[1] Elvera Sanchez was born in New York City to Cuban immigrants Luisa Valentina (née Aguiar) (14 February 1884–5 October 1996), who was a living centenarian at the time of Sammy Jr.'s death and Marco Sánchez (1852–1908), a cigar maker.

When Sammy Jr. was three, his parents split up and his father obtained sole custody of him, taking him on the road.

Sanchez was a chorus-line dancer at Apollo Theater for six years and appeared in Oscar Micheaux’s 1938 film Swing.

After retiring from her show business career at the age of 35, she began working as a barmaid for Grace's Little Belmont in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

[5][6] Her connections with entertainers Count Basie, Billy Eckstine, and Sarah Vaughan drew these and other celebrities to her station, and her son Sammy would come to visit after performing across town at the 500 Club "and delighted everyone, pouring drinks and singing".