History of Neil Diamond in Timeline
Neil Diamond is a highly successful American singer-songwriter. Renowned for his distinctive baritone voice and captivating performances, Diamond has sold over 130 million records globally, solidifying his status as one of the best-selling music artists ever. His extensive discography includes numerous chart-topping hits, showcasing his talent for crafting memorable melodies and emotionally resonant lyrics. Diamond's impact on popular music spans decades, and his enduring popularity continues to resonate with audiences worldwide.
1917: Birth of Father, Akeeba "Kieve" Diamond
In 1917, Neil Diamond's father, Akeeba "Kieve" Diamond, was born.
1918: Birth of Mother, Rose Rapoport
In 1918, Neil Diamond's mother, Rose (née Rapoport), was born.
January 24, 1941: Neil Diamond Born
On January 24, 1941, Neil Leslie Diamond was born. He would become 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 while attending New York University on a fencing scholarship.
1962: First Recording Contract as "Neil and Jack"
In 1962, Neil Diamond's first recording contract was billed as "Neil and Jack", a duet with high school friend Jack Packer, resulting in the release of unsuccessful singles. He also signed with Columbia Records as a solo performer later that year.
July 1963: Columbia Records Releases "Clown Town" 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, leading to Columbia dropping him from their label.
1963: Marriage to Jaye Posner
In 1963, Neil Diamond married his high-school sweetheart, Jaye Posner.
November 1965: First Success as Songwriter with "Sunday and Me"
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: "I'm a Believer" Becomes Popular Music Song of the Year
In 1966, "I'm a Believer", written by Neil Diamond and performed by The Monkees, became the Popular Music Song of the Year after staying at the top of the charts for seven weeks and quickly becoming a gold record.
1966: Signed with Bang Records
In 1966, Neil Diamond signed a deal with Bert Berns's Bang Records and released "Solitary Man", his first true hit as a solo artist.
1967: Separation from Jaye Posner
In 1967, Neil Diamond separated from his wife, Jaye Posner.
1967: Appearance on Mannix
In 1967, Neil Diamond was featured as the 'featured' artist in a small underground club called 'The Bad Scene' on the detective drama Mannix.
March 1968: Signed Deal with Uni Records
In March 1968, Neil Diamond signed a deal with Uni Records, which was later consolidated into MCA Records and eventually Universal Music.
1968: Desire for Ambitious Music
In 1968, Neil Diamond wanted to record more ambitious music, beginning with "Brooklyn Roads".
December 5, 1969: Marriage to Marcia Murphey
On December 5, 1969, Neil Diamond married production assistant Marcia Murphey.
1969: Divorce from Jaye Posner
In 1969, Neil Diamond divorced his first wife, Jaye Posner.
1969: Move to Los Angeles and Release of "Sweet Caroline"
In 1969, Neil Diamond moved to Los Angeles, California. He also released "Sweet Caroline" in 1969.
1969: Recorded Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show
In 1969, Neil Diamond recorded the album Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show at American Sound Studios in Memphis.
1970: Release of "Cracklin' Rosie"
In 1970, Neil Diamond released "Cracklin' Rosie", which reached No. 1 on the Hot 100 chart.
1971: Seven Sold-Out Concerts at the Greek Theater
In 1971, Neil Diamond played seven sold-out concerts at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, with a 35-piece string orchestra and six backing singers, prompting a leading newspaper to call it 'the finest concert in Greek Theater history.'
1971: Release of "I Am...I Said"
In 1971, Neil Diamond released "I Am...I Said", which was a Top 5 hit in both the US and UK and took over four months to complete.
August 1972: Ten Shows at the Greek Theater
In August 1972, Neil Diamond performed ten shows at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, utilizing a quadraphonic sound system for full surround sound.
August 24, 1972: Recorded Hot August Night
On August 24, 1972, Neil Diamond's performance was recorded and released as the live double album 'Hot August Night,' which is considered by many to be his best work.
1972: 20 Consecutive Nights at the Winter Garden Theater
In 1972, Neil Diamond performed for 20 consecutive nights at the Winter Garden Theater in New York City, becoming the first rock-era star to headline on Broadway in the approximately 1,600-seat venue.
1972: Release of "Song Sung Blue"
In 1972, Neil Diamond released "Song Sung Blue", which reached No. 1 on the Hot 100 chart.
