Pop singer, rock and roll singer, and songwriter Neil Leslie Diamond was born on January 24, 1941 in New York City, New York, although he was raised in Brooklyn, the place in which he attended Abraham Lincoln High and Erasmus Hall School, that introduced him to SING!, an annual musical production run by high school students in the New York City area.
Neil Diamond also sang with Barbra Streisand in the school choir and learned to play the guitar received as a 16th birthday gift. Although, Neil also has cited Pete Seeger as his early inspiration, critics find some influence from Elvis Presley and The Beatles probably associated to the early recognition as songwriter in the 1960’s.
During that decade, Neil Diamond inked a contract with Duel Records, signing as "Neil and Jack" a duo made up of Neil and school friend Jack Packer. Although, they released a single, nothing happened until Neil signed to Columbia Records in 1962 as a soloist.
Once again, the release of a single on his own was unsuccessful, Neil Diamond was dropped from Columbia, and he returned in full to his songwriting activity.
In 1972, Neil declared in an interview that he was tempted to change his name to Noah Kaminsky or Eice Cherry. However, the popularity achieved by songs he wrote for the pop group The Monkees brought him recognition as singer and songwriter after the song "I'm a Believer" turned into the Most Popular Song of 1966.
That year he released the album "The Feel Of Neil Diamond", which produced the singles "Solitary Man", "Cherry, Cherry", and a cover version of "La Bamba".
Despite Neil Diamond hit the top charts and gained some success, his breakthrough into the mainstream came after he moved to California in the early 1970. He signed then to MCA Records and released top hit singles "Sweet Caroline" and "'Cracklin' Rosie" a sort of tribute to a wine from native Canadian tribes that placed him number one Billboard chart.
From 1966 to 2005, Neil Diamond has recorded 28 studio albums and this 2007 he will be inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame.
Below are people interested in Neil Diamond chat; join the chat room to chat with people about Neil Diamond.