Branson Mall has a long tradition of having a wide variety of music and entertainers.

    There are more than 25 performers taking the stage each and every week on the mall’s Center Stage, which serves as a platform for hopeful entertainers looking to make a name for themselves. One such entertainer who graduated from Center Stage into his own show at Hall of Fame Theatre is Keith Allynn, who does “A Tribute to Neil Diamond.”

    Originally from Roanoke, Va., Allynn started as a stand-up comic at the age of 14. By the time he was in his 20s, Allynn was the opening act at Vic Theatre in Chicago.

    “I opened for Chris Rock, Tim Allen and Dave Chappelle,” Allynn said. “I did comedy, but I never sang. Even when I was a kid I wanted to sing very badly, and that’s exactly how I sang. Badly.”

    While working on his comedy routine, Allynn also found himself to be a gifted impressionist. He began working on impressions of Elvis Presley, Roger Miller and Kermit the Frog.

    After deciding to take a break from comedy, Allynn joined the U.S. Navy.

    During his stint in the Navy, Allynn was introduced to karaoke. He decided to give singing one more shot and performed a tune by Elvis Presley.

    “Everyone went crazy and told me I did a great job,” he said. “I decided to stick with it and began to study Elvis. I performed as Elvis for the next 14 years.”

    Allynn soon came to Branson, looking for work as a Presley tribute artist. He began subbing for the original “50’s at the Hop” show, as well as performing at Center Stage at Branson Mall in 2003.

    Allynn traveled the country, performing as Presley wherever he could. In 2004, he was named one of the Top 10 Elvis tribute artists in the country.

    “That and $.80 will get you a bad cup of coffee,” he said with a laugh. “It didn’t do much in the way of getting shows.”

    During this time, his wife, Diana, kept pushing him to do a Neil Diamond tribute.

    “I could always do the Neil Diamond voice somewhat,” he said. “I didn’t think I was that close, but she did.”

    Though Diana Allynn kept suggesting the Neil Diamond route, Keith Allynn continued to do his own thing. He opened a show called “Curtain Call,” where he performed a tribute to Presley’s 1950’s music, followed by “Allynn Unhinged,” which was more of a comedy show.

    “That show was critically acclaimed,” he said. “Everyone loved to criticize it.”

    After keeping his wife at bay for so long, Allynn finally relented and turned his attention to Diamond.

    “One night we were on the phone and I sang her the song ‘Hello Again,’ and she started to cry,” he said. “After that, I pretty much switched over to Neil Diamond.”

    According to Allynn, it took him nearly three years to give himself over to doing a Diamond tribute because he spent so much time performing as Presley. His first performance as Diamond was in 2008 in California.

    “It was my first live show as Neil Diamond and there were 5,000 people in there,” he said. “I was very nervous and concentrated on the songs rather than the gestures and emotion.”

    “It was then I realized that the three Cs of entertainment would help me play to the biggest audiences, and those were comfort, charisma and confidence.”

    Allynn began tweaking his Diamond tribute on Center Stage, and after a year, he was given the opportunity to start “A Tribute to Neil Diamond.”

    Since the show began, Allynn has received many Branson awards, including Tribute Artist of the Year. He isn’t content to sit on his success, though, and is constantly looking for ways to improve the show experience.

    “We’re thinking about adding a band and even a few illusions,” he said. “I’m a quick-change artist and I already do a little of that in the show, but we’re looking to just go all out on this show.”

    Allynn also pointed out that his show, which tells the Neil Diamond story through his music, is all about the performer to which he is paying tribute, not Keith Allynn.

    “I would have to say this is the only tribute show in Branson that is 100 percent about the artist I’m portraying and not me,” he said. “It’s all Neil Diamond, all the time.”

    “A Tribute to Neil Diamond” is at 1 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday at Hall of Fame Theatre inside Branson Mall. Keith and Diana Allynn also perform a Roger Miller tribute show at 11 a.m. on Center Stage throughout the week.

    For more information, visit thediamondimage.com.