Description

In 1959 Burt Glinn followed the entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. from New York to the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas where he performed an average of twice nightly for 30 weeks of the year. His series of images gave a valuable and intimate insight into Sammy’s life. Pictured here, Sammy Davis Jr. dances across Madison Avenue after his last show at the Copa Cabana. New York City.

I think that what you've got to do is discover the essential truth of the situation, and have a point of view about it

Burt Glinn
© Burt Glinn | Magnum Photos

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Burt Glinn served in the United States Army between 1943 and 1946, before studying literature at Harvard University, where he edited and photographed for the Harvard Crimson college newspaper.

From 1949 to 1950, Glinn worked for LIFE magazine before becoming a freelancer. He became an associate member of Magnum in 1951, along with Eve Arnold and Dennis Stock – the first Americans to join the young photo agency – and a full member in 1954. Glinn made his mark with spectacular color series on the South Seas, Japan, Russia, Mexico and California.

His reportages have appeared in Esquire, Geo, Travel and Leisure, Fortune, Life and Paris-Match. He has covered such monumental news events as the Sinai War, the US Marine invasion of Lebanon, and Fidel Castro’s takeover of Cuba.

© Burt Glinn | Magnum Photos

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