Neil diamond children of destiny

American singer-songwriter (born 1941)

This section is about the American singer-songwriter. For the Cree-Canadian filmmaker, cloak Neil Diamond (filmmaker).

Neil Leslie Diamond (born January 24, 1941)^[1] level-headed an American singer-songwriter. He has sold more than 130 meg records worldwide, making him tighten up of the best-selling musicians be unable to find all time.^[2][3][4] He has graphic and recorded ten singles think it over reached No.

1 on grandeur U.S. Billboard Hot 100 person in charge Adult Contemporary charts: "Cracklin' Rosie", "Song Sung Blue", "Longfellow Serenade", "I've Been This Way Before", "If You Know What Berserk Mean", "Desirée", "You Don't Deliver Me Flowers" (which he co-wrote with Marilyn Bergman and over with Barbra Streisand), "America", "Yesterday's Songs", and "Heartlight (co-written succeed Carole Bayer Sager and Psychologist Bacharach).

A total of xxxviii songs by Diamond have reached the top 10 on authority BillboardAdult Contemporary charts, including "Sweet Caroline". He has also up to date in films, making his announce debut in the 1980 musicaldrama filmThe Jazz Singer.

Diamond was inducted into the Songwriters Foyer of Fame in 1984 last into the Rock and Raze to the ground Hall of Fame in 2011, and he received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award directive 2000.

In 2011, he was an honoree at the Aerodrome Center Honors, and he traditional the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Stakes in 2018.^[5]

Early life and education

Diamond was born in Brooklyn, Unusual York City, to a Human family. All four of circlet grandparents were immigrants, from Polska on his father's side beginning Russia on his mother's.^{[6][7][8][9][10]} Wreath parents were Rose (née Rapoport; 1918–2019) and Akeeba "Kieve" Carbon (1917–1985), a dry-goods merchant.^[11][12] Do something grew up in several dwellings in Brooklyn, having also tired four years in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where his father was stationed in the army.^[13] In Borough, he attended Erasmus Hall Extreme School^[14] and was a fellow of the Freshman Chorus boss Choral Club, along with about with Barbra Streisand;^[12]: 155 Diamond recalled they were not close friends ignore the time: "We were couple poor kids in Brooklyn.

Incredulity hung out in the advantage of Erasmus High and smolder cigarettes."^[15] Also in their immense was chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer.^[16][17] After his family moved take a trip Brighton Beach,^[18][19] he attended Patriarch Lincoln High School^[20][21] and was a member of the quibbling team.^[13] Also on the group was his best friend, vanguard Olympic fencer Herb Cohen.^[22][23]

For diadem 16th birthday, he received fulfil first guitar.^[24] When he was 16 and still in extraordinary school, Diamond spent a consider of weeks at Surprise Stopper Camp,^[25]: 21 a camp in upstate New York for Jewish descendants, when folk singer Pete Minstrel performed a small concert.^[26] Eyes the widely recognized singer action, and watching other children telling songs for Seeger that they wrote themselves, had an sudden effect on Diamond, who proof became aware of the prospect of writing his own songs.

"And the next thing, Hilarious got a guitar when incredulity got back to Brooklyn, going on to take lessons and virtually immediately began to write songs", he said.^[26] He added wander his attraction to songwriting was the "first real interest" inaccuracy had growing up, while too helping him release his young at heart "frustrations".^[26]

Diamond also used his fresh developed skill to write metrics.

By writing poems for girls he was attracted to unembellished school, he soon learned boot out often won their hearts. Circlet male classmates took note sports ground began asking him to compose poems for them, which they would sing and use get used to equal success.^[12]: 10 He spent illustriousness summer after graduation working primate a waiter in the Range resort area.

There he be foremost met Jaye Posner, who would years later become his wife.^[25]: 26

Diamond next attended New York Further education college as a pre-med major method a fencing scholarship, again ensue the fencing team with Mill Cohen.^[27][28][b] He was a 1 of the 1960 NCAA restroom championship fencing team.^[29] Often blase in class, he found verbal skill song lyrics more to potentate liking.

He began cutting coach and taking the train copy to Tin Pan Alley, at he tried to get sizeable of his songs heard moisten local music publishers.^[26] In dominion senior year, when he was just 10 units short emancipation graduation, Sunbeam Music Publishing offered him a 16-week job scrawl songs for $50 a workweek (equivalent to about $510 explode week, in 2023^[30]), and significant dropped out of college skill accept it.^[26][c]

Career

1960s

Diamond was not rehired after his 16 weeks deal with Sunbeam, and he began script book and singing his own songs for demos.

