THE Hollywood icon from New York has had a massively successful music career.
In January 2018, Neil Diamond revealed he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
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Who is Neil Diamond?
Diamond, 82, was born on January 24, 1941, in Brooklyn, New York.
According to his Britannica biography, the singer-songwriter got involved with music when he was 16 and acquired his first guitar.
He later attended New York University, where he enrolled in the pre-med program. During his senior year, he left college after being offered a staff songwriter position for the Sunbeam Music Company.
Diamond then worked as a songwriter in the Brill Building in New York.
As his biography also notes, the star signed with Bang Records in 1965, and in 1966, he released his debut album titled The Feel of Neil.
In 1967, he signed with Uni Records and created multiple classics such as 1969’s Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show and Sweet Caroline, and 1970’s Cracklin’ Rosie.
He then moved to Columbia Records and continued to release hits.
Diamond has been married three times. In 1963, he tied the knot with his first wife, Jayne Posner.
He was then married to Marcia Murphey from 1969 to 1995, and in 2012, he wed his current wife, Katie McNeil Diamond.
How is Neil Diamond doing?
Diamond stopped touring following his January 2018 Parkinson’s diagnosis.
In April 2023, he spoke about the hardship of accepting his illness with CBS News.
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When asked about the struggles of giving up touring, the music legend said: “Oh, I still haven’t given it up, yet. It’s very hard.
“In a sense, I was in denial for the first year or two. When the doctor told me what it was, I was just not ready to accept it. I said, ‘Oh, okay. I’ll see you, you know, whenever you wanna see me. But I have work to do, so I’ll see you later.'”
He then spoke more about his struggle with coming to terms with his diagnosis, saying: “I’m still doing it. And I don’t like it. Okay, so this is the hand that God’s given me, and I have to make the best of it, and so I am.”
Diamond then revealed that he just started to accept it within “the last few weeks.”
He added: “But somehow a calm has moved [into] the hurricane of my life, and things have gotten very quiet, as quiet as this recording studio.
“And I like it. I find that I like myself better. I’m easier on people, I’m easier on myself. And the beat goes on, and it will go on long after I’m gone.”
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Diamond also discussed the Broadway show titled A Beautiful Noise with the publication and his experience performing Sweet Caroline during the musical’s opening night.
The show chronicles Diamond’s life and music.
When asked if he got “flashbacks” during the show, the icon responded: “I think constantly, from the minute it started! Like, everything was a flashback!”
What awards has Neil Diamond won?
Throughout his highly successful career in the entertainment industry, Diamond has sold over 130million records and won many awards.
As Britannica states, Diamond was inducted into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame in 1984. He received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000.
In 2011, he became a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. That same year, he was awarded a Kennedy Center Honor.
He has received a Grammy Award and 13 nominations, as well as many other awards, including a Golden Globe Award.
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