Legendary singer Neil Diamond is returning to Boston to join conductor Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra at the Hatch Shell for their annual 4th of July celebration. The concert, now its 36th year, will be televised locally by WBZ TV and nationally by CBS with host Craig Ferguson of The Late Late Show. Of course, Diamond performed a sold out show at Fenway Park last summer, in which he performed Red Sox nation favorite "Sweet Caroline" three times. It's safer to say that this year, he'll cut back on that. Diamond will also peform with the Pops on July 3 as part of an open rehearsal. Diamond's impressive musical c...
Neil Diamond To Record With Limp Bizkit by Paul Cashmere - April 5 2009 photo by Ros O'Gorman Neil Diamond seems to be considered recording something with Limp Bizkit. Then again, he could be just off his face when he twitters. According to a Twitter exchange between Diamond and Fred Durst, the possibility of Neil getting into some Nookie may be on the cards. "I am a huge fan of yours. We should do a collaboration - Neil DIamond meets my band Limp Bizkit. Sounds fresh," Durst twittered to Diamond. "I'd love to, where and when?", Diamond twittered back. "FANTASTIC!!!!! Incredible!! What a dream come true thanks to Twitt...
"So many questions, so little time. I'll try to get to as many of your questions as I can as soon as I've had some dinner."
"I tweet, therefore I am. If you have questions for me, I'll try to answer some here on twitter."
"Recommended reading: "The Economist- Book of Obituaries." The most inspiring book I've read in the past year."
"I made someone's dream come true with a hug. Life is good (and the sun shines in L.A.)"
KIND OF A METAPHOR. Neil Diamond and nine other guys at the Brill Building, 1962 By DAVID HINCKLEY Thursday, October 6th 2005, 1:11AM Each night we meet and talk about you We reminisce about the things You used to do We just sit around broken-hearted 'Cause all of us are still in love with you - "Ten Lonely Guys" NEIL DIAMOND eventually made his way from Brooklyn to the pop music stratosphere - a path which for Diamond, as for a lot of other guys and gals, ran through the Brill Building at 1619 Broadway, Manhattan. The Brill Building of the early 1960s, when Diamond got there, was perhaps the most importa...
"L.A.'s fine- the sun shines most of the time... but not lately!
Super Furry Animals Looking to Secure Neil Diamond Fans Although the digital release date for the new Super Furry Animals album is just around the corner (March 16), the band still hasn't handed in an album title. That's not to say they haven't talked about it and such. Frontman Gruff Rhys tells Spinner, "We considered calling it 'The Very Best of Neil Diamond' so that we could sell some more copies to the unsuspecting fans of the Big D." It's a great idea on paper but, as with all jokes, some people just might not get it. It'd be unfortunate if one of those people happened to be Neil Diamond himself. "Figuring the million-selling s...
"Will anything ever top the MusiCares performers? No. Never."
Oak Island residents have the drive to overcome, despite Ike's devestation By SARAH MOORE February, 7, 2009 Take a tiny, storm-wracked Galveston Bay fishing village with a plucky, can-do attitude, trying to dig itself out of a mountain of debris. Add a pastor with a gift for forming partnerships and galvanizing his community, and a steadfast vision of a stronger, better community rising from the ashes. Include five circus tents, a gaggle of women who "can't sit still" and volunteers from across the country. Throw in pots of homemade wonton noodle soup, biscuits and gravy, gallons of coffee, a stockpile of canned goods, a free...
Inside the All-Star MusiCares Tribute to Neil Diamond By Kristin Boehm and Marisa Laudadio Originally posted Saturday February 07, 2009 02:00 PM EST Neil Diamond Photo by: Lester Cohen / WireImage The night was a tribute to Neil Diamond, but it was Jennifer Hudson's moving take on his 1969 hit "Holly Holy" that brought down the house. Wearing a gold jacket and black satin pantsuit, Hudson – backed by three singers – was serious and soulful in her powerful performance, which drew cheers from the audience three times during the song, especially when she hit high notes with a lot of vibrato. The Los Angeles Convention Ce...
Stars Salute Neil Diamond At MusiCares Event Neil Diamond February 07, 2009 12:02 PM ET Ann Donahue, L.A. Good times never seemed so good for Neil Diamond as they did last night (Feb. 6). The pop icon was named MusiCares Person of the Year at the annual fundraiser for the charity, which helps musicians who have fallen on hard times. "This is a great honor, of course," Diamond said at the event, which was held at the L.A. Convention Center and attracted a crowd of 2,200 people. "I've been writing music for a little over 50 years now, and it's hard to believe because it seems like yesterday." Diamond said he started taking g...
Diamond's Oak Island relief gets Grammy boost By Dave Rogers Published February 6, 2009 OAK ISLAND ? Entertainer Neil Diamond is building homes in Oak Island. And soon. Eddie Shauberger, Oak Island Baptist Church pastor, said the first phase of the project will begin later this month when representatives of the so-called ''Jewish Elvis'' arrive in the Chambers County community to begin signing up people whose homes were destroyed last fall by Hurricane Ike. ''Everybody keeps asking about Neil Diamond. 'Is that a hoax? Is that really real?' '' said Shauberger, who, with his wife Cindy, has headed up hurricane r...
