Neil Diamond: A Beautiful Noise Birthday Salute

The Brill Building in 2008/ photo courtesy of Americasroof at English Wikipedia

 Neil Diamond, whose birthday is on January 24th , received an early birthday present when the musical “Neil Diamond: A Beautiful Noise,” opened at the Broadhurst Theatre on 44th Street in Manhattan on December 5, 2022. The theatre is just five blocks south of the fabled Brill Building, where Diamond toiled as a songwriter in the mid-1960s.

The show weaves 29 songs written or co-written by Diamond into the biographical narrative. From the 1960’s to the present day, Neil Diamond wrote and sang  numerous Top 40 hits, as well as a number of Adult Contemporary chart makers, including songs that were hits for the likes of The Monkees, Jay and the Americans, Mark Lindsay and UB-40, among others.

Although Neil Diamond stopped touring five years ago because of Parkinson’s Disease, he still makes an occasional appearance – most recently at opening night of “A Beautiful Noise,”  with a post-show rendition of “Sweet Caroline.” On June 18, 2022, he and Will Swenson, who plays Diamond in the show, sang that same song together during a Red Sox game at Fenway Park.

Among the show’s many musical highlights is the teaming of the autobiographical “Brooklyn Roads” and “America,” along with the title tune, the aforementioned “Sweet Caroline” and the closing number, “Holly Holy.”

Publishers Note:

We’re republishing our January 21, 2021 birthday salute to Neil Diamond : 

 Neil Diamond: An 80th Birthday Salute

Brooklyn Roads wishes a joyful 80th birthday to iconic singer-songwriter Neil Diamond. Born on January 24, 1941, in Coney Island, he is arguably Brooklyn’s most successful music artist and a gem of many facets.

The Audience at Erasmus High School– photo© 2014 /courtesy of B.L. Howard Productions, Ltd

As a performer, he has recorded 34 studio albums, eight live albums, and numerous compilations, racking up more than three dozen Top 40 hit singles along the way. Among the latter are chart-toppers “Cracklin’ Rosie,” “Song Sung Blue,” “America,” and “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers,” a duet with his one-time Erasmus Hall school mate Barbra Streisand.

Neil Diamond On Stage – photo © 2014 / courtesy of B.L.Howard Productions, Ltd

His “Sweet Caroline” has become a seventh inning stretch staple at a number of major and minor league baseball parks, while his poignant, autobiographical “Brooklyn Roads” inspired the name of a certain online music magazine.

He has also written hit songs for such diverse musical acts as the Jay & the Americans (“Sunday and Me”), The Monkees (“I’m a Believer” and “A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You”), Deep Purple (“Kentucky Woman”) and UB40 (“Red, Red Wine”), and none other than Elvis Presley recorded Diamond’s “And the Grass Won’t Pay No Mind.” Among his most prominent fans is The Band’s Robbie Robertson, who produced 1976’s, Beautiful Noise, Diamond’s most successful album worldwide. Robertson also brought him onboard for The Band’s The Last Waltz concert film and album.

Speaking of film, Diamond made one serious foray into the acting world, starring in the 1980 remake of The Jazz Singer. While no one would confuse him with his eminent co-star, Sir Laurence Olivier, the role did net him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical. He also made a memorable cameo appearance as himself in 2001’s Saving Silverman in which he — *spoiler alert* — saves the day for three star-crossed romantic couples.

Classic Diamonds -Album Cover

Those are among 200-plus movies and TV shows that feature Diamond’s music on their soundtracks including one, Jonathan Livingston Seagull, for which he won a Grammy for Best Original Score. He has also earned a Lifetime Achievement Grammy and a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, is a Kennedy Center Honoree, and has a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.

Diamond stopped touring three years ago but hasn’t completely abandoned performing. This past November he released Classic Diamonds, 14 of his most memorable songs featuring the London Symphony Orchestra and new vocals by Diamond. And just before Christmas he shared a YouTube video of a worldwide sing-along to “Sweet Caroline.”

Once again, Brooklyn Roads says “Happy Big Eight-Oh,” Mr. Diamond. And thank you for 45 years of beautiful noise.