WAVE Exclusive: Actor Robert Davi Takes on Sinatra Classics

Photo by 94.7 The WAVE

Even if his name doesn’t immediately ring a bell, you’ll most likely recognize actor Robert Davi as the villain Franz Sanchez from James Bond’s License to Kill or as bad guy from the 80s cult classic The Goonies. But Davi has put his villainous film past behind him to focus on his musical career most fans were unaware of.

In fact, Davi is a classically trained opera singer and has a tremendous voice that he’ll be dedicating to Frank Sinatra standards this weekend for his Davi Sings Sinatra tribute show. Just one listen to Davi’s sonorous baritone will have you thinking Old Blue Eyes was singing himself, and luckily you can listen to Davi’s take on Sinatra hits from his cover album right here.

As a young boy, Robert Davi got his start in music as a trained opera singer only to switch focus on his cinema career. His first ever film he starred in was opposite Frank Sinatra himself in the 1977 film Contract on Cherry Street, which only resurged his love of Sinatra music.

Frank Sinatra with a young Robert Davi

Now switching gears back to music, Davi is on a mission to bring back the huge popularity of the Great American Songbook and Sinatra classics to this generation with the help of his critically acclaimed tribute show, Davi Sings Sinatra.

Backed by a 55 piece big band orchestra, Davi is bringing back the romantic sound of Sinatra standards to the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza on January 15th. Tickets for this phenomenal show can be purchased with the discount code “Davi Sings Sinatra” on Ticketmaster.com or at DaviSingsSinatra.com.

Davi Sings Sinatra

The classic standards that make up the Great American Songbook paved the way for generations to come and to this day stand the test of time.  “That period of music I think was the Shakespeare of America…and it brought us all together. Sinatra was the greatest interpreter of that,” said Davi.

Though the heyday for these hits has passed, Davi has noticed a resurgence of Sinatra’s music in younger generations lately and an increase of collecting vinyl records to hear the authentic sound.  The recent surge of popularity might have something to do with the excellence of songwriting and composition during this period that aided to the longevity of jazz standards through the years.

Not only was Sinatra’s influence of poetic songwriting, phrasing and articulation a major impact to music, his contribution to fight against social injustice helped break down racial barriers, which even helped launch Sammy Davis Jr.’s fruitful career.

Davi communicates this influential part of Sinatra’s career in his tribute show saying, “I want the country to understand not only the major musical contribution that [Sinatra] had, but the historical and social contribution he had.”

Sinatra’s influence on music and culture is still apparent today and Robert Davi is bringing back this quintessential era with his personal tribute to the Great American Songbook and Sinatra classics this Saturday, January 15. Listen to the extended interview with Davi and get a little taste of Davi Sings Sinatra with bonus songs from his tribute album.

“Witchcraft”

“Come Fly With Me”

“Too Marvelous For Words”

“The Best is Yet To Come”

“Summer Wind”

“In the Wee Small Hours”

“Foggy Day”

“Day In Day Out”

“All the Way”