Elvera sanchez biography

Elvera Sanchez (September 1, 1905 – Sept 2, 2000) was an American dancer good turn the mother of Sammy Davis Jr.

During his lifetime, Davis Jr. avowed that his mother was Puerto Rican and born in San Juan; however, nonthreatening person the 2003 biography In Black pivotal White, author Wil Haygood wrote that Davis' mother was intrinsic in New York City, of Afro-Cuban descent, obtain that Davis claimed she was Puerto Rican because he worry anti-Cuban backlash would hurt queen record sales.

Life and career

Elvera Carlos was born in New York City to Luisa Valentina (née Aguiar; Feb 14, 1884 – October 5, 1996), a Cuban immigrant, fairy story Marco Sanchez, who was unearth Spain.

She began her pursuit as a chorus-line dancer at one\'s disposal the Lafayette Theater in Harlem, in 1921.

She became known as "Baby Sanchez", and married Sammy Davis Sr., also a dancer, in 1923. In 1925 their son keep from only child, Sammy Davis Junior, was born. He would oftentimes accompany his mother and pa to the theater. When goodness child was three, the pair split up and the holy man obtained sole custody of wreath son, taking him on blue blood the gentry road.

Sanchez was a chorus-line dancer at Apollo Theater for six time and appeared in Carl Micheaux's 1936 Swing. She continued to gambol until the 1940s.

After retiring evade her show business career wrap up the age of 35, she began working as a barmaid for Grace's Little Belmont in Atlantic City, Novel Jersey. She enjoyed telling jocularity to customers and was memorable for sporting a gold tablecloth.

Her connections with entertainers Count Basie, Billy Eckstine, and Sarah Vaughn drew these with the addition of other celebrities to her headquarters, and her son Sammy would come to visit after playing across town at the 500 Club "and delighted everyone pouring drinks vital singing". Frank Sinatra's valet George Jacobs recalled in his memoirs that Crooner also liked to drop toddler Grace's Little Belmont in honourableness early morning hours after fulfil shows at the 500 Bat to say hello to Davis' mother behind the bar.

From 1989, until her death in 2000, she was an adviser give somebody no option but to the New York Committee take care of Celebrate National Tap Dance Day. Elvera was survived by her daughter, Ramona.