Stars honor Neil Diamond at MusiCares gala Enlarge By Mario Anzuoni, Reuters "I love the idea of other people singing my songs. They'll do it their own way," Neil Diamond said . By Edna Gundersen, USA TODAY LOS ANGELES — Neil Diamond was hardly music's solitary man as friends and admirers lauded him Friday night at the annual MusiCares gala. "Welcome to your bar mitzvah," said Recording Academy president Neil Portnow, who earlier snagged the singer/songwriter's donated 1956 Thunderbird convertible at a live auction with a bid of $75,000. Diamond later asked for a ride in the car, which years ago ...
Dave Grohl, Coldplay, Jennifer Hudson Lead All-Star Tribute to Neil Diamond at MusiCares Gala 2/7/09, 10:47 am EST The most commonly heard phrase spoken by attendees and artists alike at Friday's MusiCares tribute to Neil Diamond? ''Feels like a Bar Mitzvah!'' Or the biggest karaoke party ever, but rather than having to suffer through your drunk friend's closing time rendition of ''Sweet Caroline,'' instead some 2,500 music industry VIPs got the man himself backed by Grammy vets like Coldplay, Tim McGraw, Foo Fighters, Faith Hill and Chris Cornell, along with newcomers the Jonas Brothers, Jennifer Hudson and Adele. The rah-rah - or...
Coldplay, Jennifer Hudson, Jonas Brothers put their spin on Neil Diamond at tribute concert By BETH HARRIS Associated Press Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Jennifer Hudson's stirring vocals on "Holly Holy" and Coldplay's stripped-down version of "I'm A Believer" helped take Neil Diamond on a musical journey of his career. They joined Foo Fighters, Tim McGraw and many others in launching Grammy weekend with performances honoring the 68-year-old Diamond as MusiCares Person of the Year. The music industry charity celebrated Diamond for his philanthropy, which included donating concert merchandise sales last fall to relief efforts f...
Neil Diamond was saluted at the annual pre-Grammy Awards MusiCares dinner and concert Friday, which concluded with Diamond singing his own best-known anthems and thank yous to his mother and kids who were in the audience. He told a story about talking guitar lessons because he was in a deep depression over the Dodgers leaving Brooklyn. And after year of guitar, he switched to piano but went back to the six-string, which he declared was his one instrumental love. In a packed house of solid performances, Jennifer Hudson brought the goods on "Holly Holy." Her perf was big and gospel-driven; the band's accompaniment swampy and sparse. It cre...
Neil Diamond will be honored as the 2009 MusiCares Person of the Year on February 6, and can watch the red carpet arrivals before the big gala! The evening's performers include Jennifer Hudson, Jonas Brothers, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Coldplay, Foo Fighters and Brit sensation Adele. Plus, the reception and silent auction will be hosted by comedian Jimmy Kimmel. Diamond will be honored for his exceptional artistic achievements as well as his philanthropic work. The Grammy winner made significant contributions to hurricane relief efforts in Texas for areas ravaged by Hurricane Ike. Tune into our Extra Raw Channel on Friday, February 6...
Jennifer Hudson, Jonas Bros to honor Neil Diamond By BETH HARRIS - 5 hours ago LOS ANGELES (AP) - No, it's not a celebrity karaoke contest: Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Kid Rock, Jennifer Hudson and Jonas Brothers offering up their takes on Neil Diamond's songbook to raise money for charity, kick off Grammy weekend and honor the 68-year-old singer-songwriter. The star-studded lineup, including Grammy nominee Adele, Josh Groban and Faith Hill, will honor Diamond as MusiCares Person of the Year on Friday night. "It's a double-whammy," Diamond said. "I get a chance to help raise a lot of money and a little plaque that says, 'Hey, you're...
Neil Diamond Taps Our Own Los Volcanes for Grammy PartyHow an obscure local tejano band came to share a bill with Coldplay and Tim McGraw. By Mike Seely Published on February 03, 2009 at 10:35pm In late October, Eddie Rodriguez and his band, Los Volcanes, were in their label's home base of Corpus Christi, Texas, performing tejano music on Spanish-language television. Save for a handful of suburban clubs, tejano is an afterthought in the 42-year-old Rodriguez's hometown of Seattle (he's a Brownsville, Texas native). But in South Texas, which boasts an enormous Latino population, conjunto, the accordion-heavy subgenre of tejano music th...
"Excited about MusiCares. Invited to sing on Sunday's Grammy show, will be dedicating Grammy performance to my online friends. Love, Eice".
"New people, new inspirations, new songs, new president, new beginnings."
"Have worn out Randy Newman's new album "Harps and Angels". Back in the studio- Feels like home."
"Having my first meal as a civilian and it's extraordinary... I no longer care if I become the "Fat Elvis".
"Last show of '08-'09 Tour-- it's been a blast and a half. Sorry to close up shop, but I've got some songs to write" 4:22 PM Jan 8
"Last night's audience was great - they held up thank you signs - got goosebumbs. Taking the weekend off"
DIE-HARD FANs STILL SUPPORT LEGENDARY SINGER JASON BRACELIN MORE COLUMNS Preview Neil Diamond 8 p.m. today MGM Grand Garden Arena, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South $59.50-$190.75 (891-7777) Still one of the top touring acts, Neil Diamond grossed more than $81 million on the road in 2008. Photo by The Associated Press He shaved the mustache, styled the hair and became a new old(er) man. He entered a world of song and sequined jumpsuits that sparkled like his muse's surname. It started in 1978 in Detroit. "What happened was a friend invited me to a Neil Diamond concert," says Michigan native Jay White,...