1965 – The buzz started for Sandler & Young with an introduction by Phil Silvers, who was headlining in the Congo Room at the Sahara. One night, while wrapping up his show, Phil invited his entire audience to go with him to see Sandler & Young perform in the Casbar Theatre at the Sahara. The audience filled the lounge, loved their show, and gave them a rare standing ovation.
At Phil Silvers’ urging, Polly Bergen and her husband, Hollywood film producer Freddie Fields, came to see the show. They signed Sandler & Young for a large Polly Bergen production. Luther Henderson wrote musical arrangements to integrate Polly into the Sandler & Young repertoire, and they began to tour together. These shows played at prestigious venues and gala events, bringing Sandler & Young enormous exposure. Among these was a Sandler & Young performance with Polly Bergen on The Ed Sullivan Show on September 19, 1965.