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Neil Diamond American singer-songwriter Neil Diamond, 2006. Neil Diamond American singer-songwriter print Print Please select which sections you would like to print: verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you he any questions. Select Citation Style Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Neil-Diamond Feedback Thank you for your feedback

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External Websites Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - Neil Diamond Turner Classic Movies - Neil Diamond AllMusic - Neil Diamond The Kennedy Center - Biography of Neil Diamond Official Site of Neil Diamond NPR - Neil Diamond: The 'Fresh Air' interview CNN - Transcripts - Interview With Neil Diamond Songwriters Hall of Fame - Neil Diamond Fresh Air Archive - Neil Diamond Liveabout.com - Neil Diamond Biography: Legendary Pop Singer-Songwriter Britannica Websites Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Neil Diamond - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) Also known as: Neil Leslie Diamond Written and fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they he extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Dec. 19, 2025 •History Top Questions What are some of Neil Diamond’s most famous songs?

Some of Neil Diamond’s most famous songs include “Solitary Man” (1966), “Sweet Caroline” (1969), “Cracklin’ Rosie” (1970), “I Am…I Said” (1971), “Song Sung Blue” (1972), and “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” (1978; a duet with Barbra Streisand). Diamond also wrote songs that were hits for other musicians, such as “I’m a Believer,” recorded by the Monkees in 1966.

How did Neil Diamond’s career begin?

Singer-songwriter Neil Diamond began his career writing pop songs for other musicians before launching a solo recording career that spanned over five decades. Originally intending to enter medical school, he left New York University during his final year of college to take a job as a staff songwriter for the Sunbeam Music Company. His tenure there was short, and he became one of a stable of songwriters who worked out of New York City’s famed Brill Building. In 1965 Diamond signed a recording contract with Bang Records, and one year later he released his debut album, The Feel of Neil. Shortly thereafter he wrote the song “I’m a Believer” (1966), which was recorded and made famous by the Monkees.

What inspired Neil Diamond to write “Sweet Caroline”?

Neil Diamond’s hit song “Sweet Caroline” (1969) was inspired by a photograph of nine-year-old Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of Pres. John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy. Many years after writing the song, Diamond revealed that it was named for her and that he was inspired to write it by the “innocent, wonderful picture” of young Caroline with her pony. In 2007 he performed the song for Kennedy’s 50th birthday.

When did Neil Diamond retire from performing?

Neil Diamond retired from performing in January 2018 following a diagnosis of Parkinson disease. However, he continued to record music.

What honors has Neil Diamond received for his music?

Neil Diamond was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1984 and received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011 and received a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement in 2018.

News • Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson on the musical alchemy of "Song Sung Blue" • Dec. 15, 2025, 1:24 AM ET (CBS)

Neil Diamond (born January 24, 1941, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.) is an American singer-songwriter known for his charismatic performance style and prolific songwriting career that produced such radio-friendly hits as “Solitary Man” (1966), “Sweet Caroline” (1969), “Song Sung Blue” (1972), and many others. He began his career writing pop songs for other musicians and then launched a solo recording career that spanned more than five decades. Diagnosed with Parkinson disease in 2018, he retired from performing but continued to record music.

From Brooklyn to the Brill Building

“Songwriting gives me the greatest joy, the greatest sense of accomplishment, the sense that my life does he some purpose.…It’s what I am.” —Neil Diamond, 1976

Diamond’s parents, Akeeba and Rose (née Rapoport) Diamond, owned and managed a series of dry goods stores, and his family moved often when Neil was young. Although they briefly lived in Wyoming while his father served in the military, Diamond mainly grew up in Brooklyn. Diamond’s interest in music began at age 16, when he obtained his first guitar as a birthday gift. His inspiration for learning the instrument and for writing songs was a performance by folk singer-songwriter Pete Seeger at a summer camp in upstate New York, where the teenage Diamond was a camper.

After graduating from high school, Diamond attended New York University with the intention of entering medical school. However, he left college during his final year to take a job as a staff songwriter for the Sunbeam Music Company. His tenure at Sunbeam was short, and he became one of a stable of songwriters who worked out of New York City’s famed Brill Building.

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In 1965 Diamond signed a recording contract with Bang Records, and one year later his debut album, The Feel of Neil, was released. Shortly thereafter he wrote the song “I’m a Believer” (1966), recorded and made famous by the Monkees. In 1967 Diamond signed a new recording contract with Uni Records, with whom he recorded such hits as “Brother Love’s Treling Salvation Show” (1969), “Cracklin’ Rosie” (1970; his first record to reach number one on the pop charts), and “I Am…I Said” (1971), the last of which earned him his first Grammy Award nomination.

One of his best-known songs from this era, “Sweet Caroline,” was inspired by a photograph of nine-year-old Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of Pres. John F. Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy. In 2007 Diamond performed the song for her 50th birthday and revealed for the first time that it was named for her. Recalling the photograph of the young Kennedy with her pony, Diamond said, “It was such an innocent, wonderful picture, I immediately felt there was a song in there.”

After leing Uni for Columbia Records, Diamond recorded the soundtrack for the film Jonathan Livingston Seagull (1973), which earned him a Grammy Award. He went on to release a string of successful albums during the 1970s, including Serenade (1974), Beautiful Noise (1976), Love at the Greek (1977), You Don’t Bring Me Flowers (1978; featuring a chart-topping duet with Barbra Streisand on the title track), and September Morn (1979).

The Jazz Singer and the pop music icon

In 1980 Diamond made his motion picture debut: He starred in a remake of the 1927 Al Jolson film The Jazz Singer, for which he also wrote and performed the soundtrack. Diamond’s acting was panned by many critics, but the movie yielded a top 10 hit with “America,” a song about the immigrant experience.

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His notable later albums include Heartlight (1982), Live in America (1994), In My Lifetime (1996), and The Neil Diamond Collection (1999). Hing written songs for other musicians early in his career, in the late 20th century Diamond saw many iconic selections from his solo catalog being covered by a new generation of artists, among them reggae band UB40 (“Red Red Wine”), singer-songwriter Chris Isaak (“Solitary Man”), and alternative rockers Urge Overkill (“Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon”; featured on the soundtrack for the 1994 film Pulp Fiction).

In the early 21st century Diamond released, among other albums, The Essential Neil Diamond (2001), Stages (2003), 12 Songs (2005; produced by Rick Rubin), Home Before Dark (2008; another collaboration with Rubin), and Melody Road (2014). He also made a cameo appearance as himself in the film Sing Silverman (2001). In January 2018, following a diagnosis of Parkinson disease, Diamond announced his retirement from touring. The 2025 film Song Sung Blue, which stars Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson as members of a Neil Diamond tribute band, is named for Diamond’s number-one hit of 1972.

Quick Facts In full: Neil Leslie Diamond Born: January 24, 1941, Brooklyn, New York, U.S. (age 84) Awards And Honors: Kennedy Center Honors (2011) Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (2011) Grammy Award (1973) See all related content Honors

Diamond was honored twice by the Songwriters Hall of Fame—first upon his induction in 1984 and later in 2000, when he was presented with the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011. Diamond also received a Kennedy Center Honor (2011) and a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement (2018). That year the U.S. Library of Congress added “Sweet Caroline” to the National Recording Registry, a list of audio recordings deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by René Ostberg.