Sammy Davis Jr.--iconic, legendary, in a word, classic. While the world has long known of Davis's unparalleled abilities to sing, dance, and act, only his closest friends and associates knew of his amazing talent and passion for photography. Now, in this collection of never-before-seen photos, Burt Boyar, Davis's longtime friend, exposes these memorable images for generations of his fans, portraying a side of Davis that has long remained a secret to the world at large. Here are Davis's candid shots including his closest friends--Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Jerry Lewis, Dean Martin, Sean Connery, and Paul Newman--not to mention scores of the twentieth century's biggest stars captured at their most casual and revealing moments.

But beneath this public veneer is also a strikingly private side of Davis, one that gives a glimpse into his difficult past and long road to success. Tracing Davis from his humble origins, the moments captured here demonstrate the struggle that he faced as an African-American performer during racially divided times and show the difficulties of being one of the country's most revered celebrities when his mere presence signaled the changes taking shape across America.

Accompanying these unforgettable images are Boyar's intimate remembrances of Davis, as he gives a history and a context for many of Davis's striking photographs. Together with the photos, Boyar's words offer a side of the performer far removed from his Rat Pack persona--one that is at once touching and fascinating.