They love Neil Diamond in Australia. Gambier Island resident Bobby Bruce knows that from experience - he is Nearly Neil, the Diamond tribute performer, complete with puffy coif and glittery shirts. Bruce is currently Down Under for the latest of many tours of that country.
This time, in a highlight of his performing career, he was nominated in the 15th annual Australian Club Entertainment Awards (ACE) for best touring international artist, and he attended a song and dance spectacular award ceremony.
"The ACE Awards were fun," Bruce said. "We were seated at a front table that we shared with Tom Burlinson [the actor from The Man from Snowy River], arguably the biggest star at the event.Wasn't surprised when Melissa Manchester won; I'd have voted for her too!"
On this tour, Bruce is working with an Australian band and a young talent named Ashleigh Toole who was a top 10 contestant on Australia's Idol competition. She's developing a tribute to Barbra Streisand and he is helping her with her "tribute chops," as he calls them.
His first tour of Down Under was with the Legends of Rock tribute show that gave a record-breaking 60 shows in 10 weeks. Lately, his tours have been all about Neil Diamond.
"He has an iconic stature in Australia that surpasses even America's love for him," Bruce noted.
Over the years, there have been many peak experiences for Bruce the entertainer: a show for the king and queen of Malaysia, performing to a crowd of 30,000 for the millennium new year in Calgary, and singing on stage with the Osmond family. He credits the continued support from his legion of fans for his success.
The touring show has been a great way to see the world. He and wife Leanne have seen more of the country than some Australians, and between tour dates they spent Easter in Bali for their 23rd wedding anniversary. As this is being written, they will be in Nhulunbuy, a remote location in the north near Darwin and then onward down the east coast to south of Sydney.
Yes, they miss home on Gambier and crave its quiet - also they miss their 22-year-old cat Dante and their dog Maggie, with whom they Skype every day. They also miss their Gambier community.
"We couldn't travel as much as we do without the support of our neighbours," Bruce said. "While we're away we're having our front stairs replaced and six ready-to-lay hens will be installed in our new coop."
When the performer returns to Canada he will be appearing at regular gigs at the River Rock and Boulevard casinos, then on to the Pacific National Exhibition during its summer show before returning to Holland for his third tour there in as many years. It's not hard to see why he is considered an international artist.
