Myrna Allen, right, is using the proceeds of her book "50 Years of Facts 'n' Fun" to bring Neil Diamond impressionist Keith Allynn to Juneau for a free concert.
Story last updated at 7/28/2010 - 12:10 pm
JUNEAU - Myrna Allen is inviting everyone in town to a free Neil Diamond tribute concert this Thursday, and it's all because of a unique cookbook.
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of statehood last year, Allen self-published "50 Years of Facts 'n' Food," a collection of recipes from well-known locals accompanied by historical facts for every year of statehood. She sold the books with the promise that she would return the proceeds to the community. "It was my greatest desire to sell 500 of them," she said.
After 500 books sold, Allen used the proceeds to partner with the Capital City Celebrations committee to commission a bench commemorating Alaska's 50th year of statehood. The yellow cedar bench, carved by local Tlingit artist Doug Chilton, was unveiled at the Juneau International Airport last December.
But the book kept selling, far surpassing Allen's expectations. Now in its fourth printing, with more than 1500 copies sold, Allen has found another way to give the proceeds back to the community.
As a big "thank you to Juneau," she's bringing Keith Allynn - a top-notch impressionist and a "dead ringer" for Neil Diamond - to town for a Neil Diamond tribute show. The performance is cosponsored by Juneau Community Schools, and Allen expressed gratitude to Joyce Kitka for her help in making the event possible.
Last year Allen saw Keith Allynn perform in Branson, Mo. It would be wonderful, she thought, to bring such a high-caliber entertainer to Juneau.
Introduced to "The Diamond Image" later by mutual friends, Allen had an idea. If she sold enough copies of her book to pay for the show, would he come to Juneau for a performance?
"He said, 'I've never been to Alaska. It would be an honor,'" Allen recalled.
Allynn lowered his usual performance fee since he knows the concert is being put on as a "thank you" to the city, she added.
After performing as an Elvis tribute artist for 14 years, Keith Allynn learned Diamond's "Hello Again" to impress a girl named Donna Lynn - and it worked. Now married, Allynn and Lynn often perform together as Neil Diamond and Barbara Streisand during Allynn's shows.
According to Branson entertainment writer Kurt Moore, "Keith Allynn was literally born to pay tribute to Neil Diamond and his music."
"I'm hoping that the hall fills," Myrna Allen said. "I'm just so impressed that he would come up here and share his talents."
The whole community is invited to attend the free show, which will be held Thursday, July 29 at 7 p.m. at Juneau-Douglas High School.
