Neil Diamond is one of America’s most enduring and endearing pop singer-songwriters. The height of his popularity was reached in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s but he continues to perform at a high level to sell out crowds to this day. He grew up in New York City and interestingly enough, sang in the Abraham Lincoln high school choir with Barbara Streisand.
His first recording contract came in 1960, but following a few years of unsuccesful releases, Diamond spent his early career as a writer in the Brill Building and had early success writing the popular music song of the year in 1966, “I’m a Believer.” After a stint with Bang Records in the late sixties, he signed with MCA records and moved to California in 1970. His sound mellowed, with such songs as "'Cracklin' Rosie," "Sweet Caroline," "Holly Holy", and the country-and-western tinged "Song Sung Blue", which reached #1 on the Hot 100. In 1977, Diamond reunited with former high school classmate Barbara Streisand to record “You don’t bring me Flowers,” which was a number one hit in 1978 and became his third song to top the Hot 100 to date.
The 80’s saw Diamond continue his recording career charting a number of times as well as diving into acting with a role in the remake of an Al Jolson classic, “The Jazz Singer.” No stage was too big for Diamond as he even performed during halftime of Super Bowl XXI in January of 1987. Neil Diamond has become somewhat of a cult figure, loved by millions of fans around the world. He continues to this day, at the age of 67, playing sold out concerts and as of May 2005, Diamond had sold 120 million records worldwide, including 48 million records in the U.S.
Neil Diamond’s career can be summarized by the fact that he trails only Elton John, and Barbara Streisand as the most popular Adult Contemporary artist in Billboard history. A feat that proves Diamond belongs among the greats in music history.
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