Legendary crooners revisited

David Alacey will be Sinatra - a role to which he brings years of experience.

David, who trained as an actor at The Italia Conti Academy in London, recorded a note-perfect version of the classic song for use as the signature tune to a new computer game to be released by Atari.

Accompanied by a 42-piece orchestra, David spent a day in London’s famous Abbey Road recording studios recreating New York, New York for use on the game Tycoon City New York.

“Performing New York, New York is second nature to me,” says David. “In the 15 years I’ve been playing Sinatra, I’ve sung it live more than 1,500 times.

“In the studio it was a matter of going over absolutely every syllable separately to ensure it was a really spot-on cover.”

David says Atari chose him over all the other Sinatra tributes in the world because he is one of the few performers who portrays the singing legend as he entered the latter part of his career.

“New York, New York was recorded in 1980, Frank would have been 65 years old,” says David.

“There needs to be subtle changes to the phrasing to his earlier recordings to ensure you create an authentic version of the song.”

When Tycoon City New York – featuring David’s vocals – was released in the States, Nancy Sinatra objected that the soundtrack was too authentic and Atari were guilty of passing off the real thing.

The game’s UK release was delayed as a consequence and eventually released minus David’s vocals.

Alongside David in the show is Paul Drakeley as Dean Martin and Des Coleman as Sammy Davis Jnr.

David said: “It’s the UK’s original Rat Pack concert show; a brilliant production with real musical pedigree. We are really looking forward to coming to Theatre Royal Brighton

we just love playing to a theatre audience there is nothing like it”

Soap opera fans will recall Des Coleman as Lenny in EastEnders, a part he played for more than four years. Since then, Des has been seen regularly as a reporter on The One Show.