Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Enjoy An Evening Of Great Music 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.

Unlike bands who play original music, a tribute band plays the music of one artist or music group. The lesser known of these bands often play at small venues and private functions, for instance at birthday parties. However, the more experienced and talented groups can draw huge audiences to shows that are staged very professionally in large concert venues and theaters.

Neil Diamond is a native of New York's borough of Brooklyn. He was a fencing champion in high school and wanted to work in the medical field one day. However, fate had other plans and his career path changed when he was at university and got the opportunity to write songs for a weekly salary.

Diamond began his career as a performer in the Sixties, first as part of a duo and then as a solo artist. His career got a major boost as other artists made some of his songs famous. For instance, The Monkees recorded his song 'I'm A Believer' and had a huge hit with it.

By the end of the Sixties and the early Seventies, his career had reached new heights. Songs like 'Cracklin' Rosie' and 'Sweet Caroline' became instant classics. The album 'Hot August Night' still counts as one of the best live albums ever produced and the award-winning soundtrack to 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull' is better known than the film itself.

In 1980 the songwriter and singer ventured into acting with his leading role in 'The Jazz Singer'. He received a Golden Globe nomination but also won the first Razzie for Worst Actor. The soundtrack was a huge hit, though. Later in the decade, the British reggae band UB40 had a worldwide mega-hit with Diamond's song 'Red Red Wine'. Many people didn't even know who wrote the song until the legend himself released a new recording of it by the late 1980s.

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.

It has become quite difficult to get tickets to a performance by the living legend because his concerts sell out very quickly. A great alternative way to enjoy your favorite songs is to seek out performances by a Neil Diamond tribute band. You'll find information about shows in your area by looking online or in the local listings. Be prepared though to have 'Sweet Caroline' playing in your head for weeks afterwards.




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