VALDOSTA – Robert Neary has sung and performed as Neil Diamond for the past five years.

He sings on stages. He sings on cruise ships, which is where he called from on a recent phone interview with The Valdosta Daily Times.

Neary stars in an Amazon Prime documentary called “So Good! The Neil Diamond Experience.”

On Feb. 27, he takes the stage of the Performing Arts Center in Valdosta as the second show in the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts Presenter Series.

While Neary performs as Diamond, singing 22 songs in Neil’s voice, walking that familiar strut across the stage, playing the guitar in the famed entertainer’s style, he is clear on one point.

“I don’t pretend to be Neil Diamond,” Neary said. “… I don’t say I’m Neil Diamond on stage.”

Before embarking on his tribute show, Neary contacted Neil Diamond’s wife, Katie.

“I can’t say I’m Neil Diamond on stage,” Neary said. “She was adamant about that. I tell stories from Neil Diamond’s life during the show. I talk in the third person. This is Neil Diamond’s story. … When I talk I speak in a lower register than my normal voice. It’s a good impersonation. … I’m an actor. I’ve been working on stages since I was 7 years old.

“People know it’s a tribute show. They know I’m not Neil Diamond.”

Neary worked as a professional actor for years with supporting roles in various television shows and movies. After 35 years as an actor, he faced a career change in 2018.

“I’ve always enjoyed Neil Diamond’s music and I’ve always been able to mimic him,” Neary said. “I’d sing his songs like ‘Hello Again’ in public. … But when I faced a career change as an actor, I said, Whoa, what am I going to do? Friends pointed out my ability to perform like Neil Diamond and I said, Oh my God, I can do that.”

Traveling throughout America, on land, he is accompanied by a full band of colleague musicians. Taking gigs on the occasional celebrity cruise ship, Neary travels without his band and works with the ship’s band. He said the cruise ships are a chance to work and relax. At sea, he works one day; he spends the day rehearsing with the band then performs two shows the same evening.

Coming to Valdosta, Neary will perform with his band at the Performing Arts Center. He will lead them in performances of nearly two dozen Diamond hits which will include, of course, “Sweet Caroline.”

“So Good: The Neil Diamond Experience” is the second show in the Presenter Series season. “Reza: Edge of Illusion” played in January. “Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Hollywood” plays March 18.

The Valdosta Daily Times is a long-time Presenter Series sponsor. The Times is joined by fellow sponsors Astro Exterminating, Coleman | Talley, Dr. Edward Fricker Family, Lamar, S&S Services of Lowndes County, Sisterology, Chuck Ramsey, Stifel, Synovus, Talk 92.1, Valdosta Magazine, WALB.

“So Good: The Neil Diamond Experience” plays 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, Performing Arts Center (at the old Valdosta High School site), 3101 Barack Obama Boulevard. More information, tickets: Visit the arts center, 527 N. Patterson St., call (229) 247-2787; or visit turnercenter.org.