The artists
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ACTOR AND SINGER ROBERT DAVIWhile he is recognized as one of film’s best-known tough guys, Robert Davi has been winning the respect and admiration of fans, critics, and fellow artists with his expressive singing. His Album, Davi Sings Sinatra: On The Road To Romance, produced by the legendary Phil Ramone, catapulted its way into Billboard magazine’s top ten (#6) traditional jazz chart.
While Davi Sings Sinatra: On the Road to Romance and his dynamic live performances may have surprised some of his fans, Davi’s love of music and entertaining began at an early age. At 15, he won First Place in the prestigious New York State School Music Association Solo Competition. As a young adult, he studied under several top vocal teachers including the legendary Tito Gobbi, Dan Ferro of Juilliard, Samuel Margolis (who taught Robert Merrill) and most recently, renowned vocal coach Gary Catona.
In his latest film role, Davi adds to his movie legacy. He joins the most recent installment of the popular franchise “The Expendables 3,” (to be released later this year). From the memorable villain, Colombian drug lord Frank Sanchez, in the Bond film “License to Kill” (voted one of the top Bond villains of all time) to his stand-out performances in “The Goonies,” “Die Hard,” ”Kill the Irishman,” “The Iceman” and many other films to the respected series “Profiler” and ”Stargate: Atlantis,” Davi has appeared in over 100 movies and many television programs. He has garnered praise from critics, directors, and co-stars, including Steven Spielberg, Richard Donner, Blake Edwards, John McTiernan, and Paul Verhoeven. He has acted opposite Marlon Brando, Roberto Benigni, Bruce Willis, Clint Eastwood, Benicio Del Toro, Danny Glover, Michael Shannon, Chris Evans, James Franco, and Val Kilmer, among others. GQ Magazine has compared him to silver screen classics Robert Mitchum and Lee Marvin. His tough exterior masks an inner sensitivity, which he has brought to his roles as a Palestinian terrorist in the award-winning TV movie, “Terrorist on Trial: The United States vs. Salim Ajami,” and in memorable appearances in “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” ”Without a Trace,” “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” “Criminal Minds” and many more.
In 2007, Davi produced, directed co-wrote and starred in “The Dukes,” the story of a successful Doo Wop group who falls on hard times. At the Monte Carlo Festival of Comedy, Davi was awarded Best First-Time Director and Best Screenplay for the film and he was the only first-time director in the Premiere Section of the International Rome Film Festival, with films by Sean Penn, Robert Redford, Sidney Lumet and Julie Taymor.
Hailing from Astoria, Queens, NY, Davi attended Hofstra University on a drama scholarship. He moved to Manhattan to study with legendary acting coach Stella Adler, who became his mentor. He subsequently became a lifetime member of the Actors Studio, studying with acting teacher Lee Strasberg and also studied under Sandra Seacat, Larry Moss, Milton Katselas, Martin Landau, Mala Powers, and George Shdanoff, the creative partner and collaborator with the influential Michael Chekhov. His first screen appearance was opposite Frank Sinatra in the telefilm, “Contract on Cherry Street.”
Besides working in music, film and television, and raising his five children, four dogs, and two cats, Davi is an active supporter of The Dream Foundation, Exceptional Children’s Foundation, Heart of a Child Foundation, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Youth Foundation, The Humane Society of the United States, Heart of a Horse, NIAF, The Order ’Sons of Italy’ in America (OSIA), and UNICO National. Since its inception in 1998, Davi has been the National Spokesperson for i-Safe America, which is regarded by many internet experts as the most complete internet safety program in the country and is available in grades K- 12 in all 50 U.S. states.
Davi has received numerous awards for career achievement and community involvement, including the George M. Estabrook Distinguished Service Award from the Hofstra University Alumni Association (past recipients include Francis Ford Coppola and William Safire). He has received the FBI’s Man of the Year Award in Los Angeles and was also named KNX radio’s “Citizen of the Week” for saving a young girl from a fire in her home. Other public service awards include the Sons of Italy’s Royal Court of the Golden Lion Award and the 2004 STEP Award (Science, Technology and Education Partnership), whose past recipients include Arnold Schwarzenegger. In 2007, Davi received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Italian Board of Governors in New York, and in 2008, he received the Italo-Americano Award from the Capri-Hollywood Festival. In 2011, Davi was awarded the” Military Order of the Purple Heart” (MOPH) Special Recognition Award for dedication and service honoring America’s service members and veterans.
MUSIC PRODUCER AND MUSICIAN LEE CURRERI“Lee Curreri is the reason I got my first keyboard.” Hans Zimmer, Academy Award winning composer.
Composer, music producer and keyboardist Lee Curreri became an international sensation as the star of the acclaimed motion picture and television series “Fame.” Playing the intense keyboard prodigy “Bruno,” a role that closely matched his own background and abilities, Lee was also involved in the music for the long running series. Born in the Bronx, NY, Lee studied his craft at the Manhattan School of Music, Mannes College of Music and Westchester Conservatory prior to being cast by director Alan Parker for Fame.
The television series brought Lee to Los Angeles where his personal take on pop, jazz and classical styles made him in demand to score music for a number of other television projects when he wasn’t on the set or recording studio. Soon after coming to the West Coast, Lee’s musical talents were discovered by Bobby Colomby, A&R for Capitol Records at the time, and the former drummer for “Blood, Sweat, and Tears.” Colomby introduced Lee to recording artist Natalie Cole, recommending he produce Natalie on her “Good To Be Back” album. The success of that project lead to Lee going on to produce a host of artists, including Nicolette Larson, Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Jon Hassell, Robert Downey Jr., and Phil Perry.
While in the studio producing records, Lee continued to compose for film and television and play keyboards and synthesizers for many other artists. He formed the TV/film music production company “Xacca Sounds,” scoring MTV’s edgy “Liquid Television” series, several animated programs including “Littlest Pet Shop” and “GI Joe Extreme”, and several top flight national commercials for clients such as Nike, Taco Bell and Frutopia. “Xacca” is the Greek spelling of the town in Sicily, Sciacca, where his paternal grandfather Leonard was born. The maternal side of his family hails from Sannicandro di Bari, Italy.
Lee’s profile in the LA music scene has continued to rise. Later he scored a number of episodes of David E. Kelley’s highly rated series “Chicago Hope” and worked on Robert Altman’s acclaimed anthology series “Gun.” Through his close association with Hans Zimmer’s Media Ventures, Lee was introduced to producer Jerry Bruckheimer and became composer for the Simpson/Bruckheimer series “Dangerous Minds” and “SOF.” Lee’s reputation as a cutting-edge contemporary writer brought him back into commercials and he composed spots for boutique music house Volume, including high-profile national campaigns for Microsoft Network, Turner Broadcasting and Toyota.
After years of scoring, record producing and performance work, Lee has taken time to compose and produce the first full length CD of his own original music, the transcendental, rhythmic-soul project, “Aquabox,” which has been aptly tagged “the evolution will not be televised.” Recently, he has composed music for projects such as “Winning the Peace,” a short film that won “Best Score” at the Rhode Island International Film Festival, “I Tried,” a movie starring the members of Bone Thugs’n’Harmony, “The Ground Truth: After the Killing Ends,” “Meskada,” a mystery crime drama starring Nick Stahl, and TV’s “Dr. Oz.” Lee also had the pleasure of working with his childhood idle, Carole King, on “A Holiday Carole,” arranging, and playing horns and keyboards. Lately, he has been enjoying producing and playing with the Italian pop group “Mode,” a collection of talented musicians based in Southeastern Sicily.