GROWING up in Kingston, Shaggy was often tuned into the music of the greats, including American singer/actor Frank Sinatra.

The international recording artiste pays tribute to Sinatra on his forthcoming project titled Com Fly Wid Mi: The Sinatra Songbook In a Reggae Style.

The 11-track set, which was produced by Sting, is set for release on May 25.

Shaggy and 17-time Grammy winner Sting first collaborated on the chart-topping 44/876 album in 2018.

“It’s always amazing to work with Sting. Besides being a genius at what he does, the thing that really connects for me is the effortless synergy and brotherhood we share,” Shaggy explained in an interview with the Jamaica Observer on Thursday.

Shaggy had no doubts as which Sinatra song was his personal favourite.

“There are so many favourites when it comes to the Sinatra catalogue. He had some of the best writers to have ever done it … so it’s hard to pick a favourite. Of the ones we included on the new album, my favourite varies from day to day… right now it’s Luck Be a Lady,” he said.

Sting shared how the idea came about.

“This idea of getting my friend to sing 10 iconic songs from the Frank Sinatra songbook in a reggae style had been brewing for a while…I know, it sounds crazy! But every time the idea crossed my mind, it made me smile. And what does the world need now more than anything else…something to smile about!” Sting said in a media release.

“The reason reggae may work here is because there’s a joy and energy about it which is similar to the energy that Frank’s music had at its summit. You know the songs, you know the voice, you just never expected this. He’s not trying to be Frank, he’s Shaggy. So, relax and let that smile soothe the cares of the world away,” he continued.

Com Fly Wid Mi includes That’s Life, Fly Me to the Moon, The Old Black Magic, You Make Me Feel So Good, and Angel Eyes.

To celebrate the album’s release, a special limited access, one night only performance will take place at the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City on May 26.

A specially crafted line-up of revered reggae, jazz and mainstream musicians were enlisted for Com Fly Wid Mi. They include musical director Rob Mathes and producer/musician Steven “Lenky” Marsden. Recorded in Miami and Jamaica, the project was engineered by Grant Valentine, Earl Smith Jr, Garfield McDonald and mixed by Robert “Hitmixer” Orton.

Shaggy and Sting’s collaborative 2018 album 44/876 topped the Billboard Reggae Albums chart, while peaking at number 40 on the all-genre Billboard 200 albums chart. Overseas, it entered the UK Albums chart at nine, while maintaining top-10 positions on the national charts in Hungary, Spain, Switzerland, Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, and Germany.

It has sales exceeding 600,000 worldwide, while earning gold certifications in Poland and France.

44/876 won the Grammy Award in 2019 for Best Reggae Album.

Sinatra, who died in 1998, was regarded as one of the best-selling music artistes of all time having sold more than 150 million records worldwide.

Among his extensive list of hit songs are the signature hit My Way, Strangers in the Night, Somethin Stupid with daughter Nancy Sinatra, That’s Life, Learnin the Blues, and I’ll Never Smile Again.

In 1960, he started his own record label, Reprise Records, and released a string of successful albums.

He won an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the 1953 film From Here to Eternity.