Friday, 4 October 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.

While many bands compose their own songs, a tribute band doesn't. Instead, it performs the songs of one particular artist, as a way to show their appreciation for that person's talent. Some bands play at social events like weddings or birthday parties while others draw large audiences with the shows they perform in theaters.

Neil Diamond hails from Brooklyn in New York City. Growing up, he originally wanted to pursue a career in medicine. However, when he was at university, a music publishing company offered to pay him a weekly wage to write songs.

In the 1960s, Diamond began performing on stage. He also wrote songs that became huge hits for other artists, including The Monkees. Among these songs was 'I'm A Believer', which became the top hit of 1967.

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.

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.

By the 1990s, Diamond's fan base consisted largely of older people. Younger music lovers thought of him as quaint and regarded his songs as a little kitsch. This changed with the release of '12 Songs' in 2005. Producer Rick Rubin, who also revamped Johnny Cash's sound, stripped the music of all unnecessary frills, highlighting how extraordinary the songs were.

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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