Biography
Bobby Bruce was born in Port Coquitlam. British Columbia. His incomparable talent for impersonating Neil Diamond was finally realized there in 1994 He has never looked back. Bobby has played with some of the biggest shows in the business including a ten-month tour of the US with Las Vegas based Legend's in Concert, and two tours of Australia with Legends of Rock. He has performed at some of the best venues including the Toronto Skydome, selling out Vancouver's Commodore Ballroom and on board several luxury liners at sea in the South Pacific.
Bobby has played for some very impressive audiences, from corporate giants to the King and Queen of Malaysia - and let us not forget his largest audience to date - 30,000 people in Calgary. From far off locations, such as Kota Kinabalu on the island of Borneo, to Maui, to Australia (where he earned his moniker - the Australian press dubbing him "Nearly Neil"), to more local locales such as Atlantic City, Branson, Missouri, and throughout Canada, whether in a soft seat theater, to a crowded night club, or to the Royal family, everyone enjoys Bobby's shows.
In spring of 2002, Artizan Productions, a Vancouver based film company released "Mockstars," a feature length documentary about Canadian tribute artists. Bobby had been an integral part of their one million dollar budget pitch at the 2000 Banff Television Festival. Mockstars enjoyed its worldwide television premiere on May 14, 2002 on Bravo in Canada. Mockstars has rerun several times and also aired on television in New Zealand.
Bobby is the consummate entertainer, always looking for new ways to express himself on stage. He not only shines as Nearly Neil, he outdoes himself as a myriad of outrageous characters in The Shagadelic Swingers, a musical tribute to the Austin Powers movies which toured Bosnia in 2003 entertaining the Canadian troops stationed there.
Also in 2003, Bobby headlined his first International tour of New Zealand. In June of 2004, as Nearly Neil he was chosen to open Lulu's lounge at the River Rock Casino and Resort in Richmond, BC. Bobby was also asked to create and produce a showcase of talent for five nights a week throughout the summer at the Casino. The result was the creation of three new shows Great Canadian Bandstand - A Celebration of Canadian Music. AM/FM - Every style across the dial and Bobby Bruce - My Life. Bobby continues to perform at the River Rock Casino, on select dates.
2005, will see a return of Nearly Neil to Malaysia and numerous shows are planned throughout British Columbia and Canada throughout the summer. Including his 8th appearance at the Pacific National Exhibition.
In additional to writing and recording original music, Bobby has packed an incredible amount of performing, travel and energy into the last decade, yet his insatiably creative mind is still crafting innovative and astoundingly trendy ideas as the President of P3 Productionz. The next decade will see Bobby fulfilling dreams he has yet to conjure.
