Born in Essex, David’s long career in the entertainment business started at London’s prestigious Italia Conti Academy of Music & Dramatic Arts. Theatre credits include various pantomimes, touring with The Break a Leg Theatre Company and Calamity Jane at The Unicorn Theatre in London. Television appearances include ‘Lovejoy’ and ‘Inspector Allan’ for BBC and most recently ‘Never Never’ for Channel Four.
His portrayal of Frank Sinatra is unlike any other, as he not only sings and phrases uncannily like The Chairman of The Board, but also talks in an incredibly authentic Sinatra manner, leaving audiences spellbound.
As a solo performer he appeared with his own trio at many jazz venues across Britain and around this time, David headlined to wide acclaim at the world famous Cafe Royal – Green Room, he went on to spend some time as a compere at the venue and it was during these engagements that Las Vegas legend Buddy Greco said of David, “This guy really is Sinatra”.
As an accomplished compere, David went on to fill the same role at Chaplins night-club in London’s West End.
David has also appeared as a guest vocalist for stars such as the late Ruby Murray, Lionel Blair, Hale & Pace, Tony Hadley, Jeff Stevenson, Noel Edmonds, George Williams, Charlie Smithers and the Beverley Sisters. He has completed various seasons for companies such as British Holidays and The Shearings Hotel group, Butlins, Potters, Pontins and Warner Resorts.
In the recording arena, David was a featured vocalist at the age of only seventeen on the album ‘Here’s To The Band’ featuring Don Lusher, Kenny Baker and a full orchestra conducted and produced by famed producer Nick Ingman.
He has visited Denmark and Sweden with the ‘Salute To Sinatra’. Constantly in demand as Sinatra, David played to 5000 people at an event held at Alexandra Palace in London. This was followed by a sell-out show ‘Tina & Rod – It Takes Two’ with special guest Frank Sinatra at the Dominion Theatre in London’s West End.
David toured as Sinatra in the successful production ‘The Fabulous Vegas Boys!’. Engagements included the SECC in Glasgow alongside Des O’Connor, and an open air big band performance with Hot Chocolate and Gerry & The Pacemakers for Trust Thamesmead and another open air show at the famed Knebworth.
In 1997 David was also featured by The Sun newspaper recording ‘Mandelson’s Way’ – (‘My Way’ with new lyrics by Richard Littlejohn) for an advertising campaign. Also that year, David was honoured to be chosen as the first entertainer to sing for the inaugural cruise of the luxury ‘Norwegian Dawn’ liner. He had another first when he was asked to appear as Mr Sinatra at the launch of a prestigious new London Casino. David also played before a star studded audience at Gleneagles and Wentworth Golf Clubs and appeared in Germany in a brand new ‘Sinatra Story’ production.
Another first was achieved when David performed in a remarkable evening with his trio at the first wedding held in Kensington Palace for over 100 years. This was followed by a 10 week engagement at Britain’s first Casino Showroom, which was opened by David’s original British Rat Pack Tribute show, alongside the likes of Jimmy Tarbuck, Kenny Lynch and Joe Longthorne.
As a result of his incredible similarity to Sinatra’s voice even when talking as Frank, David has been used as Frank Sinatra in various radio advertising campaigns and he has been seen by millions of television viewers on ‘London Tonight’ and ‘Barrymore’ for ITV.
Before David’s performance of ‘The Lady is a Tramp’ on the popular ‘Barrymore’ show, Michael introduced him as “Britain’s answer to Harry Connick Jnr”.
David has appeared with The Rat Pack and their Big Band in open air concerts in front of thousands of people at various National Trust venues and at theatres throughout Europe. The show has also been a Cabaret and corporate event favourite at venues including The Lakeside Club, The Stardust, The Circus Tavern, The Hippodrome Casino, The Talk of The Town, The Dorchester, Claridges. The Playboy Club, Grosvenor House and the famous Eye of the World at the top of The Hilton in Park Lane. It has also been booked regularly for popular chains such as Grosvenor, Genting, Aspers and MGM Casinos,. Shows around the world have included Paris, Cannes, Monte Carlo, Brussels, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Malta, Italy, U.A.E, Doha, Qatar and Russia.
David also had the honour of performing at a Royal Command performance where he performed ‘Luck Be A Lady’ alongside The Rat Pack for HRH The Princess Royal.
Other highlights include a performance in front of over 25,000 people on the pitch of Crystal Palace Football Club and over 35,000 people at the ‘Fireworks Fantasia’ concert with Max Bygraves and The Birmingham Symphony Orchestra held to commemorate VE day.
However two of the biggest highlights of David’s career have been recording sessions, the first taking place at Abbey Road studios with a 42 piece orchestra, when David was asked to recreate the original Sinatra recording of ‘New York, New York’ to promote the new Atari computer game ‘Tycoon City – New York’ which was released worldwide in 2006. The Producers claimed that they had listened to every Sinatra impersonator in the UK and USA and that David’s vocals were by far the most accurate and natural. Now that really is a complement!
The second was when David was asked to record the Sinatra classic “One For My Baby” by his dear friend – The Legendary Buddy Greco for his final recording sessions, which was planned to be a series of duets with his friends. David’s duet with Buddy turned out to be Buddy’s final commercial recording and the track was released worldwide by Acrocat Records. David’s friendship with Greco went back many years and in 2010 David produced a 32 date UK tour called Las Vegas Legends featuring Buddy alongside his wife Lezlie Anders and David’s Rat Pack cast. In 2013 David also produced a star studded tribute evening for Buddy with performances by Paul Young, Michelle Collins, Kenny Lynch and many more.
David has performed with his Rat Pack show worldwide and in 2013 they were voted Number 1 Rat Pack show in the UK at The National Tribute Awards by The Agents Association of Great Britain. They also played a sell-out concert at The Indigo 02 Arena and for a season at London’s Leicester Square theatre.
In 2014 David had the pleasure of performing on Strictly Come Dancing for The BBC and continued to tour the UK and Europe both as a member of The Rat Pack cast and in his own Sinatra concert tour – Frank!
A Review of one of those shows said…
“Alacey seemed to have somehow imbibed the very essence of ‘ole blue eyes’ before coming on stage. His performance was breathtaking – seriously! The tone, the modulation and the rhythm in his voice throughout the evening was genuine Sinatra. His masculine charm was also apparent in his pristine characterisation and it was with effortless charisma he strolled into the audience and sang I’ve Got You Under My Skin while chatting and engaging with the ladies – just like the icon”
Sarah Gudgeon – – The Edinburgh Herald & Post
He spent 2015 touring with The Sinatra Centennial Concert featuring The Buddy Greco Orchestra under the direction of famed Musical Director Don Hunt and alongside Special Guests Anita Harris and Kenny Lynch. Colin Fenn of Lemonrock Music Magazine said of the show and David’s performance, when reviewing a performance for the magazine –
“In my work as a music reviewer I have seen many Sinatra impersonators but David Alacey is the cream of the crop. The overall effect is that audiences are left spellbound many believing they are actually watching the real thing.. If you get the opportunity to see and hear David Alacey as ‘The Voice’ don’t miss it”.
In 2016 David’s vocals were featured on a new worldwide advertising campaign for Volvo cars, recording a brand new song in the “Sinatra” style for the advert. He also picked up another prestigious National Tribute Award with The Rat Pack.
These achievements truly cement his place as one of the greatest interpreters of Sinatra’s music in the world today.