Neil makes his first public appearance, singing with Jack Packer, at the Little Neck Country Club on Long Island, New York.

Jack Packer introduces Neil to Murray Miller who in turn, introduces Neil to Allied Entertainment Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Saxon Music.
Subsequently, the singing duo, “Neil and Jack” sign a recording contract with Allied to record on the Duel label.

Neil and Jack record “What Will I Do?” and “You Are My Love at Last,” for the Duel label.

Neil and Jack record “I’m Afraid” and “Till You’ve Tried Love,” for the Duel label.

Neil drops-out from New York University, ten credits short of a Pre-Med degree.

Duel Label releases “What Will I Do?” and “You Are My Love At Last,” recorded by Neil and Jack.

Duel Label releases “I’m Afraid,” and “Till You’ve Tried Love,” recorded by Neil and Jack.

Neil auditions “Clown Town” for Columbia Records where he meets Tom Catalano.

Rocky Fellars records Neil’s Christmas song, “Santa Santa,” for the Scepter label, “Santa Santa” becomes a hit only in the Fellers’ homeland, The Philippines.

Neil begins working for Roosevelt Music as a songwriter, earning $35 per week.
Songs Neil writes while at Roosevelt include “Ten Lonely Guys,” which charts in Billboard’s Hot 100 for Pat Boone.

Neil begins work in Tin Pan Alley as an employee of Sunbeam Music while maintaining enrollment at New York University.
While at Sunbeam, Neil writes 17 songs, including “Blue Destiny.”

Rocky Fellars records Neil’s “We Got Love,” on the Scepter label.

Neil marries Jaye Posner, a schoolteacher.

Neil records “Clown Town” and “A Million Miles Away,” for Columbia Records.

Neil records “I’ve Never Been the Same” for the Columbia label.

Jimmy Clanton records Neil’s “I Care Enough” on the Ace label. (co-written with Richard Gottehrer)

Columbia releases “At Night” and “Clown Town.”

The MGM label releases Neil’s “Fool That I Am,” recorded by The Solitaires.

The Honeydogs record “It’s So Strange (The Way Love Works),” which Neil co-wrote with Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry. This recording has never been released.

Columbia releases “That New Boy In Town,” co-written by Neil and Carl D’Errico and recorded by Jan Tanzy.

The DFD label releases “Nathaniel B. Jackson” and “(You’ll Never Be) Anything But Mine,” co-written and co-produced by Neil and Carl D’Errico, and recorded by Tracy Starr.

The Coral label releases Neil’s “It Comes and Goes,” recorded by Mike Berry. (The Mercury Label also released this song, recorded by Priscilla Mitchell, in the same year.)

Columbia releases Neil’s “Just Another Guy,” recorded by Cliff Richard.

Columbia Records releases Neil’s “Don’t Go Away Mad,” recorded by Bobby Vinton.

Neil enters into an agreement with Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, to form Tallyrand Music, Inc., which allows Neil to publish and produce his own music.

The Decca Label releases “Where Do You Run?” written by Neil Diamond and Jaye Posner, and recorded by Billy Fury.

Neil’s first child, Marjorie, is born.

United Artists Label releases Neil’s “Sunday and Me,” recorded by Jay and the Americans.

Neil appears on TV’s “Hullabaloo” show, where he declares, “Rock will be the folk music of the future. The fact is that pop musicians are the torch bearers of the new American culture.”

Tallyrand Music enters into a one-year recording contract with Bang Records.

Neil receives his first royalty check for seventy three cents.

Bang releases “Solitary Man” and “Do It.”