Neil Diamond

In the winter of 1941, January 24 to be exact, Neil Leslie Diamond was born. He grew up a life just as most other boys, but at the age 16, Neil recieved a guitar for his birthday. That gift, would forever change his life.

Neil Diamond wrote his first song for his girlfriend. The title of the song was "Hear them bells" he never thought about recording it at the time, and didnt record it till many years later. At age 18, Neil wrote the song "Blue Destiny" it was Diamond's fifth song that he wrote. Neil was going to hit the big time, but it would take 8 more years before that moment.

In 1962, Neil Diamond signed with Columbia Records. The song he was signed for was "At Night" which wasnt a big hit to say the least. But in 1966, Neil made his big break. His first hit was "Solitary Man". It is written in a minor key, and has a famous chorus.

Neil Diamond then came out with Cherry Cherry, which to this day remains a famous tune. It rose to number 6 on the billboard charts. Its just a happy "care-free" style song. Later in 1966, he wrote the song that would stay in the number one position on the billboards for longer then any other song. That song was "I'm a Believer". The song recieved the most success with its original singers, "The Monkees". Neil did record the song later though.

In 1967, Neil Diamond wrote "Red, Red Wine". It was written as a country ballad, and didnt recieve much fame on the billboards. But it was in 1988 that UB40 recorded the song and made it a hit, singing it in Raggae style.

Neil Diamond made a big move in 1968, he was at a dispute with Bang Records, who werent exactly enthusiastic about his upcoming song "Shilo". So he moved to MCA records, shilo was on the billboards, even though not high. But it remains the favorite song for many of his fans. "Brooklyn Roads" was another song that was written more for Neil then for the audience. It was a very personaly song.

Perhaps the greatest display of Neil Diamond's talent, was in his movie "The Jazz Singer". Neil was to remake the movie that had already been remade in 1951 from the original in the 1920s. It was certainly a difficult task, and with so much singing involved, he would need new songs. But did this slow him down? Not one bit!

He wrote 3 of perhaps his greatest songs for the ablum. They were "Love on the Rocks", "Hello Again" and "America". Each of these songs reached the top 10 on the billboard. Love on the Rocks is in a jazz style, with a strong chorus in the middle. Hello again is pretty similiar the whole way through, its just a nice love song. America, is one of Neil's most famous songs, its hard to tell which portion of the song is the main portion, because it keeps moving on, its an up-tempo song with a great message, and that is about this great country. With these 3 hit songs, the Jazz Singer sold over 6,000,000 copies of its soundtrack.

Neil has recorded over 40 albums, and recorded over 100 songs that he has written. His style is hard to pin point, it varies from a waltz, to classic rock and roll, to a piano and singer gig, to even a harder beat. But he never "changes" his style. After writing "Headed for the Future" a very heavy song, he wrote "Hooked On The Memory of You" which is a very calm song. He has never compromised his music, it is very similiar today as it 30 years ago.

Even though many peole will tell you Neil never gets the fame or credit he deserves, he is still widely known, and remembered. He may be remembered for "Sweet Caroline", "America", "Brother Love" or "You Dont Bring Me Flowers", but one thing is sure: He was, and is, a musical prodigy!

 

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