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A diamond in the rough

Come out to the Sparwood Legion on Saturday, May 4 and experience Joey Purpura and his stunning Neil Diamond tribute show.

Come out to the Sparwood Legion on Saturday, May 4 and experience Joey Purpura and his stunning Neil Diamond tribute show.

Celebrate the power, energy, and emotion of Diamond’s music with Cracklin’ Rosie, Sweet Caroline, I’m a Believer, and many more of the singer’s classics.

Joey Purpura has lived and breathed Neil Diamond since 2004, travelling across the country and parts of the Caribbean with his tribute show, Diamond in the Rough.

"I've always been able to do voices, as long as I could remember," said Purpura. "When I found out I could do a pretty good Neil Diamond, my friends encouraged me to go on stage."

The singer wasn't on Purpura's radar growing up and so he really started from the ground up. In 2002, the Toronto-based impersonator began researching the singer's life, studying his every move, song, and the stories behind the music.

"I wanted to research his life because I not only sing his songs, I tell a story and highlight his life just to make it more interesting," Purpura commented.

Not only does Purpura master the nuances of Diamond’s vocal tones and phrasing, but his occasional anecdotes describing the background behind Neil’s compositions add to the impact of the performance, and his show impresses even the most devoted Neil Diamond fans.

See the magic for yourself when Purpura brings Diamond in the Rough: The Neil Diamond Tribute Show to the Sparwood Legion. Tickets can be purchased at the door or ahead of time by calling the Legion at 250-425-0081.

 

We’re giving away two tickets to the Elk Valley’s biggest Neil Diamond fan!

Send in your answers to editor@thefreepress.ca for a chance to win.

 

1. Neil Diamond is from the New York City area. Which borough did he grow up in?

a. Manhattan

b. Queens

c. Brooklyn

d. Bronx

 

2. Elvis Presley incorporated a live version of which of these Neil Diamond songs into his Las Vegas show?

a. Kentucky Woman

b. Cracklin' Rosie

c. Sweet Caroline

d. Play Me

 

3. Which song describes an imaginary childhood friend?

a. Hey Louis

b. Shilo

c. Mr. Bojangles

d. Juliette