Photo Coverage: Robert Davi Preps for Performance at National Mall with the National Symphony Orchestra
By: Stephen Sorokoff Jul. 06, 2015
Robert Davi the award-winning actor, screenwriter, director, producer and jazz vocalist joined Barry Manilow who is headlining this year's Independence Day celebration on the National Mall, performing July 4th with the National Symphony Orchestra. Recently Will Friedwald interviewed Mr. Davi for a documentary at the Friars Club. Davi is hailed by many as one of today's great interpreters of the "Great American Songbook."
His most notable film roles include his portrayal of the opera-singing baddie inGoonies; one of the most popular James Bond villains, Franz Sanchez, in License to Kill; FBI Special Agent Big Johnson in Die Hard; Al Torres in Showgirls; Max Keller in Raw Deal; and Leo Marks in The Iceman. He made his motion picture debut in Contract on Cherry Street, in which he shared the screen with the Chairman of the Board himself, Frank Sinatra. Today, Robert Davi is one of the film industry's most recognized tough guys. He has also starred on the small screen in hit shows like Profiler, Stargate Atlantis,Criminal Minds and CSI. With over 140 film and TV credits, he has frightened us, romanced us, and made us cry or split our seams laughing. Few in Hollywood have made the transition from actor to singer so naturally, eloquently and passionately as Robert Davi. In 2011, he released his debut album, Davi Sings Sinatra: On the Road to Romance (produced by Grammy award-winning producer Phil Ramone) to rave reviews.
"Sinatra's collection of unforgettable masterpieces helped the world fall in love with our country," says Davi. "During my parents' time, while our country faced many difficulties, this music helped it glow with promise and optimism. Frank Sinatra's voice was the soundtrack for their lives, and no one sang it better." Within weeks of its highly anticipated release, the album soared onto Billboard Magazine's Top 10 Jazz Chart, taking the number 6 spot for several weeks.
Photo Credit: Staphen Sorokoff
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