History of Neil Diamond in Timeline
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.
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.
1962: Recording Contract as "Neil and Jack"
In 1962, Neil Diamond's first recording contract was billed as "Neil and Jack," a duet with Jack Packer, resulting in the release of unsuccessful singles. He later signed with Columbia Records as a solo performer in 1962.
July 1963: Release of "Clown Town" / "At Night" single
In July 1963, Columbia Records released Neil Diamond's single "Clown Town" / "At Night". Despite positive reviews, the single failed to make the charts, and Diamond was dropped from the label.
1963: Married Jaye Posner
In 1963, Neil Diamond married his high-school sweetheart, Jaye Posner, who had become a schoolteacher.
November 1965: "Sunday and Me" Success
In November 1965, Neil Diamond achieved his first success as a songwriter with "Sunday and Me," a Top 20 hit for Jay and the Americans.
1966: Signs with Bang Records
In 1966, Neil Diamond signed a deal with Bert Berns's Bang Records, which was then a subsidiary of Atlantic Records. His first release on the label was "Solitary Man".
1966: "I'm a Believer" Success
In 1966, Neil Diamond's "I'm a Believer" became a gold record within two days of its release and stayed at the top of the charts for seven weeks, making it the Popular Music Song of the Year.
1967: Separated from Jaye Posner
In 1967, Neil Diamond separated from his first wife, Jaye Posner.
1967: Appearance on Mannix
In 1967, Neil Diamond was featured as the 'featured' artist on the fourth episode of the detective drama Mannix in a small underground club called 'The Bad Scene'.
March 1968: Signs with Uni Records
In March 1968, Neil Diamond signed a deal with Uni Records. Uni Records was named after Universal Pictures.
1968: Desire for Introspective Music
Starting in 1968, Neil Diamond began to feel restricted by Bang Records as he wanted to record more ambitious, introspective music like "Brooklyn Roads".
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: Recording "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show"
In early 1969, Neil Diamond recorded the album 'Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show' at American Sound Studios in Memphis with Tommy Cogbill and Chips Moman producing.
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.
1969: Release of "Sweet Caroline"
Neil Diamond's signature song "Sweet Caroline" was originally released in 1969.
1970: Release of "Cracklin' Rosie"
In 1970, Neil Diamond released "Cracklin' Rosie", which reached No. 1 on the Hot 100.
1971: Sold-Out Concerts at the Greek Theater
In 1971, Neil Diamond played seven sold-out concerts at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. The venue added a stereo sound system for the first time, and Diamond was backed by a 35-piece string orchestra and six backing singers.
1971: Release of "I Am...I Said"
In 1971, Neil Diamond released "I Am...I Said", which became a Top 5 hit in both the US and UK and was his most intensely personal effort to date.
August 1972: Ten Shows at the Greek Theater
In August 1972, Neil Diamond performed ten shows at the Greek Theater. Tickets sold out rapidly, and he added a quadraphonic sound system for surround sound.
August 24, 1972: Recording of Hot August Night
On August 24, 1972, Neil Diamond's performance at the Greek Theater was recorded and later released as the live double album 'Hot August Night'.
1972: Release of "Song Sung Blue"
In 1972, Neil Diamond released "Song Sung Blue", which reached No. 1 on the Hot 100.
1972: 20 Consecutive Nights at Winter Garden Theater
In the fall of 1972, Neil Diamond performed for 20 consecutive nights at the Winter Garden Theater in New York City, making him the first rock-era star to headline on Broadway.
1973: Signs with Columbia Records
In 1973, Neil Diamond switched labels again, returning to Columbia Records for a million-dollar-advance-per-album contract.
1974: Release of Serenade and TV Appearance
In 1974, Neil Diamond released the album Serenade, featuring the singles "Longfellow Serenade" and "I've Been This Way Before." Also in 1974, he appeared on a TV special for Shirley Bassey and sang a duet with her.
July 2, 1976: Opening of Aladdin Hotel's Theater For the Performing Arts
On July 2, 1976, Neil Diamond was paid $650,000 by the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, to open its new $10 million Theater For the Performing Arts. The show played through July 5 and drew sold-out crowds. A "who's who" of Hollywood attended opening night.
1976: Return to Live Performances
After a four-year break, Neil Diamond returned to live performances in 1976.
1976: Performances at the Greek and in Las Vegas
In 1976, Neil Diamond included a Jonathan Livingston Seagull suite in his live performances, as he did in his Love at the Greek concert and for his show in Las Vegas that same year.
1976: Release of Beautiful Noise and Appearance at The Last Waltz
In 1976, Neil Diamond released the album Beautiful Noise, produced by Robbie Robertson. On Thanksgiving 1976, Diamond appeared at The Band's farewell concert, The Last Waltz, performing "Dry Your Eyes" and joining the ensemble for "I Shall Be Released."
1976: Australian Tour and Greek Theater Concert
In 1976, Neil Diamond returned to live shows with an Australian tour, "The 'Thank You Australia' Concert", which was broadcast to 36 television outlets nationwide. In 1976, he also appeared at the Greek Theater in a concert, Love at the Greek, where he performed "Song Sung Blue" with Helen Reddy and Henry Winkler.