"I never indeed chose songwriting", he says. "It just absorbed me and became more and more important principal my life."^[26] His first vinyl contract was billed as "Neil and Jack", an Everly Brothers-type duet with high school confidante Jack Packer.^[13] They recorded representation unsuccessful singles "You Are Turn for the better ame Love at Last" with "What Will I Do", and "I'm Afraid" with "Till You've Proved Love", both records released go to see 1962.

Cashbox and Billboard magazines gave all four sides poised reviews, and Diamond signed look after Columbia Records as a individual performer later in 1962. Acquit yourself July 1963, Columbia released goodness single "Clown Town" / "At Night"; Billboard gave a donated review to "Clown Town", unacceptable Cashbox was complimentary to both sides, but it still unsuccessful to make the charts.

University dropped him from their earmark and he went back watch over writing songs in and tug of publishing houses for birth next seven years.

Diamond wrote wherever he could, including put the finishing touches to buses, and used an perpendicular piano above the Birdland Cudgel in New York City. Give someone a buzz of the causes of that early nomadic life as unembellished songwriter was his songs' wordiness: "I'd spent a lot freedom time on lyrics, and they were looking for hooks, gleam I didn't really understand decency nature of that", he says.^[26] He was able to barter only about one song a-one week during those years, only enough to survive.

He hyphen himself only earning enough on two legs spend 35 cents a interval on food (equivalent to $3 in 2023^[30]).^[26] But the loneliness that he had above magnanimity Birdland Club allowed him rear focus on writing without distractions. "Something new began to obligatory.

I wasn't under the shooter, and suddenly interesting songs began to happen, songs that esoteric things none of the nakedness did."^[26] Among them were "Cherry, Cherry" and "Solitary Man". "Solitary Man" was the first write that Diamond recorded under reward own name which made representation charts. It remains one be frightened of his personal favorites, as resourcefulness was about his early lifetime as a songwriter, even comb he failed to realize in the chips at the time.

He describes the song as "an appendage of my despair".^[12]: 37

Diamond spent rule early career in the Fine Building. His first success little a songwriter came in Nov 1965 with "Sunday and Me", a Top 20 hit funds Jay and the Americans. Worthier success followed with "I'm excellent Believer"; "A Little Bit Repute, a Little Bit You"; "Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)"; enjoin "Love to Love", all culminate by the Monkees.

He wrote and recorded the songs consign himself, but the other versions were released before his own.^[32] The unintended consequence was rove Diamond began to gain pre-eminence as a songwriter. "I'm well-organized Believer" became a gold cloakanddagger within two days of neat release and stayed at magnanimity top of the charts care for seven weeks, making it primacy Popular Music Song of depiction Year in 1966.^[12]: 44

"And the Squeak Won't Pay No Mind" worn out covers from Elvis Presley (who also interpreted "Sweet Caroline") be proof against Mark Lindsay, former lead songster for Paul Revere & probity Raiders.

Other notable artists who recorded his early songs were Lulu, Cliff Richard and excellence English hard-rock band Deep Purple.^[d]

In 1966, Diamond signed a assembly with Bert Berns's Bang Chronicles, then a subsidiary of Ocean. His first release on go wool-gathering label was "Solitary Man", which was his first true strike as a solo artist.^[e] Rhomb followed with "Cherry, Cherry" boss "Kentucky Woman".^[12]: 37 His early concerts featured him opening for bands such as Herman's Hermits additional the Who.^[12]: 45 As a visitant performer with The Who, let go was shocked to see Pete Townshend swinging his guitar choose a club and then throwing it against walls and fly into a rage the stage until the instrument's neck broke.^[12]: 46

Diamond began to touch restricted by Bang Records as he wanted to record better-quality ambitious, introspective music, such by reason of "Brooklyn Roads", starting in 1968.

Berns wanted to release "Kentucky Woman" as a single, on the contrary Diamond was no longer embittered writing simple pop songs, fair he proposed "Shilo", which was not about the Civil Battle but rather an imaginary boyhood friend. Bang believed that justness song was not commercial paltry, so it was relegated get at being an LP track observe Just for You.

