by Shanon Weaver
Back in 2016, I had the pleasure of chatting with Jay White about his career as a Neil Diamond Tribute Artist (the term preferred over “impersonator,” I’ve learned). Check out our December/January 2017 issue for that story, which chronicles Jay’s origins in Detroit, getting started as a Neil Diamond performer, and a touching story about Diamond’s own mother attending a show, among other fabulous moments in Jay’s life.
Consider the following story a follow-up! What’s Jay doing now?
Jay is still a busy man. Performing as Neil Diamond for over 40 years, he’s perfected the art of embodying the music legend, delivering concerts that transport audiences straight into the heart of a Diamond show. And he’s not slowing down.
“We play the South Point Hotel & Casino here in Vegas three times a year, and our next one is coming up,” Jay says. “Then after that we're gonna be in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Woodstock, Georgia, and then we’ve got a Canadian tour, and then we're gonna be in
Myrtle Beach.”
Clearly, Jay is proof that even in an era where Neil himself has stepped away from the stage, the music lives on.
It wasn’t always this polished, though. Jay laughs when he thinks about his early performances.
“I looked at an old videotape a while ago from when I first started performing as Neil, and I
thought to myself, boy, I can't believe people paid money to see that!” he says. “I was just learning the craft really, and like anybody else, when you first learn something, you certainly get better with age—I would hope!”
He still studies Diamond’s mannerisms, ensuring every show feels as authentic as possible.
“Every once in awhile I’ll put one of his live concerts on from YouTube and kind of watch it and study some more of his mannerisms… I’ve had people say to me, ‘Gosh, a couple songs into the show, I forgot I wasn’t watching Neil Diamond.’”
That’s the magic of a great tribute artist—they don’t just play the songs; they embody the experience.
Jay’s had the chance to cross paths with the legend himself more than once. The last time we spoke, he told me about the first time Neil came to a show and loved it. Jay returned the favor in 2021.
“I went to opening night of his Boston show… and he was there with his wife. During the intermission, I had a chance to say hello, and he remembered me right away, which was kind of nice.”
With Neil retired from touring, fans are eager to keep the music alive, and Jay is happy to oblige. But what keeps him coming back, show after show, year after year? It’s the impact the music has on people. It’s not just about the songs, though - it’s the performance as well. Jay takes pride in building a setlist that takes the audience on a journey.
“I used to put ‘Sweet Caroline’ in the middle of the show, then a few years later I put it near the end, and now, for the last four or five years, it’s been the last song on the show every time,” he says. “Because that’s the one everybody’s waiting for.”
And while he’s been doing this for decades, he doesn’t see himself stopping anytime soon.
“I think I can get a few more years out of this,” he says. “I mean, how much longer are there gonna be enough fans out there that still want to hear the music?”
If audience sizes are any indication, he doesn’t need to worry just yet. In fact, for our readers who haven’t seen him live, you’ll get your chance this Summer when Jay plays the Eismann Center in Richardson (Sunday, May 25th, 2025)! And that’s not all that’s on the Texan horizon for Jay.
“We’re having a conversation with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra,” White reveals. “We’re hoping to get to Dallas and play with the symphony there.”
Whether it’s an intimate venue or a massive festival, White’s goal is always the same: to keep the music of Neil Diamond alive for new generations.
“I've seen people bring their 10-year-olds and their teenagers to the show, saying, ‘My mom and dad used to listen to Neil Diamond, and now I do too.’”
The music spans generations, and thanks to Jay White, it’s still filling theaters and concert halls worldwide.
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