10/08/2013

Enjoy Your Favorite Songs With A Neil Diamond Tribute Band

By Rhea Solomon


Already in his seventh decade, he is still performing to sold-out audiences, many of whom are young enough to be his grandchildren. Several bands found fame only once they had recorded one of the songs he had written. Love him or hate him, you cannot deny his influence on popular music. A great way to appreciate his genius is to watch a performance by a Neil Diamond tribute band.

A tribute band is a group of musicians who play the music of another artist. They usually specialize in only one artist's songs. Some of these bands start out playing at weddings, parties and other celebrations. The better and more well-known ones play in theaters and clubs, drawing huge audiences to shows that they carefully put together.

Neil Diamond is one of Brooklyn's most famous sons. Growing up in this New York borough, he won a fencing scholarship and got to attend New York University. The plan was to follow a career path in the medical field but things changed when, as a student, he was offered a job as songwriter for a company that published music.

Diamond began his entertainment career in the Sixties. At first he focused on performing. However, several artists had hits with songs that he had penned and especially after his 'I'm A Believer' became a huge hit for The Monkees, he gained recognition as a songwriter of note.

The singer's career really took off during the 1970s. By now he was known not only for the songs he had written for others but also for the songs he performed himself, such as the ever-popular 'Sweet Caroline'. He recorded a live double album that is still regarded as a classic and also composed the music for the movie 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull', which earned him a Golden Globe and a Grammy.

The Eighties saw the singer's career take a new turn when he acted in the film 'The Jazz Singer'. Some critics loved his performance while others hated it and in spite of earning a nomination for a Golden Globe, he had the dubious honor of becoming the first recipient of the Worst Actor Razzie Award. However, everyone agreed that the soundtrack was superb. By the mid-Eighties his songwriting skills were highlighted again when his 'Red Red Wine' became the song that made UB40 famous.

The artist experienced a career slump in the Nineties, with his fans being mostly older people. However, in 2005 Rick Rubin produced his album '12 Songs' and he gained an entirely new, younger fan base who loved the stripped-down sound and excellent quality of the songs themselves. Diamond is now back on top, just like Johnny Cash had been during his final years thanks to his work with Rubin.

If you cannot see a live performance by the legend himself, the next best thing is a show by a good Neil Diamond tribute band. There are several of these bands who perform regularly in different locations in the United States. To find one in your area, you only need to look online or check the local listings. Attending a concert will provide you with an evening of great entertainment and you will probably find yourself singing 'Sweet Caroline' as you're driving home afterwards.




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