February 1977: Triumph in Court
In February 1977, Neil Diamond triumphed in court and purchased the rights to his Bang-era master tapes, resolving a long-standing contract dispute.
July 2, 1977: Woburn Abbey Performance
On July 2, 1977, Neil Diamond performed at Woburn Abbey to an audience of 55,000 British fans. The concert and interviews were filmed by William Friedkin.
1977: Release of I'm Glad You're Here with Me Tonight
In 1977, Neil Diamond released I'm Glad You're Here with Me Tonight, which included "You Don't Bring Me Flowers", co-written with Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman.
1978: "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" Hits No. 1
In 1978, the Neil Diamond-Barbra Streisand duet of "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" hit No. 1 on the charts, becoming Diamond's third song to top the Hot 100.
February 1979: Release of "Forever in Blue Jeans"
In February 1979, "Forever in Blue Jeans," co-written with Richard Bennett, was released as a single from Neil Diamond's previous year's album, You Don't Bring Me Flowers.
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.
1980: Grammy Performance with Barbra Streisand
In 1980, Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand made an unannounced appearance at the Grammy Awards ceremony, where they performed "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" to a surprised and enthusiastic audience.
1980: Screen Debut in The Jazz Singer
In 1980, Neil Diamond made his screen debut in the musical drama film, 'The Jazz Singer'.
1982: "Heartlight" Inspired by E.T. and Legal Threat
In 1982, Neil Diamond's "Heartlight" was inspired by the movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Universal Pictures threatened legal action due to the film's title character not being mentioned in the lyrics.
1984: Induction into Songwriters Hall of Fame
In 1984, Neil Diamond was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, recognizing his significant contributions to songwriting.
1985: Akeeba "Kieve" Diamond Death
In 1985, Akeeba "Kieve" Diamond, Neil Diamond's father, passed away.
1986: Most Profitable Solo Performer and TV Special
In 1986, Billboard magazine ranked Neil Diamond as the most profitable solo performer. In 1986, he released his 17th studio album, Headed for the Future, and starred in Hello Again, his first television special in nine years.
January 1987: Super Bowl National Anthem Performance
In January 1987, Neil Diamond sang the national anthem at the Super Bowl.
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.
1993: Opening of Mark of the Quad Cities
In 1993, Neil Diamond opened the Mark of the Quad Cities (now the iWireless Center) with two shows on May 27 and 28, attracting over 27,000 attendees.
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.
2000: Appearance with Super Diamond
In 2000, Neil Diamond appeared onstage with the Neil Diamond tribute band, Super Diamond, surprising them before their show at House of Blues in Los Angeles.
2000: Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award
In 2000, Neil Diamond received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating his lifelong contributions to music.
2000: 'Hot August Night' Remastered
In 2000, the album 'Hot August Night' by Neil Diamond was remastered with additional selections.
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!"
2001: Cameo appearance in Saving Silverman
In 2001, Neil Diamond made a cameo appearance as himself in the comedy film Saving Silverman, also writing and composing the song "I Believe in Happy Endings" for the film and sitting in with the tribute band Super Diamond at the premiere party.
November 8, 2005: Release of 12 Songs Album
On November 8, 2005, Neil Diamond released 12 Songs, produced by Rick Rubin, in two editions. The album debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard chart and was one of the last to include Extended Copy Protection software.
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.
2007: Inspiration Behind "Sweet Caroline"
In 2007, Neil Diamond said he had written "Sweet Caroline" for Caroline Kennedy after seeing her on the cover of Life in an equestrian riding outfit.
2007: Induction into Long Island Music Hall of Fame
In 2007, Neil Diamond was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame.
March 19, 2008: American Idol Guest Mentor Announcement
On March 19, 2008, it was announced on American Idol that Neil Diamond would be a guest mentor to the remaining contestants, who would sing his songs on April 29 and 30, 2008.
April 8, 2008: Fenway Park Concert Announcement
On April 8, 2008, Neil Diamond announced a concert at Fenway Park on August 23, 2008, during the traditional eighth-inning singalong of "Sweet Caroline."
April 28, 2008: Performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
On April 28, 2008, Neil Diamond appeared on the roof of the Jimmy Kimmel building to sing "Sweet Caroline" after Kimmel's impersonation of him.
May 2, 2008: Launch of Neil Diamond Radio
On May 2, 2008, Sirius Satellite Radio started Neil Diamond Radio.
May 6, 2008: Release of Home Before Dark
On May 6, 2008, Neil Diamond's album Home Before Dark was released and topped album charts in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
June 29, 2008: Glastonbury Festival Performance
On June 29, 2008, Neil Diamond played to an estimated 108,000 fans at the Glastonbury Festival in Somerset, England, though technical issues marred the concert.
August 23, 2008: Fenway Park Concert
On August 23, 2008, Neil Diamond performed at Fenway Park as part of his world tour.
August 25, 2008: Ohio State University Performance and Refund Offer
On August 25, 2008, Neil Diamond performed at The Ohio State University while suffering from laryngitis and offered refunds to disappointed fans.
