Neil Diamond is one of the most beloved & successful singer/songwriters in pop/rock music history. After all, besides being one of the biggest selling and concert drawing artists ever, the man has also written and recorded the soundtrack of our lives – which include some of the most recognized songs on the planet.
In early 2018, Diamond announced his retirement from performing due to being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. However, Neil Diamond’s live performance legacy continues to be preserved for audiences all over the world through longtime Las Vegas performer, Rob Garrett, who has been called “the best of the best” when it comes to tribute acts. Arguable? Perhaps, but simply ask Alexa, Google, or Siri, “who is the best Neil Diamond impersonator/tribute act in the world” and they’ll all give you the same answer.
Like his legendary counterpart, Rob Garrett was born in Brooklyn, NY. In May of 1974, his family moved him from New York City to Las Vegas where, 2 years later, he witnessed his first Neil Diamond concert when Diamond made his attendance breaking Las Vegas debut for the opening of the Aladdin Hotel’s “Theater for the Performing Arts” (now the "PH LIVE" Theater) in July of 1976.
Garrett went on to see him yet another 16 times at various venues across the country - right up until Diamond’s last USA concert at the Los Angeles Forum on August 12, 2017.
In 1980, he formed his own band, “Rock n Roll Heaven”, and had a very successful 15-year run in Las Vegas and around the country, before deciding to make the transition from being the front man of a cover band to a tribute artist of one of his all-time boyhood, musical idols.
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 three-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 periodically 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”, which also happens to be the name of his “residency” show at the OYO Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas.
He continues to consistently perform to sold out venues – many of which are usually reserved for national acts. He has also received numerous awards over the years including “Male Tribute Artist of the Year”.
As he begins his 30th year paying tribute to the now retired Diamond, it has been said that arguably, no other tribute act is as identified with the artist he or she emulates more so than Garrett - who has performed his show at more venues in Las Vegas than any other tribute artist.
What makes Rob Garrett the best in the business 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 iconic figures should be remembered.
“Since he announced his retirement, I absolutely feel more of a sense of responsibility to keep his legacy going for future generations”. It’s something I never get tired of doing” he said.
On May 19th, 2024, Mayor Carolyn Goodman proclaimed the date as “Rob Garrett Day” by Las Vegas , commemorating Rob’s 50-years as a Las Vegas resident and 44-years as a professional Las Vegas performer.
Since last June's closing of “A Beautiful Noise” (a “jukebox musical” on Broadway depicting Diamond’s life story), Rob’s “King of Diamonds” show has become the only ongoing/continuous Neil Diamond tribute in the world.
More information regarding how to purchase tickets can located here: https://purchase.lesherartscenter.org/ChooseSeats/6410
Event Venue
Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr,Walnut Creek, California, United States
Tickets
