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Neil Diamond Background
Neil Diamond was born in 1941 and raised in Brooklyn. It was in high school that he first began to find an interest in music. While attending Erasmus High he took part in SING!, a student run musical competition, and sang in the choir. His music career began shortly after high school when he and friend Jack Parker released a couple of unsuccessful singles under the Duo Records label. Although the singles were ultimate failures, Diamond was signed as a solo artist by Columbia Records in 1962.
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About Neil Diamond
Neil released several singles but again failed to make a hit despite favorable critical reviews of the songs. Not able to find much success as a popular musical artist, he began writing songs in the Brill Building and produced several hits for other bands, including The Monkees.
Diamond began to find success for himself in 1966 when he signed with Bert Berns’ Bang Records. Neil immediately began to release hit singles, like “Solitary Man”, “Cherry, Cherry”, and “Kentucky Woman”. Diamond began to open for acts like Herman’s Hermits and The Who as a special performer. His found that he felt constrained by Bang Records and found a loophole to sign with another record label in 1967.
Now under the MCA Records label, then called Uni Records, Neil moved to Los Angeles and began to create songs with a more mellow sound. “Cracklin’ Rose”, “Sweet Caroline”, and “Song Sung Blues” brought Diamond back into the light after his exit from Bang Records.
It was not until 1972 that Neil gained recognition as a singer, songwriter, and a performer. While playing a series of ten sold out concerts at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles in August his performance was taped. The recording was released as the double album Hot August Night. The album was critically acclaimed and Diamond’s whole catalog of hits was featured.
The always restless Neil switched labels again in 1973, moving back to Columbia Records. With a larger contract, he began reach the pinnacle of his career. Diamond recorded the soundtrack to Jonathon Livingston Seagull, and although the film was a bust, his soundtrack outsold the movie.
His songs continued to sell well and have commonly produced more popularity under different artists. “I’m a Believer” and “Red Red Wine” found more success with the Monkees and UB40 than they ever did when recorded by Neil Diamond.
He tried his hand at acting after the rumor of his pairing with Barbra Streisand in “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers”. His performance in “The Jazz Singer” in 1980 earned positive, a Golden Globe nomination, and negative, a winner of the Worst Actor Razzie Award, acclaim.
Diamond produced several more successful albums in the ‘80s and ‘90s, but his record sales were slumping. The late ‘90s rescued Neil from obscurity with references on Saturday Night Live played by Will Ferrell and a presence as cultural reference in movies like “Saving Silverman” and “What About Bob?”
External Links:
Neil's official site
A fun Neil Diamond club
Neil Diamond is back with his first album in three years. “Home Before Dark” was released in May and will have an accompanying tour that will hit 37 U.S. cities as he plays from July 19th to October 30. Before he takes on the long tour state side he will spend two months in Europe.
The concerts and the album signal the triumphant return of Neil Diamond. He has been featured on American Idol and started his own radio station on Sirius Satellite Radio. Tickets to see the man are going fast, but the Ticket Specialists are here with the best selection of seats at the cheapest prices.
