From fashion to furnishings and art to automobiles, the popularity of vintage only grows as shoppers can now buy pink Cuisinart mixers, mail-order art nouveau hardware and bronze Ford Thunderbirds. No need to browse in musty thrift stores when one can simply dial a toll-free number and import vintage by only waiting a couple of days for express shipping and delivery.

Just like America’s downtowns are making a comeback, so is old music, old styles and old movies. The disappearance of the familiar corner bakery, neighborhood soda fountain and the last of the Woolworth’s five-and-dime stores left a gaping hole to a forgotten past. For years, mom and pop stores have yielded to suburban sprawl, fast-food joints and big-box retail.

Simply put, we have pushed the limits of the automobile and cyberspace age. Nostalgia seems to be settling in quite comfortably as we search for a little of the sweet and the innocent again. Perhaps, reminders from a bygone era that existed without MTV — such as its classic music — ease the homesickness.

Indeed, it’s none but the legendary Frank Sinatra whose voice can often be heard crooning from the speakers as we stroll in shops and galleries, dine in restaurants and dance at parties. We hear present-day artists such as Norah Jones, Diana Krall and Michael Bublé singing the very songs made famous by Sinatra. But it is not often we hear his music sung live by a talented young performer, especially right here in Savannah.

The steamy summer months are already upon us now, but it’s downright cool in the softly lit basement of the 1920s Kress building on the corner of Barnard and Broughton streets. If it’s Thursday, then Trae Gurley is live at Jazz’d Tapas Bar. Standing poised in front of his vintage-style microphone, Gurley sings a versatile selection, ranging from popular songs such as “Witchcraft” to Cole Porter tunes like “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and slightly lesser-known ones such as “I Thought About You” by Johnny Mercer.

Dubbed “Swoonatra” after landing weekly performances at Jazz’d, longtime Savannahian Gurley, 30, has gained quick popularity since he started performing his one-man Sinatra show in the city nearly two years ago. Gurley never set out to sing Sinatra, though he remembers always loving music.

Growing up in Savannah, he played the saxophone and guitar in a band and eventually stepped into musical theater in high school and soon was performing in local community theater productions. A friend in New York who was cast in an off-Broadway Sinatra musical gave him the idea for putting together a Sinatra repertoire for Savannah.

Gurley researched Sinatra for six months before pitching his idea to Charles Churchill, former owner of the hip, trendy club Moxi, a martini bar once located above Il Pasticcio on Broughton Street. At a time when no one else would buy in to the idea, Churchill was the one who helped him get his start, Gurley said, and then he later contacted Brian Curry, the owner of Jazz’d.

Without an abundance of Sinatra crooners in Savannah’s night scene, Gurley saw a market for the music and hit the mark with his act. Before Jazz’d booked him, the tapas bar had only live music scheduled for weekend evenings. Gurley narrowed Sinatra’s songs to 60, picked up a few necessary accessories for the show, and the rest is history.

During his research, Gurley studied Sinatra’s techniques, vocal style and breathing patterns.

“A lot of people can sing Sinatra as well or even better than me. But it’s all in the delivery,” he said. “I know how to deliver it the way I think Sinatra would want it delivered.”

“Swoonatra” has been wooing the hearts of women all over Savannah with his impeccable rendition of the celebrated Sinatra. Yet, it isn’t just the women who love this 21st century Sinatra. Men seem as easily allured by this rising star’s reincarnation of America’s beloved Ol’ Blue Eyes.

“Men are attracted to the coolness of Sinatra — the image he projects,” Gurley said. “Whiskey, women and money. Maybe it boils down to the power he had. Women seem to listen to the music and are attracted to the emotion Sinatra evoked. I’m sure looks played a part as well. Hence, ‘Swoonatra.’”

In the world of music and in Savannah, crossing gender lines seems to be a key to success for aspiring musicians and performers. Better yet, this crooner attracts a younger age bracket, an anomaly in itself when it comes to Sinatra tunes. Based on the crowd of people milling around on Thursdays and the others he has attracted in other venues, Gurley’s audience ranges anywhere from 17- to 80-year-olds.

The Baby Boomers are still listening to the music. They recall what it felt like to listen to music from the Big Band era, so the memories come rolling in. The other category of listeners is the eccentric 20- or 30-year-olds who have liked Sinatra for as long as they can remember an interest in music, myself included.

“These enthusiasts are more rare, often quirky, but part of the audience,” Gurley said. Finally, there are the new, younger followers, or converts, of this vintage musical genre. “The younger ones are just discovering this beautiful sound and are amazed that they even like it. Perhaps it’s because there is a 30-year-old singing it, rather than a 60-year-old imitating Sinatra. They can relate,” he said.

