Autobiography of the pioneering African-American dancer, singer, and actor, signed and inscribed on the front end paper to fellow entertainer Maurice Chevalier: "To Maurice / With respect and admiration." The memoir chronicles Davis Jr.'s rise to fame, overcoming the obstacles of racism and the loss of one eye, and ends shortly after his marriage to Swedish-born actress May Britt and the birth of their daughter Tracey. 630 pp. 24 pp. of photographs. Grey cloth; decorative front board with silver silhouette of Davis Jr. Without dust jacket. Slightly faded at the edges of the binding, a small split to the gutter and light edge wear; overall in fine condition.

The French actor, cabaret singer and entertainer Maurice Chevalier is perhaps best known for his signature songs, including "Louise", "Mimi", "Valentine", and "Thank Heaven for Little Girls" and for his films, including The Love Parade and The Big Pond. His trademark attire was a boater hat, which he always wore on stage with a tuxedo. In 1958, he starred with Leslie Caron and Louis Jourdan in Gigi and in the early 1960s, he made eight films, including Can-Can in 1960 and Fanny the following year. The success of Gigi prompted Hollywood to give him an Academy Honorary Award that year for achievements in entertainment.