Elvera Sánchez | |
|---|---|
 Sánchez with her son, Sammy Davis Jr., at Grace's Little Belmont, 1954 | |
| Born | (1905-09-01)September 1, 1905 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | September 3, 2000(2000-09-03) (aged 95) New York City, U.S. |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2, includingSammy Davis Jr. |
Elvera "Baby" SánchezDavis (September 1, 1905 – September 3, 2000) was an American dancer and the mother ofSammy Davis Jr.
Davis Jr. stated that his mother was Puerto Rican and born inSan Juan; however, in the 2003 biographyIn Black and White, author Wil Haygood wrote that Davis' mother was born inNew York City, ofAfro-Cuban descent, and that Davis claimed she was Puerto Rican because hefeared anti-Cuban backlash would hurt his record sales.[1]
Elvera Sánchez was born in New York City to Cuban immigrants Luisa Valentina Aguiar (14 February 1884–5 October 1996), who was a living centenarian at the time of Sammy Jr.'s death and would attainsupercentenarian status in 1994, and Marco Sánchez (1852–1908), a cigar maker.[2] She began her career as a chorus-line dancer at theLafayette Theater inHarlem, in 1921. She became known as "Baby Sánchez", and marriedSammy Davis Sr., also a dancer, in 1923. In 1925, their son and only child, Sammy Davis Jr., was born. He would often accompany his mother and father to the theater. When Sammy Jr. was three, his parents split up and his father obtained sole custody of him, taking him on the road. Sánchez was a chorus-line dancer at theApollo Theater for six years and appeared inOscar Micheaux’s 1938 filmSwing. She continued to dance until the 1940s.
After retiring from her show business career at the age of 35, she began working as a barmaid forGrace's Little Belmont inAtlantic City, New Jersey.[3][4][2] She enjoyed telling jokes to customers and was known for sporting a gold napkin.[5][6] Her connections with entertainersCount Basie,Billy Eckstine, andSarah Vaughan drew these and other celebrities to her station, and her son Sammy would come to visit after performing across town at the500 Club "and delighted everyone, pouring drinks and singing".[2]Frank Sinatra's valetGeorge Jacobs recalled in his memoirs that Sinatra also liked to drop by Grace's Little Belmont in the early morning hours after his shows at the 500 Club to say hello to Davis' mother behind the bar.[7]
From 1989, until her death in 2000 (two days after her 95th birthday), she was an adviser to the New York Committee to Celebrate NationalTap Dance Day. She was also survived by a daughter, Ramona.[8]
Sánchez wasCatholic and raised Sammy Jr. as such.[9]