Childhood and Education Journey of Neil Diamond in Timeline

An overview of the childhood and early education of Neil Diamond, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

Neil Diamond is a highly successful American singer-songwriter, celebrated as one of the best-selling music artists globally, with over 130 million records sold. His career spans decades, marked by numerous hit songs and albums that have resonated with a broad audience. Diamond's musical style blends pop, rock, and folk elements, contributing to his widespread appeal and enduring legacy in the music industry.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Legacy & Impact

1917: Akeeba "Kieve" Diamond Born

In 1917, Akeeba "Kieve" Diamond, Neil Diamond's father, was born. He later married Rose Rapoport and worked as a dry-goods merchant.

1918: Rose Rapoport Born

In 1918, Rose Rapoport, Neil Diamond's mother, was born. She later married Akeeba "Kieve" Diamond.

January 24, 1941: Neil Diamond Born

On January 24, 1941, Neil Leslie Diamond was born. He later became a highly successful American singer-songwriter, selling over 130 million records worldwide.

1960: Member of NCAA Championship Fencing Team

In 1960, Neil Diamond was a member of the NCAA men's championship fencing team at New York University.

1963: Married Jaye Posner

In 1963, Neil Diamond married his high-school sweetheart, Jaye Posner, who had become a schoolteacher.

1967: Separated from Jaye Posner

In 1967, Neil Diamond separated from his first wife, Jaye Posner.

December 5, 1969: Married Marcia Murphey

On December 5, 1969, Neil Diamond married production assistant Marcia Murphey.

1969: Divorced Jaye Posner

In 1969, Neil Diamond divorced his first wife, Jaye Posner, after separating in 1967.

1969: Move to Los Angeles and Release of "Sweet Caroline" and "Holly Holy"

In mid-1969, Neil Diamond moved to Los Angeles. In 1969, he released songs such as "Sweet Caroline" and "Holly Holy", marking a mellowing of his sound.

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1979: Collapse on Stage and Tumor Removal

In 1979, Neil Diamond collapsed on stage in San Francisco and underwent a 12-hour operation to remove a tumor on his spine. He had been losing feeling in his right leg for years and wrote farewell letters to friends, fearing he would die.

1985: Akeeba "Kieve" Diamond Death

In 1985, Akeeba "Kieve" Diamond, Neil Diamond's father, passed away.

1988: "America" Used in Dukakis Campaign and UB40's "Red Red Wine" Success

In 1988, Neil Diamond's "America" became the theme song for the Michael Dukakis presidential campaign. Also in 1988, UB40's reggae version of "Red Red Wine" topped the Billboard charts, becoming more well-known than Diamond's original.

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1992: Performance for President Bush's Christmas Special

In 1992, Neil Diamond performed for President George H. W. Bush's final Christmas in Washington NBC special.

1994: End of Marriage to Marcia Murphey

Neil Diamond's marriage to Marcia Murphey ended around 1994 or 1995.

1995: End of Marriage to Marcia Murphey

Neil Diamond's marriage to Marcia Murphey ended around 1994 or 1995.

1996: Began relationship with Rae Farley

In 1996, Neil Diamond began a relationship with Australian Rae Farley after they met in Brisbane, Australia.

1999: MCA and PolyGram merge into Universal Music

In 1999, MCA Inc. consolidated its labels into MCA Records and later renamed itself Universal Music after merging with PolyGram.

September 11, 2001: Altered Lyrics of 'America' After 9/11 Attacks

Following the attacks on America on September 11, 2001, during his world tour, Neil Diamond changed the lyrics of his song "America" at the end from "They're coming to America" to "Stand up for America!"

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2007: End of Beaded Shirt Era

Around 2007, Bill Whitten stopped designing and making the colorful beaded shirts that Neil Diamond had worn in concert since the 1970s. Diamond originally wore them so that everyone in the audience could see him without binoculars.

September 7, 2011: Engagement to Katie McNeil

On September 7, 2011, Neil Diamond announced his engagement to Katie McNeil via Twitter.

2012: Married Katie McNeil

In 2012, Neil Diamond married Katie McNeil in Los Angeles.

April 20, 2013: Unannounced appearance at Fenway Park

On April 20, 2013, Neil Diamond made an unannounced appearance at Fenway Park to sing "Sweet Caroline" during the 8th inning at the first game since the Boston Marathon bombing.

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2014: "Melody Road" fueled by relationship with Katie McNeil

Neil Diamond stated that his 2014 album Melody Road was fueled by his relationship with Katie McNeil.

January 2018: Retirement from touring announced

In January 2018, Neil Diamond announced that he would stop touring after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, cancelling tour dates in Australia and New Zealand, but would continue writing, recording, and developing new projects.

July 28, 2018: Visit to Incident Command post in Basalt, Colorado

On July 28, 2018, Neil Diamond and his wife, Katie, visited the Incident Command post in Basalt, Colorado, to thank firefighters for containing the Lake Christine Fire, performing a solo acoustic guitar concert in their honor.

2019: Rose Diamond Death

In 2019, Rose Diamond (née Rapoport), Neil Diamond's mother, passed away.

March 7, 2020: Performance at Keep Memory Alive Power of Love Gala

On March 7, 2020, despite his retirement due to Parkinson's disease, Neil Diamond gave a rare performance at the Keep Memory Alive Power of Love Gala in Las Vegas, where he was being honored.

March 22, 2020: YouTube Video of Modified "Sweet Caroline"

On March 22, 2020, Neil Diamond posted a video to YouTube playing "Sweet Caroline" with modified lyrics to address social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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2020: "Sweet Caroline" adopted by England football fans

In 2020, following England's victory over Germany at Wembley in Euro 2020, fans of the England national football team started singing Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" after the Wembley DJ played it, becoming a trend.

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