How is Neil Diamond?

THE Hollywood icon from New York has had an extremely successful music career.

In January 2018, Neil Diamond announced that he had been 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 into music when he was 16 and bought his first guitar.

He later attended New York University, where he enrolled in the Pre-Med program. During his senior year, he dropped out of college after being offered a position as a songwriter for the Sunbeam Music Company.

Diamond then worked as a songwriter at the Brill Building in New York.

As his biography also notes, the star signed to Bang Records in 1965 and released his debut album in 1966 entitled The Feel of Neil.

In 1967 he signed with Uni Records and created several classics such as Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show and 1969’s Sweet Caroline and 1970’s Cracklin’ Rosie.

He then moved to Columbia Records and continued releasing hits.

Diamond has been married three times. In 1963 he married his first wife Jayne Posner.

He was then married to Marcia Murphey from 1969 to 1995 and in 2012 he married his current wife, Katie McNeil Diamond.

How is Neil Diamond?

Diamond stopped touring after his Parkinson’s diagnosis in January 2018.

In April 2023, he spoke to CBS News about the need to accept his illness.

When asked about the difficulties of giving up touring, the music legend said: “Oh I still haven’t given up. still. It’s very hard.

“In a way, I was in denial for the first year or two. When the doctor told me what it was, I just wasn’t ready to accept it. I said, ‘Oh, okay. See you, you know, whenever you want to see me. But I have work to do, so I’ll see you later.'”

He then spoke more about his struggle to come to terms with his diagnosis, saying, “I still do it. And I don’t like it. Okay, so this is the hand that God gave me and I have to make the best of it, and that’s who I am.”

Diamond then revealed he’s only just started to accept it “in the last few weeks.”

He added: “But somehow a calm has settled in [into] the hurricane of my life and it has become very quiet, as quiet as this recording studio.

“And I like it. I find that I like myself better. I’m simpler with people, I’m simpler with myself. And the beat goes on and will go on long after I’m gone.”

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Diamond also discussed the Broadway show entitled A Beautiful Noise with the release and his experience with Sweet Caroline during the musical’s opening night.

The show chronicles the life and music of Diamond.

When asked if he got any “flashbacks” during the show, the icon replied: “I keep thinking, from the minute it started! As if it was all a flashback!”

What awards has Neil Diamond won?

During his highly successful career in the entertainment industry, Diamond has sold over 130 million records and won numerous awards.

As Britannica notes, Diamond was inducted into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame in 1984. In 2000 he received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award.

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 accolades including a Golden Globe Award.