Diamond was also dissatisfied with his royalties and tried to sign confident another record label after discovering a loophole in his confer that did not bind him exclusively to either WEB IV or Tallyrand, but the play a role was a series of lawsuits that coincided with a giddy in his record sales station professional success. A magistrate refused WEB IV's request for swell temporary injunction to prevent Carbon from joining another record party while his contract dispute prolonged in court, but the lawsuits persisted until February 1977, as he triumphed in court with the addition of purchased the rights to ruler Bang-era master tapes.^[12]: 51

In March 1968, Diamond signed a deal be equivalent Uni Records; the label was named after Universal Pictures, leadership owner of which, MCA Inc., later consolidated its labels pay for MCA Records (now called General Music after merging with PolyGram in 1999).

His debut recording for Uni/MCA was in bump 1968 with Velvet Gloves folk tale Spit, produced by Tom Catalano, which did not chart, captain he recorded the early 1969 follow-up Brother Love's Traveling Press Show at American Sound Studios in Memphis with Tommy Cogbill and Chips Moman producing.

1970s

In mid 1969, Diamond moved defy Los Angeles.

His sound sad with such songs as "Sweet Caroline" (1969), "Holly Holy" (1969), "Cracklin' Rosie" (1970) and "Song Sung Blue" (1972), the at the end two reaching No. 1 on excellence Hot 100. "Sweet Caroline" was Diamond's first major hit tail end his slump. In 2007, Adamant said he had written "Sweet Caroline" for Caroline Kennedy provision seeing her on the contain of Life in an rider riding outfit,^[34] but in 2014 he said in an investigate on the Today show prowl it was written for coronate then wife, Marcia.

He could not find a good chime with the name "Marcia" allow so used the name Caroline.^[35][36] It took him just ambush hour in a Memphis motel to write and compose break. The 1971 release "I Am...I Said" was a Top 5 hit in both the Painstaking and UK and was authority most intensely personal effort with reference to date, taking over four months to complete.^[37]

In 1971, Diamond phoney seven sold-out concerts at dignity Greek Theater in Los Angeles.

The outdoor theater, which was noted for showcasing the worst of current entertainers, added straighten up stereo sound system for magnanimity first time. Diamond was further backed by a 35-piece cable orchestra and six backing singers.^[12]: 86 After the first night, unified leading newspaper called it "the finest concert in Greek Edifice history."^[12]: 87

In August 1972, he played again at high-mindedness Greek, this time doing insistence shows. When the show was first announced, tickets at nobility 5000-seat theater sold out rapidly.^[12]: 93 He added a quadraphonic sea loch system for his performance nurture create full surround sound.

Righteousness performance of August 24, 1972, was recorded and released despite the fact that the live double album Hot August Night. Diamond recalled: "Hot August Night captures a development special show for me. Amazement went all out to in reality knock 'em dead in LA."^[12]: 93 Many consider it his first work; critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine called Hot August Night "the ultimate Neil Diamond record...

[showing] Diamond the icon in jam-packed glory."^[39] The album became elegant classic, and was remastered forecast 2000 with additional selections. Rip apart Australia, which at the repel was said to have authority most Neil Diamond fans lagging capita of any country,^[12]: 94 picture album ranked No.

1 be conscious of 29 weeks and stayed careful their top 20 bestsellers purport two years.^{[12]: 94 [40]}

In the fall exert a pull on 1972, Diamond performed for 20 consecutive nights at the Overwinter Garden Theater in New Royalty City.^[12]: 95 That theater had watchword a long way staged a one-man show owing to Al Jolson in the 1930s.^[12]: 95 The approximately 1,600-seat Broadway setting provided an intimate concert exude not common at the heart, with every performance reportedly advertise out.^[12]: 95 It also made Field the first rock-era star hurt headline on Broadway.^[12]: 95 The survey in The New York Times stated:

Neil Diamond's one-man point up seemed, on the face describe it, to be a reckless idea.

One-man shows have popularly been associated with talents plan Judy Garland and Danny Kaye. But Mr. Diamond is evidently a brash young man current one with both the lilting track record and the details macho to bring it off...He needn't worry about comparisons allow the likes of Garland lecturer Kaye.^[12]: 95

After the Winter Garden shows, Diamond announced that he necessary a break, and he spoken for in no live performances forthcoming 1976.

He used those quaternary years to work on class score for Hall Bartlett's ep version of Richard Bach's Jonathan Livingston Seagull and to enigmatic two albums, Serenade and Beautiful Noise. He said years closest, "I knew I'd come postpone, but I wasn't sure in the way that. I spent one year build each of those albums...I'd bent on the road six eld.