February 6, 2009: MusiCares Person of the Year Honor
On February 6, 2009, Neil Diamond was honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year, two nights before the 51st Annual Grammy Awards.
July 4, 2009: Independence Day Performance in Boston
On July 4, 2009, Neil Diamond performed at the Independence Day celebration in Boston.
October 13, 2009: Release of A Cherry Cherry Christmas
On October 13, 2009, Neil Diamond released A Cherry Cherry Christmas, his third album of holiday music.
2009: Release of Hot August Night/NYC DVD
In 2009, Neil Diamond released the Hot August Night/NYC DVD, one year after recording his four-night run at Madison Square Garden. The DVD debuted at No. 2 and an edited version aired on CBS, winning its ratings hour.
November 2, 2010: Release of Dreams Album
On November 2, 2010, Neil Diamond released the album Dreams, featuring interpretations of his favorite songs and a new arrangement of "I'm a Believer."
March 14, 2011: Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
On March 14, 2011, Neil Diamond was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at a ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.
September 7, 2011: Engagement to Katie McNeil
On September 7, 2011, Neil Diamond announced his engagement to Katie McNeil via Twitter.
December 6, 2011: Release of The Very Best of Neil Diamond
On December 6, 2011, The Very Best of Neil Diamond, a compilation CD of Diamond's studio recordings, was released on the Sony Legacy label.
2011: Induction into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Kennedy Center Honors
In 2011, Neil Diamond was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and was also an honoree at the Kennedy Center Honors.
August 10, 2012: Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
On August 10, 2012, Neil Diamond received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
November 2012: Topped the bill at the Royal Variety Performance
In November 2012, Neil Diamond headlined the centenary edition of the Royal Variety Performance in the UK.
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.
July 4, 2013: Performance at A Capitol Fourth
On July 4, 2013, Neil Diamond, sporting a beard, performed live on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol as part of A Capitol Fourth, which was broadcast nationally by PBS.
January 2014: Signed with Capitol Music Group
In January 2014, Neil Diamond signed with the Capitol Music Group unit of Universal Music Group, consolidating all his recorded output for the first time.
July 8, 2014: Capitol Records Announces "Melody Road"
On July 8, 2014, Capitol Records announced that Neil Diamond's next album, Melody Road, produced by Don Was and Jacknife Lee, would be released on September 30, 2014, via a flyer included with the All-Time Greatest Hits compilation.
September 2014: Surprise concert at Erasmus High School and "Melody Road" World Tour announcement
In September 2014, Neil Diamond performed a surprise concert at Erasmus High School in Brooklyn and announced the 2015 "Melody Road" World Tour on the same day.
September 30, 2014: Initial Release Date for "Melody Road"
Originally, September 30, 2014 was set as the release date for Neil Diamond's album Melody Road, but it was later moved to October 21.
2014: True Inspiration Behind "Sweet Caroline" Revealed
In 2014, Neil Diamond revealed in an interview that "Sweet Caroline" was written for his then-wife, Marcia, but he used the name Caroline because he couldn't find a rhyme for Marcia.
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.
October 2016: Release of Acoustic Christmas
In October 2016, Neil Diamond released Acoustic Christmas, a folk-inspired Christmas album of original songs and acoustic versions of holiday classics, produced by Don Was and Jacknife Lee.
March 2017: Release of "Neil Diamond 50 – 50th Anniversary Collection"
In March 2017, the career-spanning anthology Neil Diamond 50 – 50th Anniversary Collection was released.
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.
2018: Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
In 2018, Neil Diamond received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring his significant impact on the music industry throughout his career.
2019: "Sweet Caroline" selected for preservation
In 2019, Neil Diamond's 1969 signature song "Sweet Caroline" was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry.
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.
April 2021: Announcement of "A Beautiful Noise" Musical
In April 2021, the New York Times reported that A Beautiful Noise, a musical based on Neil Diamond's life, would open in Boston in the summer of 2022 before moving to Broadway.
February 2022: Universal Music Group acquired Diamond's songwriting catalog
In February 2022, Universal Music Group acquired Neil Diamond's songwriting catalog and the rights to his Bang Records, Columbia Records, and Capitol recordings, including unreleased tracks and videos.
June 18, 2022: Appearance at Red Sox game
On June 18, 2022, Neil Diamond sang "Sweet Caroline" during the 8th-inning stretch of a Red Sox game at Fenway Park, joined by Will Swenson from the musical A Beautiful Noise.
2022: Premiere of "A Beautiful Noise" musical
In the summer of 2022, A Beautiful Noise, a musical based on Neil Diamond's life and featuring his songs, was scheduled to premiere at the Emerson Colonial Theater in Boston before opening on Broadway.
2024: Value of Million-Dollar Album Contract Adjusted for Inflation
In 1973, Neil Diamond signed with Columbia Records for a million-dollar-advance-per-album contract (about $7.1 million per album in 2024).
2024: Value of Sunbeam Music Publishing job adjusted for inflation
In Neil Diamond's senior year, Sunbeam Music Publishing offered him a 16-week job writing songs for $50 a week (equivalent to about $530 per week in 2024).
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