The Daughter of Great Sammy Davis Jr., Tracey Davis, Grants Rights to Make Movie About Famous Father
Sammy Davis Jr. has released the rights to have her father’s story be
told by film producer Rick Appling.
Los Angeles, CA, February 15, 2011 –(PR.com)–
Tracey Davis, the matriarch and heiress to the Sammy Davis Jr. rights
has executed an unparalleled deal with Rick Appling. Appling, will
produce a feature film and a series of documentaries based on her
copyrights interest in books as well as her ownership granted to her by
her father through a trust. Chairman of LaRoda LTD, Barrett LaRoda
negotiated and finalized the deal on behalf of Tracey Davis. LaRoda
says, “Tracey has always been known as the enforcer and protector of her
father’s legacy. I am extremely proud that she is going to once again
share her father with the world. This is truly a legacy building block
project.” Tracey has only assigned her rights once before and that was
to entertainment tycoon, Quincy Jones. Tracey has decided to grant her
rights to independent film maker, Rick Appling. Sammy, known to be an
advocate of the independent industry and he himself, had many
independent projects. Appling was groomed in the film industry by John
Daly, who was a producer of thirteen Oscar winning movies including
Platoon. Appling says, “God is Good. Being chosen to do the Sammy Davis
Jr. story is one of my greatest accomplishments to date. I look forward
to working with Tracey as her experience, knowledge, and love for her
father I know will come across to the audiences of these films.”
Tracey
is the daughter of the Hollywood marriage between Sammy Davis Jr. and
May Britt. Britt, was the Swedish film star that graced the cover of
Life Magazine in 1959. Tracey is an entrepreneur and author who scored
great success with her best-selling book, Sammy Davis Jr.: My Father.
Tracey shares a loving relationship with her mother and is working on
her next book, May Britt: My Mother.
Tracey states that, “For
film projects of this magnitude, I know my father would have wanted to
incorporate his friends, Clint Eastwood, Bill Cosby, Gladys Knight, and
Quincy Jones. One thing I remember about my dad is that he would always
say to me, ‘I enjoyed and admired the up and coming cats.’ I know that
he would have loved Jay-Z, P Diddy, Savion Glover, Justin Timberlake,
Taylor Swift, Usher, and Spike Lee.”
Sammy Davis Jr., known as
“Mr. Entertainment, had a successful recording, Broadway theatre, film
and television career, but his passion was dancing, live performing and
concerts.
Rick Appling has in development a yet to be titled
short film to be with longtime friend, Fred “The Hammer” Williamson.
Appling also co-produces the Toast Awards with Dr. M.C., an annual event
that honors local entertainers and business professionals. A portion of
the proceeds from the Sammy Davis Jr. film will go to contribute to two
non-profits that Appling supports. The G.R.E.E.N. Foundation, which
provides health education, addresses major concerns and awareness to
annuity on Health Care and the Hollywood Vine Recovery Center, which
provides substance abuse treatment. It has an 80% recovery rate program,
with celebrity involvement within the program. Appling is represented
by New York attorney and daughter, Rigodis Appling and Los Angeles based
attorney Joel Isaacson.
Barrett LaRoda is a well-established
name in the entertainment industry. His company, LaRoda LTD is a
licensing, branding and intellectual property company. A division of
LaRoda LTD specializes in talent acquisition and executive producing of
large scale events. LaRoda is the exclusive licensor for R& B legend
and Empress of Soul Gladys Knight. LaRoda negotiated a branded Gladys
Knight jewelry line with fashion jewelry leader Robert Rose. Most
recently, LaRoda has concluded an infomercial deal for a branded Gladys
Knight product with infomercial giant, BJ Global Direct scheduled to
debut later this year.
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