2009-2010 Season
Nearly Neil & the Solitary Band
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Tribute to the Music of Neil Diamond
Bobby Bruce is an exhilarating performer who has spent the last fourteen years astounding thousands of screaming fans throughout North America, Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia with his amazing tribute to Neil Diamond.
A legendary path was set in motion in Toronto when Vancouver-born Bobby’s incomparable talent for impersonating Neil Diamond earned him a spot in a local tribute show in 1994. He has never looked back. Within a year, Bobby secured a spot with Las Vegas based Legends in Concert. His ten-month tour of the United States began in Bally’s Park Place in Atlantic City, and concluded at the Osmond Theatre in Branson, Missouri.
Branching out upon his success in the US, Bobby joined Legends of Rock for two tours of Australia. This is where he earned his moniker - the Australian press dubbing him "Nearly Neil" Diamond.
“Neil Diamond had better be wary he ever comes to town. Bobby Bruce is a hard act to follow. The Canadian impersonator not only mimics the great Neil Diamond to a tee but also implants some of his own pizzazz and style, a combination so clever and disarming that it brought the house down.”
--Adelaide Advertiser, Australia
His next tour took him to Kuala Lumpur, where he performed for the King and Queen of Malaysia. Upon returning to Vancouver, he decided to embark upon his own tribute path and leave the impersonation shows. He formed the Solitary Band and the “Nearly Neil Legend” began.
“Nearly Neil is legendary on the west coast”
--TV Times, Canada
Since, Bobby as Nearly Neil played for remarkable audiences, from corporate giants to his largest audience to date - 30,000 people in Calgary. He has entertained at Toronto’s Rogers Centre, onboard several luxury liners at sea in the South Pacific, and is a regular fixture at elite casinos across the country.
“Friday night at the Commodore Ballroom, the place is sold out, it’s 1969 again, and Neil Diamond reigns supreme. Good times never seemed so good. Swept into a happy frenzy, half the dance-floor crowd has scrambled on to the stage, clamoring around and singing with a man in purple sequins who throatily belts out a spot-on rendition of Sweet Caroline. He is Bobby Bruce, a Port Coquitlam singer and actor who’s carved a fulltime, 165 shows a year living out of being Nearly Neil. But as far as this crowd is concerned, tonight he is Neil.”
--Vancouver Sun, Canada
In spring of 2002, Artizan Productions released
MOCKSTARS, a feature length million- dollar documentary about Canadian
tribute artists. As an integral part of their pitch and presentation,
Bobby stars prominently. MOCKSTARS enjoyed its worldwide television
premiere in May 2002 on Bravo in Canada and continues to air nationally
and internationally.
Bobby is the consummate entertainer, always looking for new ways to
express his artist onstage. He not only shines as Nearly Neil, he
outdoes himself as a myriad of outrageous characters in The Shagadelic
Swingers, a musical tribute to the Austin Powers movies. With this show,
Bobby proudly headlined a NATO tour of Bosnia in 2003. Later in the same
year Bobby headlined his first Nearly Neil and the Solitary Band
national tour of New Zealand.
“Wow, this man could really sing, it wouldn’t have mattered what song he was singing, whether it was Diamond or any other artist – he could sing. The throaty depth was there, the power was there and the sweetness was there, depending on what the song called for. I’m not sure how he kept his voice, but kept it he did, displaying his versatile talent from song one to the last encore. The Solitary Band’s performance was polished. Everything was timed to perfection; their onstage presence was totally professional and subtle. When it came to the final number, the two standing ovations told it all; an awesome performance and one not to have missed. I am pleased to suggest that sometimes, some imitators are as good as the real thing.”
--Whakatane Beacon, New Zealand
In the summer of 2004, Bobby brought Vegas quality
entertainment home to Vancouver providing all the opening entertainment
for the River Rock Casino. Starring in Canadian-A (an all-Canadian rock
revue), his own self titled show – The Bobby Bruce Band and of course,
headlining the weekends as Nearly Neil with the Solitary Band.
Continuing to expand upon his onstage talents, in the winter of 2005
Bobby made a triumphant return to musical theatre as the Emcee in
Cabaret.
“Bobby Bruce (of Nearly Neil fame) plays the sexually omnivorous Emcee in this updated and considerably raunchier version of the 1966 stage musical, and he is irresistibly naughty.”
--Georgia Straight, Canada
The Pacific National Exhibition honored Bobby with
their Entertainer of the Year Award in 2006, marking his ninth
consecutive year entertaining at Western Canada’s largest fair.
Continuing to be innovative in 2007, in addition to returning to
Malaysia and the Cayman Islands, Bobby began writing and recording his
own original album.
This year, Bobby with the Solitary Band will be returning for their 11th
consecutive year at the PNE, Nearly Neil and the Solitary Band continue
their monthly appearances at the River Rock and Boulevard Casinos, and
in the fall, Bobby will be making his first return to Australia to tour
as Nearly Neil in a decade.
From far off locations; such as Kota Kinabalu on the island of Borneo,
to the Cayman Islands, to Hawaii, whether in a soft seat theatre, to a
crowded nightclub, or to the Royal family; everyone knows, everyone
goes, to Bobby Bruce’s shows.
“Bobby Bruce does Neil Diamond maybe better than the original.”
--Canadian Press