BY CHARLES CHAMBERS
NEIL Diamond fans are in for a bash with the star singers renditions to be performed at the Sofitel Hotel on Denarau Island later this month.
The one night concert, A Tribute to Neil Diamond which will feature tribute artist Gary Ryan will include the world renowned singer’s songs including those from the Hot August Night concert.
Sofitel Hotel’s Digital Marketing and Communications Executive Ulalia Macomber said the concert, on August 29 would also showcase the magnificent ballroom at the hotel.
“It will be more of a Golden Oldies night at the hotel and the concert was also targeting a lot of business people,” she said.
The tribute is due to feature Diamond’s hits Cherry Cherry, Solitary Man, Red Red Wine, Forever in Blue Jeans, Crackling Rose and America which was attributed to the release of American hostages from Iran.
Ryan was born in Bolton, Lancashire, England.
He attended Sharples High School till he was 16, leaving to do a variety of jobs in the building trade. But music was always Gary’s first love; his first performance was as a singer at the age of 14, on a holiday camp.
He soon taught himself to play the guitar and joined a band at the age of 17. Between the ages of 18- 23 he performed solo and in various bands on the road, first in the U.K. then abroad, where he continued singing in bars and hotels.
On his return to the UK, Gary applied for and appeared on “Stars In Their Eyes” and after winning his heat, went on to win a proud second place in the Grand final.
Gary then went on to join the touring show “The Great Legends Of Rock”, in which he has done a theatre and 
concert hall tour of the U.K., two tours of New Zealand and a tour of Ireland.
Gary has also appeared before various celebrity audiences at the Grosvenor House Hotel, the Hilton Hotels, London and Glasgow and the Chesa Vegria Club in St.Moritz, and many more (he counts Ivana Trump among his admirers).
More recently Gary has enjoyed three extremely successful summer seasons in Blackpool with “The Legends Show”. Performing at The North Pier and Central Pier.
In between his appearances at Blackpool, He also travels up and down the Country performing at both corporate and private functions and along side various other performers on a number of The Royal Caribbean Liners, for 4- 6 days at a time.
Gary performs at all three Butlins camps on a regular basis. To date, as well as usual musical commitments, Gary also performs his own theatre show “Hot August Nights” at various venues around the Country.
Gary also has publishing deals for a number of his own compositions, some of which will are available on his CD “Diamond’s N’ Mine” which is a compilation of some of Neil Diamond’s finest songs and Gary’s own compositions.
Gary loves entertaining and recently took up acting to broaden his horizons. His musical influences today include; Neil Diamond, Bryan Adams, The Eagles and Colin Raye among others.