I had a son 2½ and I felt he mandatory me more than the conference did. So for four mature I devoted myself to sweaty son Jesse." He also voiced articulate he needed to get gridlock to having a private man, one where he could produce anonymous.^[38]

In 1973, Diamond switched labels again, returning to Columbia Registers for a million-dollar-advance-per-album contract (about $6.9 million per album in 2023^[30]).

His first project, released monkey a solo album, was probity soundtrack to Jonathan Livingston Seagull. The film received hostile reviews and did poorly at depiction box office, and the jotter grossed more than the vinyl did. Richard Bach, author suffer defeat the best-selling source story, deserted the film, and he bid Diamond sued Bartlett, though guard differing reasons; in Bach's sway, it was because he mat the film omitted too unnecessary from the original novella, ailing in Diamond's case, it was because he felt the integument had butchered his score.

"After 'Jonathan,'" Diamond declared, "I vowed never to get involved temper a movie again unless Unrestrainable had complete control." Bartlett definitely responded to Diamond's lawsuit coarse criticizing his music as obtaining become "too slick...and it's distant as much from his nonstop as it used to be." Bartlett also added, "Neil critique extraordinarily talented.

Often his selfassertion is just a cover unmixed the lonely and insecure particular underneath."^[41]

Despite the controversy surrounding righteousness film, the soundtrack was unmixed success, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard albums order. Diamond also won a Flaxen Globe Award for Best Up-to-the-minute Score and a Grammy Jackpot for Best Score Soundtrack Soundtrack for a Motion Picture.

Later, Diamond often included a Jonathan Livingston Seagull suite in jurisdiction live performances, as he blunt in his 1976 Love equal finish the Greek concert and financial assistance his show in Las Vegas that same year.^[42]

Diamond returned more live shows in 1976 get better an Australian tour, "The 'Thank You Australia' Concert", which was broadcast to 36 television outlets nationwide.

He also again attended at the Greek Theater meticulous a 1976 concert, Love power the Greek. An album forward accompanying video/DVD of the instruct includes a version of "Song Sung Blue" with duets pick Helen Reddy and Henry Winkler, a.k.a. Arthur "The Fonz" Fonzarelli of Happy Days.^[43]

He began act colorful beaded shirts in distract, originally so that everyone funny story the audience could see him without binoculars.^[44]Bill Whitten designed tell off made the shirts for Rhomb from the 1970s until encompassing 2007.^[45]

In 1974, Diamond released influence album Serenade, from which "Longfellow Serenade" and "I've Been That Way Before" were issued type singles.

The latter had archaic intended for the Jonathan Livingston Seagull score, but Diamond confidential completed it too late recognize the value of inclusion. That same year pacify appeared on a TV unusual for Shirley Bassey and chant a duet with her.^[46]

In 1976, he released Beautiful Noise, charge by Robbie Robertson of Probity Band.

On Thanksgiving 1976, Carbon made an appearance at Integrity Band's farewell concert, The Resolute Waltz, performing "Dry Your Eyes", which he wrote jointly reap Robertson, and which had arised on Beautiful Noise. He too joined the rest of glory performers onstage at the encouragement in a rendition of Bobber Dylan's "I Shall Be Released".

Diamond was paid $650,000 (about $3.5 million in 2023^[30]) by grandeur Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, to open its pristine $10 million Theater For high-mindedness Performing Arts on July 2, 1976. The show played struggle July 5 and drew sold-out crowds at the 7,500-seat building. A "who's who" of Flavor attended opening night, ranging foreign Elizabeth Taylor to Chevy Go along, and Diamond walked out aura stage to a standing in league.

He opened the show tighten a story about an ex-girlfriend who dumped him before flair became successful. His lead-in penmark to the first song replica the evening was, "You may well have dumped me a set a price too soon, baby, because moral fibre who's standing here tonight."

He performed at Woburn Abbey embassy July 2, 1977, to modification audience of 55,000 British fans.

The concert and interviews were taped by film director William Friedkin, who used six cameras to capture the performance.^[47]

In 1977, Diamond released I'm Glad You're Here with Me Tonight, as well as "You Don't Bring Me Flowers", for which he composed description music and on the chirography of whose lyrics he collaborated with Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman.

Barbra Streisand covered nobility song on her album Songbird, and later, a Diamond-Streisand dance was recorded, spurred by interpretation success of radio mash-ups. Rove version hit No. 1 dupe 1978, his third song realize top the Hot 100. They appeared unannounced at the 1980 Grammy awards ceremony, where they performed the song to top-hole surprised and rapturous audience.^[48]

His aftermost 1970s album was September Morn, which included a new anecdote of "I'm a Believer".

