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By Miriam Raftery
View our exclusive interview with Robert Neary.
October 13, 2023 (El Cajon) – Musical entertainer Robert Neary, also a TV and Broadway actor, brings his acclaimed “So Good! The Neil Diamond Experience” show to the Magnolia theatre in El Cajon on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 6:30 p.m. His uncanny renditions of 22 of Diamond’s classic hits such as Cherry, Cherry,” “I’m a Believer,” “Solitary Man,” “Holly Holy,” “Coming to America,” and “Sweet Caroline” are backed by New York's premier band, The Mystic. Neary will also share Diamond’s personal stories about some of his songs, and provide a finale that has dazzled critics. View a promo reel.
In an exclusive interview with ECM aired on KNSJ radio, Neary talks about his inspirations growing up, his path to stardom on TV, stage and the musical world, what motivated him to create a Neil Diamond tribute show, and his favorite Diamond piece.
Neary grew upon Long Island listening to and mimicking his two favorite artists, Elvis Presley and Neil Diamond. “I was attracted to Elvis Presley because of the movies,” he recalls. Then one day, his older brother put on a Neil Diamond record. ”I said wow, this guy has a really deep baritone voice like Elvis,” Neary says.
He started singing around five years old and taught himself how to play guitar and piano. Soon he was entertaining relatives, with a dream of becoming an actor/entertainer. “I knew what I wanted to be, ever since I was a little kid,” he shares. In high school, he performed in musicals. Then he moved to California, where he landed a guest star role on the TV series “Fame.” He later costarred in the movie Teen Wolf Too and played Officer Frank Marino on General Hospital. He went on to guest star in over 50 TV shows such as Criminal Minds, Grey’s Anatomy, FBI Most Wanted and more. He also played the lead role of Sonny in the Broadway hit, “A Bronx Tale,The Musical.” In addition, he recorded two contemporary gospel projects in Nashville.
Most recently, he pursued his long-time passion to create a tribute show honoring the legendary Neil Diamond, who recently retired from performing.
Neary says he met Diamond just once. While working as a valet at a restaurant, he recalls, “I parked his car in Nashville. I opened up the passenger door and he stepped out with his manager” After Diamond went inside, Neary confesses to telling the other valets they could leave, so that he could talk with the famed superstar later and take a photo.
Photo, left: Robert Neary, during interview with East County Magazine on KNSJ
Photo, right: Neil Diamond, 2015, by Grebeck, CC-by-SA 4.0
When he decided to create “So Good! The Neil Diamond Experience,” Neary got in touch with Diamond’s wife, Katie McNeil, through a mutual acquaintaince to assure that everything would be “legitimate, not stepping on copyrights….Katie gave me a great response. She said they love the tribute shows!” As for Diamond, Neary says, ”I hope maybe someday he does get to come and see this.”
Asked to name his favorite Diamond song, Neary responds quickly, ”I Am, I Said.” He adds, ”It’s a fantastic song. It took him four months to write it; he was going through a very dark time in his life.” Neary felt a common bond with Neary, who also left home to move to Los Angeles at a young age. Neary will tell the full story behind the song during his performance, but won’t divulge details in advance. Other favorite Diamond songs of his include “Holy, Holy” and “Shiloh.”
Asked about highlights of his acting career, Neary recalls the early days of auditioning over and over trying to get roles. This his agent called to tell him about a role in “Criminal Minds.” He asked when the audition would be. “She said, `No, no, no, they’re going to just hire you. It’s straight to offer.” He landed a major role. After that milestone, he once again got a part that went straight to offer without auditioning.
Now, thanks to the popularity of his Neil Diamond tribute show, he says, “I’m not auditioning anymore. If someone wants me, they know where I am.” Most recently, he was offered a lead role in “Blacklist” with no audition, he adds.
This isn’t Neary’s first gig in San Diego. “I was in the lead in “Catch Me If You Can” at the Moonlight Theatre,” he recalls.
What advice would Neary give to an up-and-coming young performer?
“I say to my son and daughter, if you’ve got something, you can never say you can’t. You’ve just gotta keep going…A talented singer or musician, that can be brought out” through training, he notes, “because it’s God given.” While some may face disappointment, such as someone who lacks talent, he says, “Once you know, because everyone agrees…you just have to keep going, and if you have the tenacity and the support of friends and loved ones, then you can do it.”
For tickets to “So Good! The Neil Diamond Experience” at The Magnolia theatre in El Cajon on Saturday, October 21,, click here.
To learn more about the show, visit SoGoodTheNeilDiamondExperience.com .
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