Keith Allynn

The Diamond Image

By: Kurt L. Moore

Branson’s Entertainment Editor

Keith Allynn has successfully put together a show depicting Neil Diamond. Neil is a hard person to give successful tribute to because of his unusual appearance, his Brooklyn accent and his mannerisms onstage. Keith Allynn has the Diamond persona down cold including the difficult Brooklyn accent.

I recently saw a stage performance of Keith's show at the Branson Mall Theater and was amazed by it. Not so much that Keith had the accent down to a science and not so much with the lighting and smoke effects and not so much with the costume choice but rather with the fact that several times during the show I would swear it was Neil Diamond on stage and not Keith Allynn.

Previously I had taken photos of Keith for publicity purposes and found he had taken one and had it beside an actual photo of Neil Diamond. It was eerie how much the two looked alike—not only alike, but exactly alike. I have taken photos since both on and off stage and found many of my photos looked amazingly like Neil Diamond.

Keith Allynn was an Elvis Tribute Artist for 14 years. He never really found his niche with that persona but certainly has with paying tribute to Neil Diamond. Keith has studied Diamond literally day and night to get the mannerisms, the songs and the accent down to when he comes on stage; it is many times Neil Diamond entering the stage. Keith Allynn, for sure, was literally born to pay tribute to Neil Diamond.

Neil Diamond is rated as the third most successful adult contemporary artist ever, behind only Barbara Streisand and Elton John. In 1984 Diamond was inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame and in 2000, received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award.

Neil Diamond has sold 115 million records worldwide with 48 million being sold in the United States. He has been recording music since the 1960’s.

In Keith’s show he and his wife, Diana Lynn combine to do a remake of the 1978 Diamond-Streisand duet, “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers.” It was originally recorded separately by both Diamond and Streisand. A Louisville radio program director decided to take both albums and combine them into a virtual duet. In doing so it was apparent the mix had chemistry for listeners, so Diamond and Streisand recorded it to make it real. It was so real it became a number one hit for them.

There was a side story connected with their live performance onstage. Seems Streisand was always nervous before a performance to the point of sometimes losing her cookies. When they were performing onstage and were close together during the last part of the song, she was so nervous her mike kept knocking against his. I guess it drove the sound guys crazy trying to sort it all out.

Bottom line is this: There are not probably nine people in the entire world who actually resemble Neil Diamond. Keith Allynn does. There are few people in the world who can sing like Neil Diamond. Keith Allynn can. There are fewer people in the world who look like Neil Diamond, Sing like Neil Diamond and do it with the right accent. Keith Allynn does it all.

As I said earlier, Keith Allynn was literally born to pay tribute to Neil Diamond and his music. I know this much, if Neil Diamond were ever to visit Keith Allynn’s show, he would smile and say, “Job well done, my friend.”

If you loved Neil Diamond before, Keith Allynn, as Neil Diamond, will have you falling in love with him all over again.

For information concerning the Neil Diamond Tribute call: 417-464-8497.

Copyright © 2009—Gampy’s Gang Productions—All Rights Reserved.