Neil Diamond retires from touring
A few days before he turned 77 years old last Jan. 24, the legendary singer and songwriter Neil Diamond came out with a public announcement.
“It is with great reluctance and disappointment that I announce my retirement from concert touring. I have been so honored to bring my shows to the public for the past 50 years. My sincerest apologies to everyone who purchased tickets and were planning to come to the upcoming shows.”
Diamond was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and had been advised by his doctor to stop touring. He was these past months on an intensive touring schedule to celebrate his 50th anniversary as a music artist. He had already gone around North America and Europe. He had his last gig in London last October, 2017. The next stops in his schedule, Australia and New Zealand, set for April this year, have been cancelled.
Parkinson’s is a long-term, degenerative disease that affects the nervous system. It is characterized by difficulty in walking, slow movements, shaking and rigidity. In later cases, these can include depression and dementia. Parkinson’s was what afflicted Pope John Paul II and Muhammad Ali. Michael J. Fox continues to do a lot to create awareness about it and to raise funds for research towards a cure. It is most unfortunate that another great artist has fallen prey to its ravages.
The retirement though is only from touring. Diamond plans to keep on working. “I plan to remain active in writing, recording and other projects for a long time to come,” said Diamond in his statement.
Diamond is one of the most prolific music artists to emerge these past 50 years. Born to a Jewish family in New York, he grew up in Brooklyn where Barbra Streisand was a classmate in high school. He started writing songs when he was 16 years old and was later one of the Brill Building composers like Carol King and Neil Sedaka. He wrote his first single, the melancholy Solitary Man, when he was so broke and down to a measly $.35 a day budget for food.
The record Solitary Man was released in 1967. It was soon followed by two big consecutive hits Cherry Cherry and Kentucky Woman. Soon came Diamond’s first Gold Record award. It was for I’m A Believer, which was, however, recorded not by himself then, but by the boy group The Monkees. Since then Diamond has become a successful singer, songwriter and producer who has sold over 130 million albums. He is also an actor, he starred in The Jazz Singer, a music director for motion pictures, Jonathan Livingston Seagull and a major concert draw around the world.
The music he has created is celebrated in the Neil Diamond 50th Anniversary Collection that was released last year. For fans and pop music historians, this is the ultimate compilation as of this date. This is a three-CD package that contains 50 songs from his hit-studded career and every cut included is Diamond’s personal choice.
CD One: Solitary Man, Cherry Cherry, I Got The Feelin’ (Oh No No), You Got To Me, Girl You’ll Be A Woman Soon, I’m A Believer, Thank The Lord For The Night Time, Red Red Wine, Sunday Sun, Shilo, Kentucky Woman, Brooklyn Roads, Glory Road, Holly Holy, And The Grass Won’t Pay No Mind, Sweet Caroline, Brother Love’s Traveling Show.
CD Two: Done Too Soon, Soolaimon, Cracklin’ Rosie, Crunchy Granola Suite, I Am… I Said, Stones, Morningside, Song Sung Blue, Play Me, The Recapitulation and Farewell To Fletcher, Skybird, Lonely Looking Sky, I’ve Been This Way Before, Longfellow Serenade, Beautiful Noise, Street Life, If You Know What I Mean.
CD Three: Desiree, You Don’t Bring Me Flowers, Forever In Blue Jeans, September Morn, The Story Of My Life, Yesterday’s Songs, I Believe In Happy Endings, Hello Again from The Jazz Singer Soundtrack, Love On The Rocks also from The Jazz Singer, Heartlight, Lady-Oh, Pretty Amazing Grace, Hell Yeah, We, The Art Of Love and America again from The Jazz Singer.
Diamond’s final words in his statement acknowledge his enormous debt to his fans. “My thanks go out to my loyal and devoted audiences around the world. You will always have my appreciation for your support and encouragement. This ride has been so good, so good, so good. Thanks to you.”
Most fittingly, Diamond was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Recording Academy of Arts and Sciences at the Grammy Awards held yesterday, Jan. 28 at the Madison Square Garden in New York City.
P.S. News from New Zealand have it that fans who bought tickets to Diamond’s upcoming show have donated their refunds towards Parkinson’s research and sufferers and other charitable organizations.