Scope and arrangement
The Sammy Davis, Jr. arrangements (1953-1988) document the music Davis recorded for the Decca, Reprise, and other record labels, as well as the material he performed on a routine basis on tour and in television studios.
These arrangements feature work by some of the most in-demand composer/arrangers of the 1950s and 1960s. Most were written by Davis's musical directors Morton Stevens and George Rhodes, as well as a set of arrangers hired by Rhodes, such as J.J. Johnson, Joe Lipman, O.B. Masingill, and Marty Paich. Several other noted arrangers worked on Davis's recording projects; these include Sy Oliver, Claus Ogerman, Jack Pleis, Al Capps, Buddy Bregman, and Billy May. A host of other arrangers have only one arrangement each in the collection, including Frank Foster, Quincy Jones, Neil Hefti, Henry Mancini, Sammy Nestico, Nelson Riddle, and Torrie Zito. Arrangers are credited in the container list when known.
Davis's repertoire consisted of American standard popular songs, songs from then-current films or television programs, and songs which were hits for other artists at the time of recording. Some instrumental numbers were dance features for Davis, or vehicles for his drum solos. The arrangements are mainly for either jazz big band, big band with strings, or full orchestra. A few are for small band combos.
The arrangements consist of full scores, reduced conductor/production scores, and parts. Some arrangements have all of these components, while others have only some or one of them. Nearly all are manuscripts (the scores by the arrangers, and the parts produced usually by copyists). Many of the original folders for the arrangements held identification numbers which appear in the container list. There is no other information available regarding these numbers or what they signify.
The collection holds many arrangements which were recorded and commercially released, with the remainder performed live or on television. Such details are included in the container list when known. Television programs or concert performances with arrangements present in the collection include The Sammy Davis, Jr. Show, The Swingin' World of Sammy Davis, Sammy Davis and the Wonderful World of Children, the Julie Andrews Hour, and The Ultimate Event: Frank, Liza, and Sammy, a 1988 tour featuring Davis, Frank Sinatra, and Liza Minelli.
At the end of the container list are a set of Orphan Parts, Lead Sheets, and Score Pages; a set of published stock arrangements, some with annotations suggesting they were performed; and a folder from the office of Sammy Davis Jr. Productions containing setlists.
The collection also includes George Rhodes's scores for the film Gone With The West, with which Sammy Davis, Jr. had no connection. These appear under the film's working title, Man Without Mercy.
Arrangement
The scores are arranged by title. Two sets of arrangements are grouped together: Those written for the television special Sammy Davis and the Wonderful World of Children, and those written for the Will Mastin Trio (though some arrangements for that act were not grouped accordingly and appear by title in the alphabetical list).