Page 30 - Feb InDesign

The Story

of My Life

A Look at Singer/ Songwriter and

International Superstar, Neil Leslie Diamond

f all of the subjects Jane gets me to write about, talking two stripped down
about Neil Diamond has got to be the icing on the cake acoustic albums. With
Ofor me. Not only am I a superfan but I have also been a Rick Rubin on acoustic
Neil Diamond Tribute artist for the past fifteen years. So I think guitar, ‘12 Songs’ was
the best way to write this is to just give you the story of Neil regarded as one of the finest
Diamond from the way I have seen him since the early eighties albums Diamond had produced
where I first saw him in action. for many years. The extended
version of the album included a
Neil Leslie Diamond was born in Brooklyn on January 24th duet with Brian Wilson from the
1941. He was sixteen when he was given his first guitar and Beach Boys called Delirious Love.
after being influenced during a Pete Seeger concert, Diamond An upbeat but simple masterpiece
was inspired to try writing his own songs. He was a very bright which produced a mix of Diamond
student and attended college as a Pre-Med but dropped out magic with that wonderful surfy
when he was offered a job writing songs for Sunbeam Records. Beach Boy harmony.
His early days as a songsmith was to prove fruitful when four
of his songs were recorded by the manufactured band, The Just three years later, the second acoustic
Monkees. ‘I’m a Believer’ became a Gold Record within two album was produced. ‘Home Before Dark’
days of release and stayed at the top of the charts for seven went straight to the top of the charts and saw
weeks. His own solo career took off with two monster hits, a worldwide tour promoting the album. The
‘Cherry Cherry’ and ‘Solitary Man’. The hits continued which second song of the album ‘Pretty Amazing Grace’
led to stage tours. The most notable was in 1971 when he gave Diamond his first UK No:1.
played the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles for seven nights. Each
concert was a total sell out. One major newspaper said it was Neil Diamond continued touring and producing albums well
the finest concert in Greek history. He returned to the Greek the into his 70’s until January 2018 when he
following year for ‘Hot August Night’, his most successful live announced that he will no longer be performing
album. live due to the onset of Parkinsons disease.
Despite this announcement, he vowed to
In 1973, Diamond took his first step into the movies writing continue recording and even made one or
and performing the score for the movie based on the Richard two surprise special performances.
Bach novella ‘Jonathan Livingstone Seagull’. Then in 1980, he
took on his first acting role in a remake of the Al Jolson movie That, very briefly, is the story of the life of
‘The Jazz Singer’. Although Neil Diamond was critisised for Neil Diamond. Of course, there is so much more to tell,
his acting ability and the movie was regarded as a flop, the the many brilliant songs and their stories, the awards, the
subsequent album produced three top ten singles. The tours iconic shirts, so much to tell. All I can say is, if you’ve never
and hits continued firmly bolting Neil Diamond as one of the taken the time to listen to Neil Diamond then stick it on your
most successful performers and prolific song writiers of all time. bucket list.

Undoubtably, Neil Diamond’s most successful and memorable So why am I taking such a personal interest inNeil Diamond?
hit was Sweet Caroline. It became a sporting sing-a-long for Well, it’s quite easy really. Many years ago I’d listen to his music
many teams throughout the States as well as a party classic still with my best mate. We were just kids then but his dad was
a favourite today. a huge fan. I think that’s when I first heard Sweet Caroline
and Cracklin’ Rose. Some years after that, while serving in
After a relatively quiet spell from the limelight, Neil Diamond Berlin with the British Army, I went to see the great man at an
returned to the recording studio in 2005 to produce the first of outdoor theatre. The Bundershalle, I think it was. It was a bit

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