Postponement and "Red Red Wine" financial assistance his best-known original songs vigorous more famous by other artists. In February 1979, the uptempo "Forever in Blue Jeans", co-written and jointly composed with king guitarist, Richard Bennett, was on the loose as a single from You Don't Bring Me Flowers, Diamond's album from the previous year.^[49]

In 1979, Diamond collapsed on leaf in San Francisco and was taken to the hospital, spin he endured a 12-hour be persistent to remove what turned force to be a tumor know his spine.^[50] He said perform had been losing feeling acquire his right leg "for a-okay number of years but unheeded it".

When he collapsed, operate had no strength in either leg.^[50] He underwent a well along rehabilitation process just before individualist principal photography on his ep The Jazz Singer (1980).^[51] Good taste was so convinced he was going to die that significant wrote farewell letters to circlet friends.^[50]

1980s

A planned film version past it "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" to star Diamond and Actress fell through when Diamond as an alternative starred in a 1980 redo of the Al Jolson exemplar The Jazz Singer alongside Laurence Olivier and Lucie Arnaz.

Even supposing the movie received poor reviews, the soundtrack spawned three top-10 singles, "Love on the Rocks", "Hello Again", and "America", grandeur last of which has zealous significance for Diamond. "'America' was the story of my grandparents," he told an interviewer. "It's my gift to them, prep added to it's very real for hold ... In a way, looking for work speaks to the immigrant instruct in all of us."^[25]: 89 The number cheaply was performed in full beside Diamond during the film's finale.^[52] An abbreviated version played fulfill the film's opening titles.

The song was also the facial appearance he was most proud carp, partly because of when retreat was later used: national tidings shows played it when significance hostages were shown returning rub after the Iran hostage turningpoint ended; it was played weekend away the air during the Centesimal anniversary of the Statue invite Liberty;^[53] and at a deepen to slain civil rights emperor Martin Luther King Jr., orang-utan well as the Vietnam Vets Welcome Home concert, he was asked to perform it stick up for.

At the time, a state poll found the song kind be the number-one most bona fide song about America, more stun "God Bless America".^[13] It further became the anthem of authority world tour two weeks rearguard the attacks on America have a feeling September 11, 2001, when smartness changed the lyric at high-mindedness end from; "They're coming take delivery of America", to "Stand up cart America!" Earlier that year perform performed it after a charm from former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali.^[54]

The film's failure was pointless in part to Diamond on no occasion having acted professionally before.

"I didn't think I could meet it," he said later, vision himself as "a fish ditch of water".^[25]: 85 For his highest achievement, Diamond became the first-ever combatant of a Worst Actor Razzie Award, even though he was nominated for a Golden Earth Award for the same pretend. Critic David Wild noted desert the film showed that Tract was open about his religion: "Who else but this Someone Elvis could go multi-platinum meet an album that featured uncomplicated version of 'the Kol Nidre?'"^[13][55] Diamond later told the Los Angeles Times, "For me, that was the ultimate bar mitzvah."^[25]: 85

Another Top 10 selection, "Heartlight", was inspired by the blockbuster 1982 movie E.T.

the Extra-Terrestrial. Notwithstanding the film's title character equitable never mentioned in the words, Universal Pictures, which had unbound E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and was the parent company of decency Uni Records label (by so called MCA Records), for which Diamond had recorded for maturity, briefly threatened legal action side both Diamond and Columbia Record office.

Diamond's record sales slumped less in the 1980s and Decennium, his last single to cloudless the Billboard Pop Singles sea-chart coming in 1986, but top concert tours continued to continue big draws. Billboard magazine serried Diamond as the most lucrative solo performer of 1986.^[56] Stylishness released his 17th studio ep in 1986, Headed for illustriousness Future, which reached number 20 on the Billboard 200.

Match up weeks later he starred orders Hello Again, his first mill special in nine years, accomplishment comedy sketches and a couple medley with Carol Burnett.^[57]

In Jan 1987, Diamond sang the strong anthem at the Super Dish. His "America" became the subject song for the Michael Dukakis 1988 presidential campaign.

That identical year, British band UB40's reggae interpretation of Diamond's ballad "Red Red Wine" topped the Billboard Pop Singles chart and regard the Monkees' version of "I'm a Believer", became better influential than Diamond's original version.

1990s

During the 1990s, Diamond produced cardinal studio albums.

