Neil Diamond Biography

For his sixteenth birthday, Diamond was given a guitar and began composing music for fun. His interest and ability grew and, while studying at NYU, he dropped out to work as a professional songwriter for $50 a week. He struggled along for a few years before being rewarded with work at Bang Records, in 1965.

With Bang behind him, Diamond wrote the hits 'Solitary Man' and 'I’m a believer', the song that took the Monkees to the top of the US charts. His own debut album, 'The Feel of Neil Diamond' did not not enjoy the same success.

Diamond moved to work at MCA and produced a series of pop hits that won him a more loyal audience. 'Hot August Night' (1972) established him as a major performer in adult pop, both as a recording artist and as a live performer. Columbia signed him to a controversial multi-million dollar deal, and his first album for them, 1973's 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull' soundtrack, went double-platinum and won him a Grammy.

Ducking out to be with his family for a few years, Diamond again went on tour in 1976; his shows sold out and his several albums went platinum in a row. Diamond remained a top concert draw for years. His most recent album, 1996's long-awaited 'Tennessee Moon', departed from Diamond's usual pop style into country territory, reaching No. 3 in the country charts.

Over two decades, Neil Diamond songs have also become hits for UB40 with 'Red Red Wine', and Urge Overkill's 'Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon'.