1973: Switched to Columbia Records
In 1973, Neil Diamond switched labels, returning to Columbia Records for a million-dollar-advance-per-album contract.
1974: Release of 'Serenade' Album and TV Appearance
In 1974, Neil Diamond released the album Serenade, featuring the singles "Longfellow Serenade" and "I've Been This Way Before". That same year, he appeared on a TV special for Shirley Bassey and sang a duet with her.
July 2, 1976: Opening of the Aladdin Hotel's Theater For the Performing Arts
On July 2, 1976, Neil Diamond was paid $650,000 to open the new $10 million Theater For the Performing Arts at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas. The show played through July 5 and was attended by a "who's who" of Hollywood, and Diamond received a standing ovation.
1976: Performed Jonathan Livingston Seagull Suite
In 1976, Neil Diamond often included a Jonathan Livingston Seagull suite in his live performances.
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, he appeared at The Band's farewell concert, The Last Waltz, performing "Dry Your Eyes" and joining the other performers in a rendition of Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released".
1976: Return to Live Performances
In 1976, Neil Diamond returned to live performances after a four-year break, during which he worked on the score for 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull' and recorded two albums.
1976: Return to Live Shows with Australian Tour and Greek Theater Concert
In 1976, Neil Diamond returned to live shows with "The 'Thank You Australia' Concert", broadcast to 36 television outlets nationwide. He also appeared at the Greek Theater in a concert called Love at the Greek. An album and DVD of the show included a version of "Song Sung Blue" with duets with Helen Reddy and Henry Winkler.
February 1977: Triumph in Court and Purchase of Bang-Era Master Tapes
In February 1977, Neil Diamond triumphed in court, purchasing the rights to his Bang-era master tapes after a series of lawsuits stemming from a contract dispute.
July 2, 1977: Performance at Woburn Abbey
On July 2, 1977, Neil Diamond performed at Woburn Abbey in England to an audience of 55,000 British fans. The concert and interviews were taped by film director William Friedkin.
1977: Release of 'I'm Glad You're Here with Me Tonight'
In 1977, Neil Diamond released the album I'm Glad You're Here with Me Tonight, which included the song "You Don't Bring Me Flowers", co-written with Alan 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", spurred by the success of radio mash-ups, hit No. 1 on the charts.
February 1979: Release of "Forever in Blue Jeans" as a Single
In February 1979, "Forever in Blue Jeans", co-written with his guitarist, Richard Bennett, was released as a single from Neil Diamond's album 'You Don't Bring Me Flowers'.
1979: Diamond Collapses on Stage and Undergoes Surgery
In 1979, Neil Diamond collapsed on stage in San Francisco and was hospitalized for a 12-hour operation to remove a tumor on his spine. He lost feeling in his right leg prior to collapsing.
1980: Diamond and Streisand perform at the Grammy awards ceremony
In 1980, Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand appeared unannounced at the Grammy awards ceremony, where they performed "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" to a surprised audience.
1980: Filming 'The Jazz Singer'
In 1980, Neil Diamond began principal photography on his film The Jazz Singer after recovering from a long rehabilitation process following spinal surgery.
1980: Screen Debut in The Jazz Singer
In 1980, Neil Diamond made his screen debut in the musical drama film, 'The Jazz Singer'.
1980: Starring in 'The Jazz Singer' Remake and Soundtrack Success
In 1980, Neil Diamond starred in a remake of 'The Jazz Singer' alongside Laurence Olivier and Lucie Arnaz. Despite poor reviews, the soundtrack spawned three top-10 singles: "Love on the Rocks", "Hello Again", and "America".
1982: "Heartlight" Inspired by E.T. and Legal Threats
In 1982, Neil Diamond's song "Heartlight" was inspired by the movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, leading to legal threats from Universal Pictures against Diamond and Columbia Records.
1984: Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
In 1984, Neil Diamond was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, recognizing his significant contributions to songwriting.
1985: Death of Father, Akeeba "Kieve" Diamond
In 1985, Neil Diamond's father, Akeeba "Kieve" Diamond, passed away.
1986: Billboard Ranks Diamond as Most Profitable Solo Performer and TV Special
In 1986, Billboard magazine ranked Neil Diamond as the most profitable solo performer. He released his 17th studio album, Headed for the Future, and starred in Hello Again, his first television special in nine years.