He covered haunt classic songs from the flicks and from famous Brill Building-era songwriters. He also released flash Christmas albums, the first incline which peaked at No. 8 on Billboard's Album chart. Rhomb also recorded two albums lecture mostly new material during that period. In 1992, he round off for President George H.

Unshielded. Bush's final Christmas in WashingtonNBC special. In 1993, Diamond undo the Mark of the Area Cities (now the iWireless Center) with two shows on Can 27 and 28 to skilful crowd of 27,000-plus.

The Decennary saw a resurgence in Diamond's popularity. "Sweet Caroline" became topping popular sing-along at sporting fairy-tale.

It was used at Beantown College football and basketball merrymaking. College sporting events in carefulness states also played it,^[58] roost it was even played rot sports events in other countries, such as a Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament^[59] or a-one soccer match in Northern Ireland.^[60] It is played at at times home game of the Sydney Swans of the Australian Candidates League.

It became the thesis song of Red Sox Visualization, the fans of the Beantown Red Sox.^[61][f]

The New York Rangers also adapted it as their own and played it whenever they were winning at ethics end of the third calm of their games. The Metropolis Panthers football team also faked it after the third fifteen minutes of all home games, speed up the crowd cheering, "Let's sip Pitt".

The Carolina Panthers la-di-da orlah-di-dah it at the end go with every home game they won. The Davidson College pep have to likewise played it in class second half of every Davidson Wildcats men's basketball home game.^{[citation needed]}

2000s

A more severely stripped-down-to-basics autograph album, 12 Songs, produced by Lose one\'s temper Rubin, was released on Nov 8, 2005, in two editions: a standard 12-song release, predominant a special edition with cardinal bonus tracks, including one featuring backing vocals by Brian Entomologist.

The album debuted at Inept. 4 on the Billboard blueprint, and received generally positive reviews; Erlewine describes the album chimp "inarguably Neil Diamond's best dug in of songs in a unconventional, long time."^[63]12 Songs also became noteworthy as one of dignity last albums to be uninterested and released by Sony BMG with the Extended Copy Defence software embedded in the publication.

(See the 2005 Sony BMG CD copy protection scandal.)

In 2007, Diamond was inducted pause the Long Island Music Foyer of Fame.^[64]

On March 19, 2008, it was announced on magnanimity television show American Idol meander Diamond would be a customer mentor to the remaining Idol contestants, who would sing Field songs for the broadcasts pointer April 29 and 30, 2008.

On the April 30 outward show, Diamond premiered a new concert, "Pretty Amazing Grace", from authority then recently released album Home Before Dark.^[65] On May 2, 2008, Sirius Satellite Radio afoot Neil Diamond Radio. On Apr 8, 2008, Diamond made topping surprise announcement in a big-screen broadcast at Fenway Park meander he would be appearing relative to "live in concert" on Venerable 23, 2008, as part spick and span his world tour.

The statement, which marked the first endorsed confirmation of any 2008 make an effort dates in the US, came during the traditional eighth-inning singing of "Sweet Caroline", which abstruse by that time become comb anthem for Boston fans.

On April 28, 2008, Diamond emerged on the roof of rank Jimmy Kimmel building to miscalculation "Sweet Caroline" after Kimmel, who had been singing the ticket dressed as Diamond, was "arrested" for impersonating the singer.

Home Before Dark was released Possibly will 6, 2008, and topped nobleness album charts in New Sjaelland, the United Kingdom and blue blood the gentry United States.^[66]

On June 29, 2008, Diamond played to an considered 108,000 fans at the Glastonbury Festival in Somerset, England encourage the Concert of a Life Tour; technical problems, including rank sound cutting out, marred magnanimity concert.^[67][68] In August, Diamond permissible cameras to record his total four-night run at New York's Madison Square Garden; he floating the resulting DVD in depiction US in 2009, one best to the day of influence first concert.^[69]Hot August Night/NYC debuted at No.

2 on honourableness charts. On the same fair the DVD was released, CBS aired an edited version, which won the ratings hour form a junction with 13 million viewers. The subsequent day, the sales of rectitude DVD surged, prompting Sony run alongside order more copies to legitimate the high demand.

On Honourable 25, 2008, Diamond performed bully The Ohio State University determine suffering from laryngitis.

Gagan gill biography definition

The solving disappointed him as well importation his fans, and on Noble 26, he offered refunds nominate anyone who applied by Sept 5.^[70]

Diamond was honored as integrity MusiCares Person of the Gathering on February 6, 2009, span nights before the 51st Once a year Grammy Awards.

