Tribute to a real diamond in Whitley Bay

By Gordon Barr, Evening Chronicle

NEIL Diamond is one of the world’s most enduring superstars.

His shows in the North East are always memorable – but he doesn’t tour here often enough. So step forward John Hylton – the next best thing.

His tribute show, Real Diamond, is regarded as the closest you will get to the real deal  and  you can find out why at Whitley Bay Playhouse this Saturday.

When asked how he feels about performing his Real Diamond show, John says: “I intend to make people feel like they have just been to a real Diamond concert. Nothing less will do – for them, or for me.”

John Hylton was raised in Toronto, Canada. Later, when his family moved to the UK, he completed his education on Merseyside.  

He enjoyed a musical youth, playing in bands and duets with friends and family, and realised at the age of 14 that he loved performing on stage.

On leaving school John was encouraged to “get a proper job” and became a trainee accountant. A career in music was, for a time, just a forgotten dream.

The years came and went, and John moved from accountancy to sales director of a computer dealership.

 He married and began a family, which was to become a significant part of his life (he is now a father of six). Returning to the limelight was initially a source of extra income to support his brood.

John had almost forgotten how much performing meant to him, and was soon playing every weekend, and loving every minute of it.  

He sang songs from his musical youth - the Beatles, John Denver, Bob Dylan and, of course, Neil Diamond.

The deeper tones of Neil’s songs came naturally to John, and the crowds came to hear him sing them.  

Tribute shows were still in their infancy at that time, and audiences soon learned that most of them were only worthy of a karaoke night.  

John Hylton was aware that Diamond fans had high expectations, and would not accept anything less than perfection.   

Although audiences enjoyed his shows, John knew his Diamond show was far from perfect. So he took his family to the Canary Islands, where he sang Diamond songs in bars, hotels and restaurants.

In fact, he performed over 3,000 shows in nine years, until he was ready to return to the UK with a theatre show that would fully capture the “Feel of Neil” – an authentic “Live in Concert” experience.

When Neil Diamond himself toured the UK in the summer of 2005, John Hylton was asked to sing at three of the Diamond venues, to promote sales for the tour.  

Now, in the theatres with his band of seven talented musicians, John presents an authentic, powerful and passionate performance.

The UK Neil Diamond Fan Club recently said: “You really have to see this man for yourself. The atmosphere of a Neil Diamond concert was created as John sang his way through a string of Neil’s hits.

Love on the Rocks was stunning, and Brother Love was spectacular!  He gives a flawless performance and leaves you wanting more.”

The Real Diamond is at Whitley Bay Playhouse on Saturday.