Neil Leslie Diamond, born on January 24, 1941, is a U.S. singer with a five decades long career. He has found tremendous success with 115 million albums sold worldwide and, according to the Billboard Charts, falls behind only Barbra Streisand and Elton John as the most successful adult cont... More
Neil Diamond Information
Neil Leslie Diamond, born on January 24, 1941, is a U.S. singer with a five decades long career. He has found tremendous success with 115 million albums sold worldwide and, according to the Billboard Charts, falls behind only Barbra Streisand and Elton John as the most successful adult contemporary artist. With eight #1 hits, inductions in the Songwriters and Rock and Roll Hall of Fames, and awards in the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement and Kennedy Center Honors, Diamond has solidified his place as an American legend.
Born in Brooklyn, Diamond started his solo career in 1962 when he signed with Columbia Records. After his first single, “At Night” (“Clown Town”), failed to break out, he was dropped from the label. He was a successful songwriter at the time, creating many songs that hit the Billboard Charts, like “Sunday And Me” and “I’m A Believer.”
His first hit song as a performer, “Solitary Man,” came off his 1966 album The Feel of Neil Diamond with Bang Records. Diamond performed as an opener for acts like The Who, but would leave Bang Records in search of more creative freedom. In 1970, he signed with MCA Records and released his album Touching You, Touching Me. The album featured hit songs such as, “Sweet Caroline,” “Holly Holy,” and “Song Sung Blue.” He performed numerous sold out shows at places like the Greek Theatre in LA and the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City. In 1972, he released a live album, Hot August Night, which is largely considered to be his best.
Diamond joined Columbia Records again in 1973 for a multi-record contract. His first album with Columbia was the soundtrack for the film Jonathon Livingston Seagull, and even though the film was not critically acclaimed, the record was a great success. He won both a Golden Globe for Best Original Score and a Grammy for Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture. In the 1980s, Diamond’s song “Heartlight” gave him another top ten hit. The song was rumored to be inspired by the film E.T. His tours continued to be a success and in 1986, Billboard Magazine named him the Most Profitable Solo Performer. During the 1990s, he released six albums, including two Christmas records.
His songs are beloved, particularly “Sweet Caroline,” which plays throughout ballparks in America, including the Boston Red Sox’s Fenway Park. In November 2011, a press release announced, “Neil Diamond Takes His Greatest Hits on the Road.” He will tour North America, starting in Florida on June 1, 2012.
As always, Neil Diamond tickets will be in high demand for all stops on his upcoming 2012 Tour.
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