Conn Vintage One B flat trumpet
2020 Getzen 490 Bb
1962 Conn Victor 5A cornet

Robert P · Heavyweight Member Joined: 28 Feb 2013 Posts: 2595

Robert P · Heavyweight Member Joined: 28 Feb 2013 Posts: 2595

GordonH · Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2019 7:04 am Post subject:

He made a film called "A Man Called Adam" in which he plays a jazz cornet player. The cornet playing was actually done by Nat Adderley, but you can tell from the way he holds and handles the cornet that he really had some knowledge there. It's well worth a watch. Louis Armstrong is in it and plays a proper dramatic role that advances the plot, not just a pointless cameo.
The scene where the Adam character breaks down and smashes his cornet is very good.
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