When asked if he thought he was the conduit for introducing Sinatra music into people’s lives, Gurley said, “If I could be remembered for bringing back this music, that would be wonderful.” Gurley is definitely a crowd pleaser, but his goal has never been to be a Sinatra impersonator. Rather, he hopes to be vessel of Sinatra’s legacy and to encourage people to become interested in it, especially those in his generation.

Sinatra was a complex man whose career spanned six decades and who recorded 2,000 songs, all of which reflect the evolution of his musical style. “Sinatra performed seven times a day at the Paramount Theater,” Gurley said. “I cannot imagine one performer today that would be able to hold that kind of power.”

At his performances, Gurley receives numerous requests for popular songs from the end of Sinatra’s career. “There’s a lot more to Sinatra than ‘Summer Wind’ and ‘My Way.’”

Gurley always sings his favorite tune once sung by Sinatra, “Night and Day,” during his sets. This original Cole Porter song was also one of Sinatra’s favorites. He actually recorded six different versions of the song, continuously trying to reinvent the song. Gurley often concludes his Thursday sets with “That’s Life,” serenading the many twirling couples who want to dance the night away to the classic tunes. He does not mind serving as background music, but his hope is that people will really listen to the lyrics.

What is the music without its original songwriting? “The beauty is in the lyrics,” he said. “People just don’t write music the way they used to.”

Of the unique music of that era, Gurley said the appeal had a lot to do with the circumstances surrounding the period of history. Tough war times made music better and the lyrics rather meaningful. During World War II, when women heard the Sinatra sing “I’ll Never Smile Again,” they were not only listening to a sweet song but also thinking that they might never see their husbands again. It is a different period of time now, but do we have less emotion? Whether 16 or 60, male or female, people are embracing older, classic music, reflected by popular demand.

And there is a demand in our region. Gurley sings for private parties, weddings and other functions in and around Savannah. He plays on Wednesdays at Tango on Tybee Island. At Tango, he shakes it up a bit with a different kind of show. He plays the guitar and sings some blues and country but is not any less soulful than when belting out Sinatra tunes. He hopes to have the time to record an album in the near future and dreams of a full-production musical in Savannah dedicated to the legacy of the “Chairman of the Board,” which would include dancers and an orchestra. Eventually, he would also like to earn his living totally from singing.

Currently, Gurley is busy working full-time at Starbucks, singing at special events, along with his regular gigs, but when he has some spare time, he likes to ride his motorcycle. It’s not always easy finding time to relax. “It’s been all about the journey, though. I never expected to get this far.”

Brian Curry, the owner of Jazz’d, said he wanted to take a night of the week and make his restaurant the place to be downtown. Creating “Tinis, Tapas, and Trae” jumpstarted his Thursdays and his wish to make Jazz’d a hot spot came true.

On Thursdays, one can find lots of supporters of the Sinatra show. Naturally, some happen in upon the tapas bar and discover this musical nostalgia. Curry observes a very mixed crowd walk into his restaurant, ranging from tourists to older couples to younger residents to 20-year-olds.

Still, many come just for Gurley. Mark Goodenow, an avid fan, said, “He does such a great job. He’s one of the reasons I come to Jazz’d when I am in town from New York.” Young 20- and 30-somethings, martinis in hand, agreed that he sounded just like Sinatra.

Hung Ngyen, a 20-something Savannah resident, said he had heard Gurley sing twice before and on this particular evening, he brought along a couple of friends, both male and female, just to hear him.

Gurley has landed one other important fan. He admits his 4-year-old daughter enjoys pop music by stars like Justin Timberlake, but she equally loves listening to her father play guitar and sing some Sinatra tunes. In fact, when offered the chance to select from among her dad’s expansive record collection, she heads straight for the familiar. Her favorite song? “Nice and Easy.”

“At least she’s got good taste,” Gurley said.

Has Sinatra become the uniter for the musically divided generations? That remains to be seen, but perhaps in Savannah, Ol’ Blue Eyes (a.k.a., Trae Gurley) could close the gap. A little Sinatra might be all you need to satisfy the nostalgia for a past you once knew or one you wish you only could have known. This crooner has got one Sinatra show not to miss. Sit back, relax and let yourself travel back in time.

To hear the 30-year-old Sinatra sensation, head to Jazz’d Tapas Bar on Thursdays from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. or to Tango on Tybee Island on Wednesdays from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

His Web site also lists upcoming performances at www.traegurley.com.