Does this person remind you of anyone? Barbra Streisand fanatic Steven Brinberg has devoted his professional
career to impersonating the US-based diva.
An award-winning performer, Mr Brinberg is now credited as being the number one Barbra Streisand impressionist. His show, Simply Barbra, has earned international acclaim. Even the US singer herself approves — her manager hired him to sing at her close friend Donna Karan’s birthday party.
Having taken the act, which “pays homage to all that is Barbra”, to seven countries and 28 US cities, the New Yorker is currently touring the UK.
Mr Brinberg, 39, conceived the act 15 years ago. He tells People: “I was singing and acting as myself and in one act I did lots of vocal impressions. Barbra was the most popular and from there it became an act.
“She was always my favourite performer and she is such a legend.
We have connections on many levels: my initials are SJB hers are BJS; and her mother looked exactly like my great aunt. We were probably related somewhere back in Russia, maybe that’s why I can duplicate her voice.”
Although Mr Brinberg has never met the diva, he says he has met “everyone close to her”.
He is currently on tour with composer Marvin Hamlisch, who wrote many of her songs.
