• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • ABOUT US
  • MEDIA
  • PRIVACY
  • TERMS
  • DMCA
  • CONTACT US
  • AUTHORS
do you remember

DoYouRemember?

The Home of Nostalgia

  • Celebrity News
    • Family
    • Obituaries
    • Life Behind the Fame
    • ICONS
    • Celebrity Feuds
  • Entertainment
    • Cast
    • Showbiz Rewind
    • Music
    • Beauty & fashion
  • STORIES
  • Celebrity Buzz!?
  • Sitcoms
    • Bewitched
    • Little Rascals
    • The Partridge Family
    • I Dream of Jeannie
    • All in the Family
    • MASH
    • Happy Days
    • Cheers
  • Celebrity Collections
  • SHOP DYR
    • DYR Book

Stories

The Important Advice Elvis Presley And Sammy Davis Jr. Gave To The Jackson 5

by Lauren Novak

Published January 2, 2022

Advice that Elvis Presley and Sammy Davis Jr gave The Jackson 5

Before he passed away in 2009, Michael Jackson talked about meeting Elvis Presley and Sammy Davis Jr. in Las Vegas. This was when he was young and a part of his family band, The Jackson 5. He recalls the advice that Elvis and Sammy gave him that really changed their lives.

Michael said at the time, Elvis was iconic but not really an influence on him yet. However, Elvis and Sammy gave him and his family a lecture that really made an impact. He said, “When I was 16, we were doing Las Vegas every night, and Elvis and Sammy Davis Jr. would sit me and my brothers in a row and lecture us. ‘Don’t ever do drugs,’ they told us. I never forgot it.”

Related:

  1. Elvis Presley Gave This Important Advice To Elvira And Changed Her Career
  2. The Most Important Advice That Kelly Ripa And Mark Consuelos Gave To Their Daughter

Elvis Presley and Sammy Davis Jr. told The Jackson 5 to stay away from drugs

The Jackson 5, early 1970s
The Jackson 5, early 1970s / Everett Collection

While Elvis wasn’t as much of an influence on his musical career, Michael did share which artists were important to him. He said, “There are so many artists and musicians and writers I admire. When I was young, the people I watched were the real showmen — James Brown, Sammy Davis Jr., Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly.”

RELATED: Smokey Robinson Preferred Michael Jackson’s Cover Of One Of His Songs

THE JACKSONS, Michael Jackson, (Season 1, aired May 26, 1976), 1976-77
THE JACKSONS, Michael Jackson, (Season 1, aired May 26, 1976), 1976-77 / Everett Collection

Michael added that for a while, Frank Sinatra lived right above The Jackson 5. He added, “He’d see us playing basketball every day. And Fred Astaire lived around the bend. I would have a chance to talk to them and learn and listen. Those were golden moments.”

ELVIS: THAT'S THE WAY IT IS, Sammy Davis Jr., Elvis Presley, 1970
ELVIS: THAT’S THE WAY IT IS, Sammy Davis Jr., Elvis Presley, 1970 / Everett Collection

The Jackson 5 went on to become legendary in the music industry. Later, Michael paved his own way with a very successful career. Unfortunately, he passed away far too soon at the age of 50, much like Elvis who died when he was only 42.

RELATED: Elvis Presley’s “In The Ghetto” Was Originally Written For Another Big Star

Next up: Robert Clary From ‘Hogan’s Heroes’ Is 95 And Teaches About The Holocaust

Previous article: Robert Clary From ‘Hogan’s Heroes’ Is 95 And Teaches About The Holocaust
Next Post: These Classic Rock Bands Released Three Consecutive Perfect Albums

Primary Sidebar

© 2025 DoYouRemember? Inc.

  • about us
  • media
  • privacy
  • terms
  • DMCA
  • CONTACT US
  • AUTHORS