Jason Scott has experienced the highs and lows of the music business, but is now a diamond in the rough of tribute shows.
Scott was in a rock band in the 1980s. After signing a record contract with a label in Vancouver in 1989, Scott’s friend Brian MacLeod (of the Headpins and Chilliwack fame) began producing it. Six months in, MacLeod was diagnosed with cancer and shortly after Scott’s good friend died and so did the distribution deal.
One night he ended up at a karaoke bar with his sister and she asked him to sing a song for her, picking out Love On The Rocks.
“The Vancouver Canucks were playing on the TVs and the only screen for the lyrics was on the sport screen at the front so you sung with your back to the crowd. I started singing and all of sudden there was this big whoop in the crowd and I thought the Canucks had scored. I spin around and the crowd are all on their feet screaming about this Neil Diamond thing.”
Getting down the look, the sound and moves of Neil Diamond became Scott’s new mission.
Despite being completely disillusioned after his close friend McLeod died, everything started to fall in place for him to become a Neil Diamond tribute artist. That was 15 years ago. Since then Scott was awarded the Sunburst Convention of Celebrity Tribute Artists award in 2010, second place in the Vegas Tribute Idol and an invite to perform as the opening act for the headlining Country Superstars show at the Golden Nugget Showroom in Las Vegas. He was also nominated for a Reel Award, considered the Oscar of the tribute industry. Last year, Scott returned to Las Vegas to perform on the Fremont Street stage, breaking attendance records on a Tuesday night.
Now he is bringing his tribute act to Fernie.
Jason Scott’s Diamond Forever a Celebration of Neil Diamond will be at the Fernie Royal Canadian Legion tonight. Call 250-423-6218.