did he play or didn't he ?

GeorgeB

Last night I watched a movie on TCM: A Man Called Adam, starring Sammy Davis Jr. as a trumpet ( actually flugel ) player. It is said to be based on Miles Davis. Perhaps the real Miles character was similar to the one portrayed by Sammy, but the 1966 movie is really not about the life of Miles. But my question is not about that, my question is about Sammy, and did he do any of the actual playing in that movie. I have read somewhere that he did his own playing, and I also read that he did not do his own playing. Sammy was pretty damn talented and it wouldn't surprise me that he may have played the horn, but I find it hard to believe that he could play as well as he appears to play in the film. There is some serious horn playing going on in that movie. If anyone knows more about this than me, please post it here.

SSmith1226

@GeorgeB

According to Wikipedia, Sammy Davis’s trumpet performances were dubbed by Nat Adderley.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Man_Called_Adam_(film)

GeorgeB

@SSmith1226

I can believe that. Thanks, Steve.

SSmith1226

George,
It sounds like an interesting movie with a very good cast. I will have to look for it and watch it when I have a chance.

Kehaulani

An aside about Sammy, I have heard from an extremely qualified musician that Sammy Davis was the most talented person he ever worked with, and he worked with many.

I still remember the first time I ever saw him. It was a character on some 50s 1/2 hour B&W program where he was a member of an Army squad, where the people bullied him.

At the end of the show, some members decided they would throw a dud hand grenade and feign panic and see what he would do. When they didn't scatter, he threw himself on the grenade, willing to give his life up for his squad.

They just stood there looking at each other being humbled and moved by Sammy's unselfishness. It was very moving, and I had an eye on Sammy ever since.

GeorgeB

@GeorgeB
The best acting job I have ever seen by Sammy. Well worth your time if you can find it. Satchmo is in it and doesn't play himself. That's different. And the music is just great.

Kehaulani's post talked about Sammy's talent, and I agree. He sings, he dances, plays a mean set of drums, and from the way he was handling the horn in A Man Called Adam, it wouldn't surprise me if he also played the trumpet...just maybe not good enough for a feature movie.

J. Jericho

@Kehaulani said in did he play or didn't he ?:

I still remember the first time I ever saw him. It was a character on some 50s 1/2 hour B&W program where he was a member of an Army squad, where the people bullied him.

At the end of the show, some members decided they would throw a dud hand grenade and feign panic and see what he would do. When they didn't scatter, he threw himself on the grenade, willing to give his life up for his squad.

They just stood there looking at each other being humbled and moved by Sammy's unselfishness. It was very moving, and I had an eye on Sammy ever since.

I have never forgotten that episode. Here's more info: http://tviv.org/General_Electric_Theater/The_Patsy and https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0586346/fullcredits

Kehaulani

@J-Jericho said in did he play or didn't he ?:
I have never forgotten that episode. Here's more info:

Wow! I've never met another person who saw (or remembered) that!
Thanks for the link. Interesting.