January 1987: Diamond Sings National Anthem at Super Bowl
In January 1987, Neil Diamond sang the national anthem at the Super Bowl.
1988: "America" Becomes Theme for Dukakis Campaign
In 1988, Neil Diamond's song "America" became the theme song for Michael Dukakis's presidential campaign. British band UB40's reggae version of Diamond's "Red Red Wine" topped the Billboard charts.
1993: Opening of the 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 to a crowd of over 27,000.
1994: End of marriage to Marcia Murphey
Neil Diamond's marriage to Marcia Murphey ended in either 1994 or 1995.
1995: End of marriage to Marcia Murphey
Neil Diamond's marriage to Marcia Murphey ended in either 1994 or 1995.
1996: Relationship with Rae Farley
In 1996, Neil Diamond began a relationship with Australian Rae Farley after meeting in Brisbane, Australia.
1999: Consolidation of MCA Labels into Universal Music
In 1999, MCA Inc. consolidated its labels into MCA Records, which was then named Universal Music after merging with PolyGram.
2000: Appearance with Super Diamond
In 2000, Neil Diamond appeared onstage with a Diamond tribute band, Super Diamond, surprising them before their show at House of Blues in Los Angeles.
2000: Received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award
In 2000, Neil Diamond received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating his long and successful career in songwriting.
2000: Hot August Night Remastered
In 2000, the album Hot August Night was remastered and re-released with additional selections.
September 11, 2001: Modified Lyrics to "America" After 9/11 Attacks
Following the attacks on September 11, 2001, Neil Diamond changed the lyric at the end of his song "America" during his world tour, from "They're coming to America" to "Stand up for America!".
2001: Cameo in Saving Silverman
In 2001, Neil Diamond made an extended cameo appearance as himself in the comedy film Saving Silverman and wrote the song "I Believe in Happy Endings" for the film. He also sat in with the tribute band Super Diamond at the film's premiere party.
November 8, 2005: Release of '12 Songs' Album
On November 8, 2005, Neil Diamond's album '12 Songs', produced by Rick Rubin, was released. It was also one of the last albums to be pressed and released by Sony BMG with Extended Copy Protection software.
2007: Colorful Beaded Shirts Designed Until 2007
From the 1970s until approximately 2007, Bill Whitten designed and made colorful beaded shirts for Neil Diamond to wear in concert.
2007: Statement about "Sweet Caroline" Inspiration
In 2007, Neil Diamond stated he wrote "Sweet Caroline" for Caroline Kennedy after seeing her on the cover of Life in an equestrian riding outfit.
2007: Induction into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame
In 2007, Neil Diamond was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame.
March 19, 2008: Guest Mentor on American Idol
On March 19, 2008, it was announced that Neil Diamond would be a guest mentor to the remaining contestants on American Idol, who would sing Diamond songs.
April 8, 2008: Announcement of Fenway Park Concert
On April 8, 2008, Neil Diamond announced he would be appearing at Fenway Park "live in concert" on August 23, 2008, as part of his world tour. The announcement came during the traditional eighth-inning singalong of "Sweet Caroline".
April 28, 2008: Performance on Jimmy Kimmel Building Roof
On April 28, 2008, Neil Diamond appeared on the roof of the Jimmy Kimmel building to sing "Sweet Caroline" after Kimmel was "arrested" for impersonating him.
May 2, 2008: Launch of Neil Diamond Radio on Sirius
On May 2, 2008, Sirius Satellite Radio started Neil Diamond Radio.
May 6, 2008: Release of 'Home Before Dark' Album
On May 6, 2008, Neil Diamond's album 'Home Before Dark' was released and topped the album charts in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
June 29, 2008: Performance at Glastonbury Festival
On June 29, 2008, Neil Diamond played to an estimated 108,000 fans at the Glastonbury Festival in Somerset, England. The concert faced technical problems.
August 23, 2008: Performance at Fenway Park
On August 23, 2008, Neil Diamond performed at Fenway Park as part of his world tour.
August 25, 2008: Performance at The Ohio State University with Laryngitis
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: Honored as MusiCares Person of the Year
On February 6, 2009, Neil Diamond was honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year.
July 4, 2009: Performance at Independence Day Celebration in Boston
On July 4, 2009, Neil Diamond, long loved in Boston, was invited to sing at the Independence Day celebration.
