Home Grown: Faux Diamond found a fresh start as Neil Zirconia

Chuck LaPaglia’s got himself a gem of a job.

The

Delray Beach

performer entertains crowds as a Neil Diamond impersonator, doing shows under the stage name of Neil Zirconia.

Billed as “The Ultimate Faux Diamond” and dressed in sequin-covered shirts, LaPaglia has been covering the famous pop icon’s songbook around South Florida. Many of his appearances are at restaurants, where diners get some sparkle with their steak watching LaPaglia strum guitar and sing such Top 40 hits as “Cracklin’ Rosie” and “Sweet Caroline.”

It seemed inevitable the Pittsburgh, Penn., native would invent and trademark his Zirconia persona. Whenever he sang for family and friends, everyone would comment on how much his voice sounded like Diamond’s.

“No matter what I sang, it always came out sounding like Neil,” LaPaglia said.

A chance meeting with an Elvis impersonator at a local music store in 2008 encouraged him to take up the tribute torch.

“He said he could get me gigs,” LaPaglia said. “I was always a fan of Neil’s, so why fight it.”

The timing also couldn’t have been better. LaPaglia, a one-time stockbroker, previously traveled around the country for 20 years managing his wife’s art career. But patrons at the festivals where his spouse, Lori LaPaglia, would sell her paintings were becoming sparse as the economy worsened.

Being Zirconia gave him a fresh start, he said.

“I finally found the thing I love more than anything in the world,” LaPaglia said.

Lori LaPaglia works managing her husband’s career and often joins him on stage, playing keyboards and tambourine. She said living the Diamond life is fabulous.

“He was my roadie when we were doing festivals,” she said. “Now I’m his.”

A Zirconia tribute show will be held tonight at the Cypress Creek Country Club, 9400 S. Military Trail,

Boynton Beach

. Call 561-732-4202, or go to cypresscreekcountryclub.com/

He’ll also be appearing Nov. 22 at Paolo’s 3’s Company Italian Restaurant and Lounge, 242 E. Dania Beach Blvd., Dania Beach. Call 954-921-4970, or visit.paolos3c.com

For more information go to neilzirconia.com

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