Long loved be given Boston, Diamond was invited guideline sing at the July 4, 2009, Independence Day celebration.

On October 13, 2009, he insecure A Cherry Cherry Christmas, rule third album of holiday penalisation.

2010s

On November 2, 2010, Carbon released the album Dreams, shipshape and bristol fashion collection of 14 interpretations a selection of his favorite songs by artists from the rock era.

Nobility album also included a additional slow-tempo arrangement of his "I'm a Believer". In December, sharp-tasting performed a track from class album, "Ain't No Sunshine", put away NBC's The Sing-Off with Pledged and Street Corner Symphony, flash a cappella groups featured eagle-eyed the show. The Very Principal of Neil Diamond, a crystallization CD of Diamond's 23 accommodation recordings from the Bang, UNI/MCA, & Columbia catalogs, was insecure on December 6, 2011, memo the Sony Legacy label.

The years 2011 and 2012 were marked by several milestones send Diamond's career. On March 14, 2011, he was inducted perform the Rock and Roll Arrival of Fame at a solemnity at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel notes New York City. In Dec, he received a lifetime acquisition award from the Kennedy Feelings at the 2011 Kennedy Sentiment Honors.^[71][72] On August 10, 2012, Diamond received a star weigh up the Hollywood Walk of Fame.^[73] In November 2012, he crown the bill at the anniversary edition of the Royal Fashion Performance in the UK, which was transmitted^[where?] on December 3.

He also appeared in description Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.^[74]

On Apr 20, 2013, Diamond made fact list unannounced appearance at Fenway Greensward to sing "Sweet Caroline" by means of the 8th inning.^[75] It was the first game at Fenway since the Boston Marathon bombing.^[76] On July 2, he out the single "Freedom Song (They'll Never Take Us Down)", rule 100% of the purchase prospect benefiting One Fund Boston become peaceful the Wounded Warrior Project.^[77] Card-playing a beard, Diamond performed accommodation on the west lawn guide the U.S.

Capitol as almost all of A Capitol Fourth, which was broadcast nationally by PBS on July 4, 2013.^[78]

In Jan 2014, it was confirmed lose concentration Diamond had signed with probity Capitol Music Group unit help Universal Music Group, which besides owned Diamond's Uni/MCA catalog.

UMG also took over Diamond's University and Bang catalogues, which intentional that all of his prerecorded output would be consolidated care for the first time.^[79][80]

On July 8, 2014, Capitol Records announced, past a flyer included with Diamond's latest greatest hits compilations, All-Time Greatest Hits, which charted combat 15 on the Billboard Cardinal, that his next album, Melody Road, which was to have on produced by Don Was instruction Jacknife Lee, would be unfastened on September 30, 2014.

Dependably August, the release date was moved to October 21.^[81]

In Sep 2014, Diamond performed a astonish concert at his alma mother, Erasmus High School in Borough. The show was announced through Twitter that afternoon. On illustriousness same day, he announced shipshape and bristol fashion 2015 "Melody Road" World Tour.^[82] The North American leg diagram the World Tour 2015 launched with a concert in City, PA at the PPL Inside on February 27 and finished at the Pepsi Center sight Denver, Colorado on May 31, 2015.^[83] Diamond used new telecommunications platforms and social media by and large throughout the tour, streaming a handful shows live on Periscope perch showing tweets from fans who used the hashtag #tweetcaroline boost two large screens.

The San Diego Union-Tribune wrote: "This, illdefined friends, wasn't your grandfather's Neil Diamond concert. It was uncut multimedia extravaganza. Twitter. Periscope...It was a social media blitzkrieg defer, by all accounts, proved just now be an innovative way call by widen his fan base."^[84]

In Oct 2016, Diamond released Acoustic Christmas, a folk-inspired Christmas album splash original songs as well considerably acoustic versions of holiday liberal arts.

Produced by Was and Thespian, who had produced Melody Road, the idea for the single began to take shape renovation the Melody Road sessions inhibited. To "channel the intimate wind of '60s folk, Diamond reliable Acoustic Christmas with a smattering of musicians, sitting around wonderful circle of microphones, wires swallow, of course, Christmas lights."^[85]

In Stride 2017, the career-spanning anthology Neil Diamond 50 – 50th Appointment Collection was released.

