Sammy Davis 60th Anniversary Celebration with Gregory Hines

Gregory Hines is and was an extraordinary tap dancer and stage presence. I could do a whole show on his tap stylings. But this was special. This was Sammy Davis Jr's night...a 60th anniversary special. And Gregory's tap tribute to Sammy was a joy to watch. Don't get it twisted...Sammy was a great, great, great tap dancer. I still believe, and will go to my grave believing, that he was the best all around performer in the world. IN THE ENTIRE WORLD! But Gregory was kind of my generation...I had watched him perform as part of the group Hines, Hines, and Dad on the Carson show in the 70's ... the other HInes being his brother Maurice, and Dad being, well, Dad, and I just loved him. His whole demeanor seemed casual and approachable. So when I met him once at a hair salon in Venice Beach in L.A. (I was an idiot back then) I rushed up to him and challenged him to a tap off. It is important to know that I could not tap dance. At all. I did some silly foot movements and finished with a flourish that even to this day embarrasses me...but I was just having some fun. He laughed...I don't think he meant to laugh but I was just so ridiculous. He got a little serious, put his hand on my shoulder, stepped back, and started tap dancing...it was a spectacle... I don't have the vocabulary to describe the foot moves ( it was way more than shuffling off the Buffalo) but his footwork...and he was wearing sneakers... was awesome. It was a private show just for me and I will never ever forget it... or his grace.