9/11/2013

Neil Diamond Impersonator And Other Chart Toppers

By Helene Norris


Neil Diamond is an American singer-songwriter. Born Neil Leslie Diamond (NLD) in 1941, he began his career in the 1960s and has been going strong ever since. He has a unique velveteen voice and he is popular with all generations. His folksy-rock music, most of which he writes himself, is timeless and ageless. This is why it is so easy to find a Neil Diamond impersonator. He is one of the top three adult contemporary artists on the Billboard charts. The other two are Barbra Streisand and Elton John.

Among NLD's biggest hits are "Sweet Caroline, " "Cracklin' Rosie, " "Forever in Blue Jeans" and "America." Born in Brooklyn, New York, to Jewish parents, NLD attended Abraham Lincoln High School. If he ever decides to quit his day job, maybe he can take up a new career in fencing, which he studied at Lincoln. In 1960, he was a member of the NCAA men's championship team.

Next on the Billboard list is Barbra Streisand, an all-round entertainer. In her career, which, like NLD, has spanned more than fifty years, she has acted, sung, written songs and screenplays, directed and produced films. Her biggest hits have included, "Memories, " "The Way We Were, " "Evergreen" and "People." She has collected Academy Awards for directing for the films, "Yentl" and "Prince of Tides."

Born Reginald Kenneth Dwight, Sir Elton Hercules John was born in 1947 and began quietly working his way into our hearts in the late 1960s. He has received numerous awards for his music, including Oscars, Tony's, Grammy's, Brits and Golden Globes. He performed at the funeral of the late Princess Diana in 1997, where he reprised a rewritten version of his hit, "Candle In The Wind."

The #4 spot occupied by Elvis Presley is perhaps not as surprising as it first seems. Had he not died in 1977, he most certainly would have been at least in the top 3, and possibly a clear #1. The King of Rock and Roll had acquired 53 listings on the chart, compared to Elton John's 69. Who knows what he could have achieved in the ensuing 35 or so years.

Next on the list is Barry Manilow, with 50 entries in the BBC. Born Barry Alan Pincus in 1943, some of Manilow's biggest hits include "Mandy, " "Copacabana" and "Can't Smile Without You." He also recorded a New Year's anthem, "It's Just Another New Year's Eve."

Numbers 6 to 10 on the BBC are Johnny Mathis, Frank Sinatra ("Old Blue Eyes"), Kenny Rogers, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass and Dionne Warwick, with 49, 48, 47, 46 and 45 entries in the adult contemporary artists chart, respectively. Up and coming singers in the Billboard Hot 100 include the likes of Katy Perry, Robin Thicke and Lady Gaga.

Anyone aspiring to be a Neil Diamond impersonator would have a tough job emulating that golden velveteen voice. The singer himself remains in huge demand, having performed at the centenary Royal Variety Performance in 2012. In the wake of the Boston bombing, NLD penned the "Freedom Song, " which he performed for the first time in July 2013, three months after the tragedy.




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