Theron Denson's husky voice soulfully sails into "Sweet Caroline." As if on cue, the Village People (already surrounding him backstage) don't miss a beat blanketing the Charleston singer's rendition of the Neil Diamond classic in harmony.

For Denson, most likely the world's only black Neil Diamond tribute act, this magic moment at the Decatur Celebration in Illinois is just another wonderful one in the short strange trip that has been the Black Diamond Show.

Birthed in Charleston and drawing shock and awe and smiles from fans around the United States ever since, Denson celebrates his fifth anniversary as the Black Diamond with September performances around his home state.

At 7 p.m. Thursday, Denson and his custom sequined costumes bring the party to Pullman Square's extended Summer Concert Series. The concert is free. Marshall Hall of Fame Cafe and Atomic Distributing will provide food and beverage at the concert.

Interestingly, Denson's well-polrished tribute is just one of several musical tributes descending upon the region in the next few weeks.

The Clay Center in Charleston hosts the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra's Elton John tribute called "Madmen Across the Water -- The Music of Elton John" at 8 p.m. Friday. And in Huntington, Holderby's Landing hosts the Bon Jovi tribute band, Slippery When Wet, at 8 p.m. Thursday, and a Dave Matthews Tribute Act at 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15.

Denson, who has been featured on national television as a guest on "The Jimmy Kimmel Live Show" on ABC and in the National Examiner, said this has been one of the wildest summers of his wild career.

Getting to open for Boyz II Men and the Village People at Decatur Celebration, which has hosted the Black Diamond the past few summers, was a highlight for Denson. He's traveled a little bit of everywhere in the region in his career, including such places as Hilton Head, S.C., Cincinnati and Lake of the Ozarks, Mo.

"They wanted me to sing a cappella, and I sang 'Sweet Caroline' with them surrounding me doing backup vocals," Denson said of the Village People. "I thought I had just entered some other hemisphere."

That song was followed up by an impromptu singing jam to "America," followed by the Indian asking for Black Diamond's shirt -- a custom sequined shirt (his seamstress in Teays Valley is making him another one).

That sweet embrace and respect by his fellow artists has not always been for Denson, who played his first Black Diamond gig Sept. 7, 2000, when he sang at a lady's birthday party at Joey's.

"It was kind of slow building," Denson said. "There were people who would see it in the first couple of years of my career, and they were collectively in shock. There was this look of amazement on people's faces, and they were looking under the table for a trick microphone. By the third year when I went to Hollywood and appeared on Jimmy Kimmel, they just relaxed with the show and just have a good time with it."

Always told that he sounded just like Neil Diamond since he was a teen singing in church, Denson saw the real and rarely seen Neil Diamond at the Charleston Civic Center in 1998. He got the idea after that concert.

In spite of his family's bewilderment and suggestions of becoming a James Brown tribute act, Denson has worked hard to hone his inner Diamond, learning about 90 songs of the real Neil, who was the nation's top tour this summer.

"As a tribute act, people will come out and throw every obscure song at me and expect me to know them," Denson said. "If you don't, they kind of look at you very funny. So I learned that I need to be ready for anything."

Denson, who has an offer from Diamond's camp to come out and see a show, said it is a testament to Diamond that he skyrocketed to the No. 1 tour this summer after a time away.

"Neil Diamond is the master of all entertainers," Denson said. "When he was away, people miss him, and they get a craving for him. They are really hungry for his music, and he was away for a while. I am glad he's back, and hope he stays around forever."

Denson has represented West Virginia across the country. He said his job this fall is to show a whole lot of love to the great fans of the Mountain State who keep supporting his show.