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Neil Diamond is one of the best-selling artists in history, having sold over 100 million records worldwide over the course of his long and prosperous career. Diamond has also received numerous honors in recognition of his contributions to the music industry.
Neil Diamond’s songs have been huge hits for artists ranging from Frank Sinatra to UB40. Many people are unaware that Diamond penned “Red Red Wine,” which was made famous by UB40, “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon,” which was made famous by Urge Overkill and used in the film “Pulp Fiction,” and “I’m a Believer,” which was made famous by The Monkees.
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Early Years
Neil Leslie Diamond was born in Brooklyn, New York on January 24, 1941. Although his father later joined the army, he was raised in a Jewish household by merchant parents. Diamond got his start in singing when he was in high school, when he joined the choir alongside a teenage Barbara Streisand. Diamond joined the fencing squad after transferring to another high school.
Neil Diamond was given a guitar as a birthday present when he was 16 years old. He was soon penning his own tunes and learning to play the guitar. Diamond’s love of songwriting sparked an interest in poetry, and he frequently composed poems for his high school crushes.
Diamond received a Fencing Scholarship to New York University after high school. Diamond was a member of the NCAA Championship squad in 1960, alongside future Olympic fencer Herb Cohen.
Despite the fact that Diamond was a pre-med student at New York University, he steadily got more and more enamored with music and less and less enamored with his studies. Neil Diamond eventually dropped out of college while he was only a few months away from graduating.
Early on in your career
Neil Diamond had been skipping classes and visiting Tin Pan Alley, a New York neighborhood where numerous music publishers and songwriters had “set up shop,” during his college years. Sunbeam Music Publishing granted him a $50 per week songwriting contract as a result of his efforts to get known. Neil Diamond dropped out of college at this point and never looked back.
Sunbeam, on the other hand, did not re-hire Diamond after his contract expired. In the early 1960s, he was compelled to attempt a solo career, penning songs and releasing unsuccessful singles. Despite the fact that these singles were commercial flops, positive reviews drew Columbia Records’ notice, and they signed him — only to drop him after a string of failures.
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Success in Songwriting
Diamond lived on less than $3 a day in today’s money for the following few years. He spent the most of his time writing songs, several of which would go on to become hits in the future.
After writing songs for musicians such as The Monkees, Neil Diamond had considerable popularity by 1965. Elvis Presley began to cover Diamond’s songs as well. Diamond joined with Bang Records in 1966, and with successes like “Solitary Man,” “Cherry, Cherry,” and “Kentucky Woman,” he finally broke through to the masses.
Diamond signed to Uni Records after being disappointed with Bang Records and released his debut album, Velvet Gloves and Spit. Diamond’s trademark, mellow style emerged in the late 1960s with successes like “Sweet Caroline” and “Holly Holy.” He subsequently spent the majority of the following decade travelling, often as a one-man show.
Success
Diamond returned to Columbia in 1973 to sign a deal that would pay him a $1 million advance every album. The contract would be worth about $5.75 million in today’s money. He released the album Serenade in 1974. Diamond received a $650,000 salary from the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas in 1975 to perform for the grand inauguration of their new $10 million theater. Diamond’s payment is nearly comparable to $3 million in today’s money.
Neil Diamond spent part of 1979 undergoing surgery to remove a tumor in his spine after rounding out the 1970s with the album September Morn. Diamond’s legs had been drained of all strength by the tumor, leading him to collapse violently on stage.
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Diamond starred in the film The Jazz Singer in the 1980s. Because Diamond had no acting experience, the picture was a catastrophic failure. Diamond also performed at the Superbowl in the 1980s. Diamond continued to pursue his music career in the 1990s, releasing six new albums. Diamond’s career slowed after the new century, but he continued to record albums and participate on TV shows such as American Idol. He was enshrined in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2011.
Sale of Catalogs
Neil agreed to sell his complete song portfolio as well as recording rights to Universal Music Group for an unknown sum in February 2022. The price is well over $200 million, based on previous catalog sales and the size of the Diamond catalog.
The deal includes an unpublished album and over 100 previously unreleased songs.
Parkinson’s Disease and Touring Retirement
Neil Diamond revealed that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2018. Tremors, stiffness, constipation, and trouble completing motor tasks such as walking and talking are all symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, which is the second most common neurodegenerative ailment in the United States after Alzheimer’s disease. Many persons with Parkinson’s disease eventually develop dementia.
Despite the fact that Neil Diamond announced his retirement from touring after his diagnosis, he revealed in 2020 that he was taking drugs and doing special workouts to cope with the illness’s effects. Despite the fact that he can no longer travel the way he used to, he expressed optimism about his condition.
Relationships
Neil Diamond’s first marriage was to Jayne Posner, whom he met while still in high school. They married in 1963, divorced in 1969, and then remarried in 1967. The couple had two children together during this time.
Neil Diamond married Marcia Murphey, a production assistant, shortly after his divorce in 1969. They had two children together during the course of their 25-year marriage before divorcing in 1995.
After meeting in Brisbane in 1996, Diamond began seeing an Australian woman named Rae Farley. Five years later, they broke up.
Neil Diamond announced his engagement to Katie McNeil in 2011, despite the fact that she is approximately 30 years his junior. In 2012, the couple tied the knot. Diamond’s manager is Katie McNeil, who also created a documentary about her spouse. McNeil has been described as a source of inspiration for Neil Diamond’s songs.
Purchasing Real Estate
Neil Diamond bought a large estate in 2017 that media reports described as “magnificent.” The $7.25 million estate is located in Blue Whale Estates, an ultra-exclusive community with only five residences. Diamond’s mansion, with 4,692 square feet, is by far the largest of the five.
The five-bedroom house has vaulted ceilings in the great room, among other amenities. With a spa, patio, and infinity pool, there’s much to do outside as well. Neil Diamond was able to secure the estate for less than the $8.15 million price tag the sellers paid to acquire it in 2010.
Net Worth
Neil Diamond is an American singer with a $300 million net worth. Neil Diamond’s enormous net worth reflects his well-deserved status as one of the world’s most successful performers.