October 13, 2009: Release of 'A Cherry Cherry Christmas' Album
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 DVD 'Hot August Night/NYC', recorded during his four-night run at Madison Square Garden. CBS aired an edited version, which won the ratings hour with 13 million viewers.
November 2, 2010: Release of 'Dreams' Album
On November 2, 2010, Neil Diamond released the album Dreams, a collection of 14 interpretations of his favorite songs by artists from the rock era. The album also included a new slow-tempo arrangement of his "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 held 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 on Twitter.
December 6, 2011: Release of 'The Very Best of Neil Diamond' Compilation CD
On December 6, 2011, 'The Very Best of Neil Diamond', a compilation CD of Diamond's 23 studio recordings from various labels, was released on the Sony Legacy label.
2011: Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Kennedy Center Honoree
In 2011, Neil Diamond was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and was honored at the Kennedy Center Honors, marking a year of significant recognition for his career.
August 10, 2012: Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
On August 10, 2012, Neil Diamond received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
November 2012: Royal Variety Performance
In November 2012, Neil Diamond headlined the centenary edition of the Royal Variety Performance in the UK and appeared in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
2012: Marriage to Katie McNeil
In 2012, Neil Diamond married Katie McNeil in Los Angeles.
April 20, 2013: 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 of the first game at Fenway 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: Signing with Capitol Music Group
In January 2014, Neil Diamond signed with the Capitol Music Group unit of Universal Music Group. UMG also took over Diamond's Columbia and Bang catalogues, consolidating all of his recorded output for the first time.
July 8, 2014: Capitol Records announces Melody Road album
On July 8, 2014, Capitol Records announced that Neil Diamond's next album, Melody Road, would be released on September 30, 2014.
September 2014: Erasmus High School Concert and World Tour announcement
In September 2014, Neil Diamond performed a surprise concert at Erasmus High School in Brooklyn and announced his 2015 "Melody Road" World Tour.
September 30, 2014: Original release date of Melody Road
September 30, 2014, was the originally announced release date for Neil Diamond's album, Melody Road.
2014: Revelation about "Sweet Caroline" Inspiration
In 2014, Neil Diamond revealed in an interview on the Today show that "Sweet Caroline" was written for his then-wife, Marcia, but he used the name Caroline due to the lack of a suitable rhyme with "Marcia".
2014: Melody Road Fueled by Relationship
In 2014, Neil Diamond said that his album Melody Road was fueled by his relationship with Katie McNeil.
October 2016: Release of Acoustic Christmas Album
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 Anniversary Collection
In March 2017, Neil Diamond 50 – 50th Anniversary Collection, a career-spanning anthology, was released.
January 2018: Announcement of retirement from touring
In January 2018, Neil Diamond announced his retirement from touring after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, leading to the cancellation of tour dates in Australia and New Zealand.
2018: Received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
In 2018, Neil Diamond received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his lasting impact and contributions to the music industry.
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: Death of Mother, Rose Rapoport
In 2019, Neil Diamond's mother, Rose Rapoport, passed away.
March 7, 2020: Performance at Keep Memory Alive Gala
On March 7, 2020, despite his retirement, 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: "Sweet Caroline" COVID-19 video
On March 22, 2020, Neil Diamond posted a video to YouTube playing "Sweet Caroline" with modified lyrics about washing hands in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 2021: Announcement of A Beautiful Noise musical
In April 2021, it was reported that A Beautiful Noise, a musical based on Neil Diamond's life and songs, would open in Boston in the summer of 2022.
February 2022: Universal Music Group acquisition of Diamond's 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.
June 18, 2022: "Sweet Caroline" performance at Fenway Park
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.
2024: Value of 1960s Food Budget
In 2024, Neil Diamond's 35 cents a day food budget during his early songwriting days is equivalent to $4.
2024: Estimated Value of 1960s Sunbeam Music Publishing Wage
In 2024, the equivalent value of the $50 a week Neil Diamond earned from Sunbeam Music Publishing in his senior year of college is approximately $530 per week.
2024: Equivalent Value of 1973 Album Contract
In 2024, the value of the million-dollar-advance-per-album contract that Neil Diamond signed with Columbia Records in 1973 is equivalent to about $7.1 million per album.
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