Peter Byrne is no rough Diamond
International singer of popular music and folk songs, Peter Byrne, is one of Australia’s most talented and versatile entertainers. This June, Peter is bringing his award-winning tribute act, celebrating the career of the legendary Neil Diamond, to Orange on June 1.
Peter began his music career singing in pubs in his home city of Dublin. Looking for something more, he ventured out to Australia in 1988 where he would perform at weddings, parties and pubs around Sydney.
“And then, one night, somebody asked me to sing a few Neil Diamond songs, which I did,” recalls Peter, his Irish accent still very evident even after nearly four decades in Australia.
“And somebody came up and said, ‘You know, you sound like him, you should do something more’. I kind of ignored it at first and then the years went by and more and more people just wanted to hear me sing Neil Diamond songs.”
In 1992, Peter put together his first Neil Diamond show, performing it at the Wenty Leagues Club in Sydney.
“That's 32 years now,” says Peter, who has been touring tribute shows to Neil Diamonds ever since.
“I guess it would never have happened If somebody hadn't said to me, ‘You sound like Neil Diamond’, because I definitely don't talk like him and I definitely don't look like him!”
But it’s Peter’s uncanny ability to recreate Neil Diamond's distinct and powerful vocals that has won him fans all over Australia and even impressed Diamond’s pianist Tom Hensley, who gave Peter a resounding nod of approval after seeing his Diamond tribute.
Peter’s performance received peer recognition when he won a prestigious Australian Entertainment Mo Award, which even got him a congratulatory message from Diamond himself.
“All of a sudden, about two months later in the mail, arrived this lovely signed picture from Neil and saying, ‘Thank you so much. Congratulations. Thanks for the great tribute show!’,” Peter says.
Forever Diamond, says Peter, is a 50-year celebration of music; 31 songs over two-and-a-half hours covering all the hits from Diamond’s vast repertoire.
“I think he's released 51 albums. So that's a lot of material!” says Peter. “So I've picked what I reckon people would love. What his fans want to hear. So we do all the iconic albums, obviously Hot August Night, we do a salute to The Jazz Singer, the Beautiful Noise album, we do his duets.
“It's also a very informative show. I tell people where the songs came from, the years they were written, and I guess my Irish charm on stage shines over too as I tell funny stories and I very much get the audience involved,” continues Peter.
From the very beginning, Peter says he did not want his show to be just someone pretending to be Neil Diamond, but rather himself, as an artist, celebrating il Diamond's life and his music.
“I've got a terrific band on stage as well. They've been with me for about 10 years and the sound that they can create as a five-piece band along with my vocal ability takes people on that magical journey,” he says.
“They'll be able to close their eyes and they'll hear the voice of Neil Diamond!”
Experience Forever Diamond - A celebration of Neil Diamond at the Orange Ex-Services Club on Saturday, June 1. Doors and bar open at 7.30pm, show begins at 8pm. Click here for tickets.