On March 19, 2008, it was announced on the television show American Idol that Diamond would be a guest mentor to the remaining Idol contestants, who would sing Diamond songs for the broadcasts of April 29 and 30, 2008. While Neil was in high school, they moved back to Brooklyn's Brighton . It seems the third time's the charm for Neil Diamond. In December 1971 Diamond signed a $5-million contract with Columbia Records, which led to more recording contracts and live concert appearances. The film received hostile reviews and did poorly at the box office, and the album grossed more than the film did. 31 -125 . How To . with Marcia Diamond{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Marcia Diamond", "gender": "Female" }, View Neil Diamond's Family Tree and History, Ancestry and Genealogy, Neil Diamond's father was Kieve Diamond Neil Diamond's mother is Rose Diamond, Neil Diamond's daughter is Marjorie Diamond Neil Diamond's daughter is Elyn Diamond Neil Diamond's son is Jesse Diamond Neil Diamond's son is Micah Diamond, Neil Diamond had a relationship with Rae Farley Neil Diamond's former wife is Marcia Diamond Neil Diamond's former wife is Jayne Diamond, Neil Diamond's grandson is Elijah Diamond, Neil Diamond's former daughter in law is Sheryl Lee, Frank Sinatra{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Frank Sinatra", "gender": "Male" } That version hit No. [101] They had two sons. [77] Sporting a beard, Diamond performed live on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol as part of A Capitol Fourth, which was broadcast nationally by PBS on July 4, 2013. Diamond. Neil has largely stayed out of the spotlight since he stopped touring in January 2018 following his diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. It is this positivity that also. Who were the models in Van Halen's finish what you started video? Space-X continues to reach for the stars. They had two daughters: Marjorie and Elyn. He has sold more than 130 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling musicians of all time. Sources variously list the marriage as ending in 1994 or 1995. [44] Bill Whitten designed and made the shirts for Diamond from the 1970s until approximately 2007. [12]:95 The review in The New York Times stated: Neil Diamond's one-man show seemed, on the face of it, to be a brash idea. Who Is Neil Diamond's Wife? The songs on Home Before Dark were written and composed during her struggle with chronic back pain.[51]. He covered many classic songs from the movies and from famous Brill Building-era songwriters. 1960, Elizabeth Taylor{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Elizabeth Taylor", "gender": "Female" } [22][23], For his 16th birthday, he received his first guitar. (Finished 1958), New York University, New York, United States Diamond's interest in music began at age 16, when he obtained his first guitar. What are the 4 major sources of law in Zimbabwe? [78], In January 2014, it was confirmed that Diamond had signed with the Capitol Music Group unit of Universal Music Group, which also owned Diamond's Uni/MCA catalog. [79][80], On July 8, 2014, Capitol Records announced, via a flyer included with Diamond's latest greatest hits compilations, All-Time Greatest Hits, which charted at 15 in the Billboard 200, that his next album, Melody Road, which was to be produced by Don Was and Jacknife Lee, would be released on September 30, 2014. I spent one year on each of those albumsI'd been on the road six years. Arthur "The Fonz" Fonzarelli of Happy Days. They are his second wifes grandchildren from his widow's first marriage People. 8 on Billboard's Album chart. Great Artists. [69] Hot August Night/NYC debuted at No. Explore how the celebrity world connects. A planned film version of "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" to star Diamond and Streisand fell through when Diamond instead starred in a 1980 remake of the Al Jolson classic The Jazz Singer alongside Laurence Olivier and Lucie Arnaz. Berns wanted to release "Kentucky Woman" as a single, but Diamond was no longer satisfied writing simple pop songs, so he proposed "Shilo", which was not about the Civil War but rather an imaginary childhood friend. The show played through July 5 and drew sold-out crowds at the 7,500-seat theater. It remains one of his personal favorites, as it was about his early years as a songwriter, even though he failed to realize it at the time. Despite the almost universally negative reviews of the film, it grossed three times its budget when released late in 1980. He also again appeared at the Greek Theater in a 1976 concert, Love at the Greek. 51-year-old Marjorie and 49-year-old Elyn are the daughters born to Neils first wife, Jayne Posner. He could not find a good rhyme with the name "Marcia" and so used the name Caroline. Song Sung Blue. Rockefeller Center. The next day, the sales of the DVD surged, prompting Sony to order more copies to meet the high demand. After the end of World War II, Neil and his parents returned to Brooklyn. The two lived with their mother who re-married in New Jersey and visited Neil during the holidays. Im happy for Neil on such a wonderful reception of 12 songs. I am probably older than most of you on the board, But our chemistry grew into something that couldnt be denied.. I have a little Sarah. Thereafter, Diamond often included a Jonathan Livingston Seagull suite in his live performances, as he did in his 1976 Love at the Greek concert and for his show in Las Vegas that same year. Neil said he remained emotionally "in denial" about his diagnosis because he mostly felt "fine." The musician was also determined to perform live one day again, but he knew that might never happen, despite his love for performing. Neil Diamond. 