Sammy Davis Jr. remains a household name, even though he has been dead almost 20 years. He is known as one of the greatest
entertainers of all time, and for good reason: singer, dancer, actor, producer, the list goes on.
Sammy Davis Jr. had one of the most lucrative careers of his time, especially for a Black man working in the 1930s through 1980s. However, when he died of throat cancer in 1990, his estate was declared insolvant, and his family had to face the fact that he had gone bankrupt.
Deconstructing Sammy: Music, Money, Madness and the Mob is a striking account of what life was like after Sammy died. Though Birkbeck only provides glimpses into Sammy Davis Jr. himself, Davis' family and financial situations are fairly torn apart for the world to see. This biography is not for the weak-at-heart Sammy Davis Jr. die-hard fans; what you read paints a picture of the humorous entertainer few would expect. Drugs, alcohol, socially unacceptable sexual behavior and abusive situations are rife within the book. However, a lot of questions are answered regarding the temporary disappearance of all that was Davis after his death. The book also provides an interesting insight into the financial woes and excesses of the rich and famous; a sight that is usually kept away from the limelight.
Although I would not classify this as a typical biography, as it hardly addresses the title character at all, it is certainly a must-read for anyone who wishes to know the true story about Mr. Sammy Davis Jr., entertainer extraordinaire.