DIAMOND JUBILEE

Neil Diamond was born in Brooklyn, New York, to a Jewish family. All four of his grandparents were immigrants: his father's side came from Poland, while his mother's side was from Russia. The now 85 year old legendary singer-songwriter has sold over 130 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. 

 

Throughout an illustrious and wide-ranging musical career, Neil Diamond has dominated the charts for more than five decades with 38 Top 40 singles and 16 Top 10 albums. Before becoming one of the most noted and successful recording artists in the world, Diamond’s early recognition came as a songwriter. His career spans over 50 years!

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His recorded songs have become a part of the fabric of America’s songbook with a wide range of international hits that include “Solitary Man,” “Cherry, Cherry,” “Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon,” “I’m A Believer,” “Red Red Wine,”  “Holly Holy,” "Thank The Lord For The Night Time,” “Sweet Caroline,” “Kentucky Woman,” “Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show,” “Cracklin’ Rosie,” “I Am…I Said,” “Song Sung Blue,” “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers”  (with Barbra Streisand),  “September Morn,” and “Heartlight,”  among many others.  

Diamond has won two GRAMMY Awards, a Golden Globe Award, the Songwriters Hall of Fame's Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award, and a Kennedy Center Honor, and has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (in 2011) and the Songwriters Hall of Fame (in 1984). In 2009, he was honored as MusiCares Person of The Year and in 2018, was awarded a GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award.  Mr. Diamond has also acted in films, making his screen debut in the 1980 as a son of a cantor in the musical drama film The Jazz Singer. 

 

More recently, Neil Diamond's life and music were adapted into the Broadway musical A Beautiful Noise which ran on Broadway until June 2024, and is currently embarking on a U.S. tour.

 

If you attend sporting events, you may well hear his popular song, "Sweet Caroline" sung as a singalong with the crowd!  The New York Rangers, PIttsburgh Panthers, Boston College to name a few, but also worldwide in the Hong Kong rugby tournament, soccer matches in Northern Ireland, and the Sydney Australia Football league!   Most notably, The Boston Red Sox began playing it at every home game between the top and bottom of the 8th inning.  It's as famous in Fenway Park as The Green Monster, hot dogs and beer!

 

In 2019, his 1969 signature song "Sweet Caroline" was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

(Sources: Songwriters Hall of Fame, Wikipedia)