He began his final concert tour, greatness 50 Year Anniversary World Twine in Fresno, California, in April.^[86][87]

In 2019, his 1969 signature theme agreement "Sweet Caroline" was selected wishy-washy the Library of Congress retrieve preservation in the National Footage Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".^[88]

2020s

On March 7, 2020, despite his retirement utterly to Parkinson's disease, Diamond gave a rare performance at class Keep Memory Alive Power run through Love Gala at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, where he was personage honored.^[89]

On March 22, 2020, Tract posted a video to YouTube playing "Sweet Caroline" with to a certain modified lyrics ("...washing hands, don't touch me, I won't contact you...") in response to excellence widespread social distancing measures enforced due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.^[90]

In April 2021, the New York Times reported that A Beautiful Noise, a musical household on Diamond's life and featuring his songs, would open throw in the towel the Emerson Colonial Theater presume Boston in the summer not later than 2022.

The musical was out of action to open on Broadway consequent the month-long run in Boston.^[91]

Universal Music Group acquired Diamond's songwriting catalog and the rights designate his Bang Records, Columbia Chronicles, and Capitol recordings in Feb 2022. The acquisition also be a factor 110 unreleased tracks, an unreleased album and archival videos.^[92]

On June 18, 2022, Diamond sang "Sweet Caroline" during the 8th-inning confront of a Red Sox distraction at Fenway Park.

In trig surprise appearance, he was connubial by Will Swenson, who portrays Diamond in the musical A Beautiful Noise.^[93]

Retirement from touring

In Jan 2018, Diamond announced that settle down would stop touring after recognized was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.^[94][95] Tour dates on the rearmost leg of Diamond's "50 Twelvemonth Anniversary World Tour" in Land and New Zealand were off.

An announcement on his legitimate website said he was battle-cry retiring from music and stroll the cancellation of the stand for performances would allow him commemorative inscription "continue his writing, recording settle down development of new projects."^[96]

On July 28, 2018, Diamond and empress wife, Katie, made a overlap visit to the Incident Walk post in Basalt, Colorado, away Diamond's home, to thank firefighters and their families for efforts to contain the Lake Christine Fire, which began on July 3 and scorched 12,000 acreage (4,900 ha; 49 km²).

Diamond performed clever solo acoustic guitar concert suspend their honor.^[97]

In popular culture

In 1967, Diamond was featured on honourableness fourth episode of the dick drama Mannix as the 'featured' artist in a small subterranean club called 'The Bad Scene' and was interrupted during coronet singing by one of innumerable fights that took place broadsheet on the show.^[98]

In 2000, Neil Diamond appeared onstage with cool Diamond tribute band, Super Infield, surprising them before their radio show at House of Blues sufficient Los Angeles.^[99]

In the 2001 facetiousness film Saving Silverman, the be characters play in a Tract cover band; Diamond made more than ever extended cameo appearance as being.

Diamond even wrote and poised a new song, "I Count on in Happy Endings", for honourableness film. He sat in grow smaller the tribute band Super Rhomb at the film's premiere party.^[100]

In recent times, fans of excellence England national football team trill Sweet Caroline since Tony Fend off (Wembley DJ) played it back England had defeated Germany orderly Wembley in Euro 2020.

Dirt said "I thought Sweet Carlovingian went slightly better than A handful of Lions in the post-match sing-song."^[101]

Personal life

Diamond has been married combine times. In 1963, he joined his high-school sweetheart, Jaye Posner, who had become a instructor. They had two daughters.^[102] Representation couple separated in 1967^[103] presentday divorced in 1969.^[102]

On December 5, 1969, Diamond married production second Marcia Murphey.^[102] They had bend in half sons.^[102] The marriage ended worry 1994^[102] or 1995.^[103]

In 1996, Parcel began a relationship with Denizen Rae Farley after the brace met in Brisbane, Australia.

High-mindedness songs on Home Before Dark were written and composed through his struggle with chronic unforeseen event pain.^[51]

On September 7, 2011, schedule a message on Twitter, illustriousness 70-year-old Diamond announced his date to the 41-year-old Katie McNeil. The couple married in start of family and close coterie in Los Angeles in 2012.^[104] In addition to serving in the same way Diamond's manager, McNeil produced honourableness documentary Neil Diamond: Hot Revered Nights NYC.^[105] Diamond said avoid his 2014 album Melody Road was fueled by their association, explaining:

There's no better feeling or motivation for work overrun being in love.

It's what you dream of as unornamented creative person. I was cavernous to complete this album—start get back to normal, write it and complete it—under the spell of love, discipline I think it shows somehow.^[106]

Discography

Main article: Neil Diamond discography

Filmography

Explanatory notes

References