Diamond Jones has been performing for over 20 years. In that time he has not lost his passion for the audience, connecting with them to give them a great time. Diamond will be playing with Uptown Hornz at 'Make Me Smile – The Ultimate Chicago Tribute' on April 27 at the Kelowna Community Theatre and tickets are available now! Diamond has so many stories to tell and it makes for a very interesting In Focus.
Where can people find you or your business online?
diamondjones.ca
What do you always find yourself saying?
Ouch – you’re on my hair
If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select and why?
My wife of 20 years – Jenny – because she’s the smartest, funniest and most adorable person ever.
If you were to receive any existing public award, what award would you like to win?
A Dundee.
If you could spend a day with any historical figure, who would you choose and why?
Enzo Ferrari, to get a glimpse at how a singularly passionate man takes his ideas and turns them into works of art. And I’m sure he would know a good place to eat.
Who inspires you?
Tony Bennett, Madame Curie, Auntie Joyce.
What are 3 things on your bucket list?
After entertaining for 20 years on cruise ships, most of my bucket list is complete. But I would like to drive very fast around the Nurburgring in Germany, in somebody else’s Porsche.
If you had an enormous yacht, what would you name it?
I do have one, and it’s called the Playtex Princess.
If you could foresee a single day of your future in its entirety, what date would you select?
Any Lotto Wednesday
What are you passionate about?
Music, entertaining, food, exotic cars, and music. I really like music.
What has been your favourite day of your life, up to this point?
Meeting Jenny.
What’s your favourite piece of advice?
I was watching MSNBC and a CEO of a company I can’t remember was giving his keynote address. He said people were always asking him why everything he touched seemed to turn to gold. He said everything changed for him one day when somebody asked the ubiquitous question “How are you?”
He answered “OK” ..Then he thought ,why should I only be OK , why can’t I be great? So from that point on, he was always great when someone asked that question. And things seemed to work out for him. Well I thought that seems pretty simple , I could do that. So from that day on if you ask me how I am , I’m great . And things certainly have worked out since then.
What are some books that have influenced your life?
The book that has guided my life is Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson
What is your favourite movie and why?
Dr. Strangelove or how I learned to love the bomb and stop worrying.
Peter Sellers epic performances in several roles. A script that is smart, funny and taps into the insanity of nuclear war. Brilliant direction by Stanley Kubrick.
What traits do you value in friendship?
A strong back and a pick up truck, oh and loyalty.
Where is your favourite place to dine in Kelowna? What do you like about it?
Dawett’s Indian Cuisine – the incredible variety of intense flavours
What is your favourite activity or event in Kelowna? Why?
Dirtbiking to the top of Terrace Mountain (Bear Creek area); the exhilarating speed; the beautiful views are second to none.
What has been your proudest accomplishment?
Mounting my own show successfully.
What attracted you to this line of work?
Entertainment isn’t really something you’re attracted to. It’s a calling, you have to be overwhelmed with a passion for performance.
What is your favourite memory of a performance?
When I got to sing one of my favourite songs , “Pirates” with one of my childhood idols , Keith Emerson of Emerson , Lake and Palmer
Who would you dream about performing with?
Pavorotti.
What is the craziest thing that ever happened to you on tour?
Well one of the craziest stories that I am willing to put in print happened in Caracus, Venuzuela.
Four of us hired a taxi driver to give us a tour around the city. We were warned not to wear jewelry and to keep a low profile. We just happened to take this taxi with 2 friends who owned a gold shop in Alaska. They got in the taxi dripping with gold and diamonds and a low profile they could not keep. After a nice day the driver took us to a hotel so we could enjoy a drink by the pool. At the table beside us was a very drunk man in a business suit , talking loudly in Spanish to no one in particular. The Alaskan gold merchants thought this was very funny and were yelling back at him in their pigeon Spanish. Very soon a hotel security guard came by to talk to the man and we thought he was being thrown out. However the security guard gave the man something and the man gave the guard some money. The drunk man then pulled up his pant leg to expose a gun holstered around his ankle and began loading it WITH BULLETS HE JUST BOUGHT FROM THE GUARD! Well you never saw 4 people get up and pay their bill so fast. He did put his gun away and we’ll never know if he did to scare us or if he was just low on ammo.
