‘Davi Sings Sinatra’ at Eisenhower Park Saturday

Robert Davi, an award-winning actor-director and singer who grew up on Long Island, will perform his critically acclaimed show “Davi Sings Sinatra” in Eisenhower Park Saturday.  

Taking place at the park’s Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, the concert begins at 7 p.m. Admission is free.  

Russian pianist Svetlana Smolina will open for Davi, along with three-time Emmy award-winning Comedian Dave Konig.

On the big screen, Davi has portrayed Bond villain Fran Sanchez in “License to Kill.” Over the past 30 years, he has starred in more than 130 films, such as “Die Hard,” “The Goonies,” “Showgirls,” “Predator 2” and “The Iceman.”  On Aug. 15, movie-goers can see him in “The Expendables 3.”  From 1996-2001, Davi has starred in NBC’s crime drama “Profiler.”  He has also appeared in “CSI,” “Criminal Minds,” Stargate Atlantis, “Hill Street Blues,” “Gangster Chronicles,” and countless others.

Yet his love of music and singing brings Davi back to Long Island, where he will bring his interpretation of the Great American Songbook. He's already performed the show in Australia, and Las Vegas.  His debut album, “Davi Sings Sinatra—On The Road to Romance,” produced by Phil Ramone shot to number 6 for several weeks on Billboard’s Jazz Charts.

Born in Astoria, Queens, Davi moved to Huntington when he was 5, went to Seton Hall High School in Patchogue and attended Hofstra University on a drama scholarship.  

Davi’s first film role was in a movie starring Frank Sinatra.  

“Frank Sinatra spoke to an immigrant population in a way that empathized with their struggles and gave them a sense of dignity,” Davi said. “He was the greatest interpreter of the American Songbook, the Shakespeare of America, the golden age of American music. I call my album ‘On the Road to Romance’ because I want to bring back that Romantic way people related to each other back then…a world that had a gentler, more respectful and hopeful attitude.”

Much of the programming at the Lakeside Theatre is made possible through the Nassau County Hotel/Motel Proceeds Grant, which are proceeds from taxes on hotel and motel rooms in Nassau County.  Since 2006, Nassau County has received more than $10 million from the Hotel/Motel Proceeds Grant, which also has assisted in historic building restoration and other cultural enhancements.

If you go: The Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre is located near parking fields 6 and 6A in Eisenhower Park. Lakeside Theatre has no formal seating, so concertgoers are urged to bring folding chairs or blankets. Special accommodations are available for disabled patrons, including reserved parking, easily accessible restrooms and a convenient reserved location on the hill. Assistive hearing devices are also available upon request for the hearing impaired.