Category: Milton H. Greene
Milton photographed Sammy Davis Jr. in 1955 for his first album cover. When both Milton and Amy Greene met Sammy, they instantly became friends, a relationship that lasted a lifetime. This image of an impeccably dressed Sammy reflects his true style. With one hand up and one down, Sammy has a Mr. Bojangles look happening.
The way Milton Greene captured Sammy mid-moment is pure magic—you can almost hear the tap shoes and the laugh. It's a 1955 album cover shot, but framed and printed, it feels like a living piece of jazz history. I've stared at it every day since it arrived.
Even though it’s a still photo, you can almost hear the music from how alive his pose feels. It’s a beautiful piece of history that captures that instant friendship between Greene and Davis. I’m glad I grabbed this to frame.
The way the camera catches his motion mid-dance makes the 1955 shoot feel alive, not staged. Print quality is sharp enough to see the texture in his suit, and the friendship between the photographer and Sammy comes through in every frame.
