CasiNotes: Feeding the appetite of the Neil Diamond nation

LIKE SO many successful entrepreneurs before him,

Curt DiDomizio

recognized a need in the marketplace and filled it - with the music of Neil Diamond.

DiDomizio is the founder and star of Real Diamond, the Lansdale outfit that is making a lot of noise with its clonelike recreations of such Diamond signatures as "Sweet Caroline," "Cracklin' Rosie" and "Coming to America." In just two years, the act has earned a sterling reputation as well as gigs at such glamorous venues as Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut and Trump Marina in Atlantic City, where the band returns tomorrow night.

That Real Diamond is such a success surprises no one more than its creator. "It's funny how big this has become. I never thought in a million years it would be this big. I really didn't think anything would happen, but we started booking shows and it just grew into a juggernaut," offered DiDomizio, 46, whose previous foray into the tribute-band realm didn't work out quite as well.

"I was in a Def Leppard tribute band, but people weren't showing up. They couldn't have cared less," he recalled.

"A friend of mine said, 'Dude, you can sing Neil Diamond. Why don't you do a Neil Diamond tribute band?' I kind of felt there was a market. I could always sing like [Elvis Presley] and Neil Diamond, but I figured there are too many Elvis impersonators out there.

"I searched the Internet, but all I found was Super Diamond [another group dedicated to all things Diamond]. But they're more of a rock thing. We're trying to be as close as possible."

So far, there's been no contact from Diamond or a representative (DiDomizio acknowledged that the superstar singer-songwriter has checked out Super Diamond). So what would he say should Real Diamond ever get face time with the real Diamond?

"First, I'd say, 'What did you think [of the band]?' " he said. "Then I'd thank him. I always thank him at every show."

Trump Marina, Huron Avenue at Brigantine Boulevard, 8 p.m. tomorrow, $25, 609-736-1420, www.ticketmaster.com, www.realdiamondband.com.

Rocker Sammy Hagar is bringing his party-hearty brand to Atlantic City thanks to a deal with Bally's Atlantic City.

Beginning Memorial Day weekend, Sammy Hagar's Beach Bar will be open on the sand in front of the midtown gambling den. The al fresco party pit will operate where, in the past, Bally's had its own Bikini Beach Bar.

It's not all surprising that Hagar, who replaced David Lee Roth as Van Halen's lead singer and currently fronts the "supergroup" Chickenfoot, has partnered with a Harrah's Entertainment Inc. property. He numbers among his best friends Don Marrandino, who runs Bally's as part of his duties as Harrah's Entertainment's Eastern Region president.

"Sammy and I have been buddies forever," said Marrandino. "I just reached out to an old friend."

Actually, it took Marrandino, who came to Atlantic City from Las Vegas last fall, a while to think about inviting his pal to AyCee.

"When I first got here I didn't even realize we had a beach bar," admitted Marrandino, a self-described rock-'n'-roll fanatic. "Then I saw the beach bar and thought he would be perfect."

Marrandino said the seaside saloon will "be a rock bar, primarily," but that all of its programming will "vibe with a beach bar."

Marrandino warned that fans shouldn't expect Hagar to attend the bar's holiday weekend debut, but he does expect to see him during the summer. "I'm sure if he's on the East Coast, he'll make his way here," he said.

Hagar's presence can only add to what will be a major party spot, the casino chief added. "It'll be a scene," he promised. "I think the one thing Atlantic City needs is a scene."

Hagar, who is donating his cut of the beach bar's profits to charity, has for years had a second career as a nightlife entrepreneur. His holdings include the popular Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas on Mexico's Pacific Coast, as well as outlets in Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe, Nev. He is also the founder of the Cabo Wabo brand of tequila.

Sammy Hagar's Beach Bar will be open seven days a week from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. beginning May 28. Happy hour will be 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday through Friday. For more info, call 609-236-6983.

Just a reminder that the May 21 Taj Mahal concert by Simon & Garfunkel has been rescheduled for July 31, due to vocal problems recently suffered by Art Garfunkel.

Tickets for the May 21 show will be honored for the July date. If you haven't yet scored tickets, you can (for $325, $225 and $175) by calling 800-736-1420, or going to www.ticketmaster.com.

Chuck Darrow has been covering Atlantic City and casinos for more than 20 years. Read his blog http://go.philly.com/casinotes. E-mail him at darrowc@phillynews.com. And listen to his Atlantic City reports Saturdays at 1:45 a.m. with Steve Trevelise on WIP (610-AM) and 4:05 p.m. on Atlantic City's WOUND (1400-AM) with Marc Berman.