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Pictured, from right: `A Tribute to Neil Diamond featuring Jay White` and `Barbra & Frank - The Concert that Never Was: A Sensational Tribute to Streisand & Sinatra.`
Pictured, from right: "A Tribute to Neil Diamond featuring Jay White" and "Barbra & Frank - The Concert that Never Was: A Sensational Tribute to Streisand & Sinatra."

'Diamonds Are Forever' at Memorial's 2014 Premier

by jmaloni

Submitted

Thu, Sep 26th 2013 11:35 am

Ask a jeweler to suggest the perfect gift for a 10th wedding anniversary and the answer you'll get is, "Diamonds are forever."

Memorial Medical Center asked The Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel for the perfect entertainment to celebrate the 10th anniversary of The Premier - its annual black tie dinner and entertainment gala. The answer? You guessed it: "Diamonds Are Forever: A Tribute to the Stars."

"Diamonds Are Forever: A Tribute to the Stars" will feature headliner entertainment from the Las Vegas Strip, including "A Tribute to Neil Diamond featuring Jay White" and "Barbra & Frank - The Concert that Never Was: A Sensational Tribute to Streisand & Sinatra."

The 2014 Premier will be held Saturday, Jan. 18, at the Seneca Niagara Casino and Hotel, 310 Fourth St., Niagara Falls.

Jay White as Neil Diamond has captivated audiences around the world in almost 9,000 shows, including some 2,000 shows as a headliner at the Riviera in Las Vegas, and appeared with Neil on his DVD titled "Stages." Jay's every movement and every sound evoke the passion and the power of "America's Classiest Rock Star," and his expertise has been personally complimented on several occasions by Diamond himself, who recently wrote: "Jay, keep singing so I can stay home and relax."

Streisand and Sinatra never worked together, but it's tantalizing to imagine what it would have been like had they teamed up for a concert tour. Talented vocalists Sharon Owens and Sebastian Anzaldo will join forces to being that vision to life as they create the illusion of Streisand and Sinatra in "Barbra & Frank - The Concert That Never Was."

Sharon's career as a Streisand tribute artist began in 1992 when she moved to Los Angeles and began performing as Streisand in dinner theaters and cabaret nightclubs. Her resemblance to the star, plus her vocal ability, led to her being hired as a Legends in Concert performer at Bally's Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City.

Sebastian originally brought "Old Blue Eyes" to life in the Las Vegas "Tribute to Frank, Sammy, Joey & Dean" before teaming up with Owens to create their current show, which debuted at the East Flamingo Tuscany before moving to the Riviera on the Las Vegas Strip.

"These talented performers bring the same passion to their craft that Memorial Medical Center brings to providing quality care every day," said Cathy Walker, president and CEO of Seneca Gaming Corp. "The 2014 Premier promises to be the event not to be missed and we are honored to again host it."

"The Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel's continued support of The Premier and their generosity in bringing popular Las Vegas acts to downtown Niagara Falls are a tribute to their commitment to our community," Memorial President and CEO Joseph A. Ruffolo said. "We are very grateful and we look forward to a wondrous evening of non-stop entertainment."

The 2014 Premier will pay tribute to Western New York banking executive Nancy Gara, a founder of The Premier and a member of the Memorial Medical Center board of directors at the time of her death in May, and to Dr. Sujatha Addagatla, a dedicated physician specializing in nephrology who has served Memorial patients since 1997. 

Proceeds from the event will benefit cardiac and stroke services at Memorial.

Chairpersons for the event are Renee Taefi Baughman, M.D., and Lucy and Dominick Muto. Baughman, a physician with Women's Medicine of Niagara, is Memorial's chief of obstetrics and gynecology. Ms. Muto is a vice president with M&T Bank and branch manager of the Main and Cedar branch in Niagara Falls. Mr. Muto is employed at Sicoli & Massaro and the owner of Reliable Property Service LLC.

For information on sponsorship opportunities and tickets, call 716-278-4570.

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