Billy Daniels/Sammy Davis, Jr.

"That Old Black Magic" was the magic wand for performer Billy Daniels in terms of hits. He was so thoroughly associated with the Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen standard that, in the '50s, any impressionist worth his lower lip included at least a half-chorus imitation of Daniels doing his song. Generations hence, with many fewer impressionists working to keep his memory alive, the lingering impact of such a massive hit might create the impression that Daniels could perform only one musical card trick. Nothing could be further from the truth: he was a versatile and busy perform...