Las Vegas has been known as being the “Entertainment Capital of the World” and, of course, Nashville is just as well known for being the “Country Music Capital”.
On Friday, Feb.17th, the two shall intertwine as “Neil Diamond -The Tribute” starring long time Vegas headliner, Rob Garrett, will perform a 2-hour show at the Texas Troubadour Theatre in Nashville for the very first time.
Neil Diamond, one of the most successful, artists in music history, officially retired from the concert stage in early 2018 after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. However, his live performance legacy continues to be preserved for audiences all over the world through longtime Las Vegas performer, Rob Garrett, widely acclaimed as Diamond’s most renowned tribute act.
Just recently, a new Broadway Musical based on Diamond’s life, entitled “Beautiful Noise”, opened on Broadway after previewing in Boston for 6-weeks during this past summer to rave reviews.
Like his legendary counterpart, Garrett was born in Brooklyn, NY. In 1974 his family moved him from New York City to Las Vegas where he later saw Diamond live in 1976 when he made his Las Vegas debut opening the Theater for the Performing Arts at the Aladdin Hotel/Casino.
In 1995, Garrett was personally hired by Paul Revere (leader/founder of “the Raiders”) to portray Neil Diamond in the “Legends in Concert” show in Honolulu, Hawaii, the city’s biggest theatrical show and the world’s most popular celebrity impersonator review. What was to be a two-month ‘trial” engagement for Garrett ended up being a three-year run.
In August of 1998, Garrett returned home to Las Vegas and continued to perform intermittently with “Legends” for another 2 years before deciding to go off on his own and create his own Neil Diamond tribute show. Since then, he has maintained a steady tour schedule while accumulating a large, loyal, following along the way to whom he is known worldwide as the ‘’King of Diamonds”.
He has consistently performed to sold out venues – many of which are usually reserved for national acts and has received numerous awards over the years including “Male Tribute Artist of the Year”.
As he enters his 28th year paying tribute to one of his musical idols, it can be said that arguably no other tribute act is as identified with the artist he or she emulates more so than Garrett – who continues to perform his show at more venues in Las Vegas than any other tribute act.
What makes Rob Garrett the best in the business at what he does is his passion, dedication, and reverence for Diamond’s prolific library of music, and how he believes the legacy of one of popular music’s most beloved icons should be remembered.
Diamond himself has been no stranger to Nashville or to country music.
Many of the songs that he has written and recorded throughout his 50+ year career have noticeably shown a country influence and in 1996 he wrote and recorded his first all country music album in Nashville entitled “Tennessee Moon”, which climbed to #3 on the country charts and produced a TV special recorded live at the iconic Ryman Auditorium.
Another interesting tidbit: Diamond wrote his signature song, “Sweet Caroline”, in a Memphis Hotel in 1969 in less than an hour after realizing he was one song short of an album he was recording at American Sound Studios at that time.
Accompanying Garrett will be his “Pretty Amazing Band” which includes LJ Harness (percussion), Mark Gendel (Guitar), and special guests, hometown talents, Randy Harper (keyboardist from Pure Prairie League) and former Miss Tennessee/Miss America top 10 finalist, Llynda Moore (vocals).
The Texas Troubadour Theatre is located at: 2416 Music Valley Dr, Nashville, TN 37214,
(615) 889-2474.
The show will begin at 7 PM and doors will open at 6:15 PM.
Tickets are $25 (General Admission), $35 (V.I.P.), and $50 (Elite) and can be purchased via the Outhouse Ticket website: https://www.outhousetickets.com/Event/Event20669.
Rob Garrett’s website is www.neildiamndtribute.net