6. The two lived with their mother who re-married in New Jersey and visited Neil during the holidays. [27][28][b] He was a member of the 1960 NCAA men's championship fencing team. On December 7, 2022, Neil's Instagram account shared a clip of him taking to the stage in a surprise appearance during the "Beautiful Noise's" opening night. [60] It is played at every home game of the Sydney Swans of the Australian Football League. It became the theme song of Red Sox Nation, the fans of the Boston Red Sox. Sending love to the beautiful Neil Diamond music family. Diamond was not rehired after his 16 weeks with Sunbeam, and he began writing and singing his own songs for demos. In 1963, he married his high-school girlfriend, Jaye Posner, who was a schoolteacher. I take my meds. [83] Diamond used new media platforms and social media extensively throughout the tour, streaming several shows live on Periscope and showing tweets from fans who used the hashtag #tweetcaroline on two large screens. [25]:85 For his performance, Diamond became the first-ever winner of a Worst Actor Razzie Award, even though he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for the same role. "Sweet Caroline" was Diamond's first major hit after his slump. [1], Green globe.svg . His first life ambition was medicine, as he once told talk show host. ? Diamond's record sales slumped somewhat in the 1980s and 1990s, his last single to make the Billboard Pop Singles chart coming in 1986, but his concert tours continued to be big draws. ", Neil Diamond and Katie McNeil Diamond at Capitol Records 75th Anniversary Gala on November 15, 2016, in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images. The star might be closer to 90, but he was still partially active in the music industry sharing his gift with his old and new fans. I have a love-hate relationship with songwriting. Ex-husband of Private and Private Explore how the celebrity world connects. 1 singles on the U.S. His father, Akeeba "Kieve" Diamond, was a dry-goods merchant. In later years, Diamond admitted his relationships have suffered because his wives grew tired of playing second fiddle to my work. Adding I need to be with a woman who understands my work ethic and is secure enough not to be threatened by it., Katie McNeil who was hesitant of their relationship, told media, Part of me said, Dont get involved; hes a client. There are a lot of complications for a lot of reasons. Thanks, Lois. "[84], In October 2016, Diamond released Acoustic Christmas, a folk-inspired Christmas album of original songs as well as acoustic versions of holiday classics. The record failed to sell, however, and the duo soon broke up.In 1958 Neil entered New York University's pre-med program to become a doctor, on a fencing scholarship. Marjorie has given him at least one grandchild. On October 13, 2009, he released A Cherry Cherry Christmas, his third album of holiday music. Taylor Lewan's Wife Taylin Met Him 10 Days before Valentine's Day, Parents Abandon Newborn for Having Down Syndrome, Nurse Gives Him a Mother's Love, Boy Sees Mom Bury Package in Garden, She Lets Him Dig It up Only before Death Story of the Day, Elvis Presley's Daughter Lisa Who Passed Away Had His Eyes She Visited His Home All the Time till Her Last Days, Airport Janitor Gives His Sandwich to Lost Boy, 'Save My Mommy from That Monster,' Kid Begs Him Story of the Day, Kenny Rogers Called Having Twins at 65 with 'Rare' Wife 'Wonderful Experience' One Son Was Praised for New Job, The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Posted ByIAISND Admin on November 6, 2005. Diamond was born in Brooklyn, New York City, to a Jewish family. His father, Akeeba "Kieve" Diamond, was a dry-goods merchant. He was given a $9 acoustic guitar for a birthday gift, which began his interest in music. The UK's supply crisis puts extra pressure on Prime Minister Boris. The star said he was throwing himself back in because he liked being in a union with someone, admitting: Part of me said, 'Dont get involved; he's a client.' The star has a big family with his younger wife, who's "up to the task of being" his spouse. [86][87], In 2019, his 1969 signature song "Sweet Caroline" was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". the Extra-Terrestrial. Neil mulled the possibility of not having been capable of that back then. The performance of August 24, 1972, was recorded and released as the live double album Hot August Night. "[85], In March 2017, the career-spanning anthology Neil Diamond 50 50th Anniversary Collection was released. Critic David Wild noted that the film showed that Diamond was open about his religion: "Who else but this Jewish Elvis could go multi-platinum with an album that featured a version of 'the Kol Nidre? Recordings of his songs by other artists, including the Monkees' "I'm a Believer" and UB40's "Red Red Wine", are pop landmarks. Photos are derived from publicity material, fan photos and Neil Diamond Songs. He treated attendees by performing songs like "Cracklin' Rosie" and "Hello Again. In the fall of 1972, Diamond performed for 20 consecutive nights at the Winter Garden Theater in New York City. [37], In 1971, Diamond played seven sold-out concerts at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. [75] It was the first game at Fenway since the Boston Marathon bombing. I remember hearing Cherry, Cherry [65] On May 2, 2008, Sirius Satellite Radio started Neil Diamond Radio. However, he felt positive and good about it and felt better daily. Neil Diamond was born in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn, New York, to a Jewish family descended from Russian and Polish immigrants. That ideas that Neil introduced me to through music through the After the operation, he had to learn how to walk . [26] He added that his attraction to songwriting was the "first real interest" he had growing up, while also helping him release his youthful "frustrations". [100], Diamond has been married three times. Its been like a long conversation. His wife is Katie McNeil Diamond (21 April 2012 - present), Marcia Murphey (5 December 1969 - 1995) ( divorced) ( 2 children), Jaye Posner (March 1963 - 25 November 1969) ( divorced) ( 2 children) Neil Diamond Net Worth His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. [81], In September 2014, Diamond performed a surprise concert at his alma mater, Erasmus High School in Brooklyn. The legendary star said he had to allow himself to connect with his audience. She is a 47-year-old video producer from California. any other form without prior consent. Filling a musical void that existed between Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley, Diamond found wide acceptance among the young and old with his songs, but endured criticism that his music was too middle-of-the-road.Diamond split with Bang Records in 1969, and signed a contract with California's Uni label, for which he recorded his first gold records. [12]:37, Diamond spent his early career in the Brill Building. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. Thirty-eight songs by Diamond have reached the top 10 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary charts, including "Sweet Caroline". [42], Diamond returned to live shows in 1976 with an Australian tour, "The 'Thank You Australia' Concert", which was broadcast to 36 television outlets nationwide. but I am still a little younger than Neil. For the Cree-Canadian filmmaker, see. Marjorie and Elyn Diamond are Neil's daughters with ex-wife Jaye Posner, Source: Vimbuzz.com Related Posts [102], In 1996, Diamond began a relationship with Australian Rae Farley after the two met in Brisbane, Australia. [26], Diamond also used his newly developed skill to write poetry. Wiki User . During their time in Wyoming, Neil fell in love with "singing cowboy" movies on matine showings at the local cinema. Diamond grew up in several homes in Brooklyn, attending Abraham Lincoln High School. He appeared at the 1977 Academy Awards where he presented Barbra Streisand the Oscar for Best Song.In the summer of 1976, on the eve of three Las Vegas shows, Diamond's house in Bel Air was raided by the police because they received an anonymous tip that there were drugs and weapons stored there. See the Elon Musk family tree here at FameChain. Brother of Private. [citation needed], A more severely stripped-down-to-basics album, 12 Songs, produced by Rick Rubin, was released on November 8, 2005, in two editions: a standard 12-song release, and a special edition with two bonus tracks, including one featuring backing vocals by Brian Wilson. Neil Leslie Diamond is an American songwriter and singer who would also venture into acting. Home Before Dark was released May 6, 2008, and topped the album charts in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.[66]. And I was always very good at the sciences. The legendary singer-songwriter only paid $7.25 million for the five-bedrooms, seven-bath home, which is located in Encinal Bluffs, an ultra-luxurious Malibu community. "[25]:85. [49], In 1979, Diamond collapsed on stage in San Francisco and was taken to the hospital, where he endured a 12-hour operation to remove what turned out to be a tumor on his spine. They had two daughters. [24] When he was 16 and still in high school, Diamond spent a number of weeks at Surprise Lake Camp,[25]:21 a camp for Jewish children in upstate New York, when folk singer Pete Seeger performed a small concert. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! On April 8, 2008, Diamond made a surprise announcement in a big-screen broadcast at Fenway Park that he would be appearing there "live in concert" on August 23, 2008, as part of his world tour. 2 days later he had a tumor removed which had been growing very close to his spine. Does anyone know their He has also acted in films, making his screen debut in the 1980 musical drama film The Jazz Singer. Who is Katy mixon body double eastbound and down season 1 finale? After his first two marriages concluded, he had given up on tying the knot but was happy to have given love another chance. What he loved most about performing was that it happened at the moment, and he said he couldn't describe it as one had to be there when it occurred. [98], In 2000, Neil Diamond appeared onstage with a Diamond tribute band, Super Diamond, surprising them before their show at House of Blues in Los Angeles. '"[13][55] Diamond later told the Los Angeles Times, "For me, this was the ultimate bar mitzvah. Album. Diamond recalled: "Hot August Night captures a very special show for me. Another Top 10 selection, "Heartlight", was inspired by the blockbuster 1982 movie E.T. PeriscopeIt was a social media blitzkrieg that, by all accounts, proved to be an innovative way to widen his fan base. Diamond married his high school sweetheart, school teacher Jaye "Posey" Posner, in 1963. The star had been making music since his teenagehood and didn't become tense when he was on the microphone. [54], The film's failure was due in part to Diamond never having acted professionally before. ", He performed at Woburn Abbey on July 2, 1977, to an audience of 55,000 British fans. It and "Red Red Wine" are his best-known original songs made more famous by other artists. The singer appeared healthy and robust as he charmed the crowd with his tunes. He used those four years to work on the score for Hall Bartlett's film version of Richard Bach's Jonathan Livingston Seagull and to record two albums, Serenade and Beautiful Noise. The San Diego Union-Tribune wrote: "This, my friends, wasn't your grandfather's Neil Diamond concert. "[15] Also in their class was chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer. He began his career writing pop songs for other musicians and then launched a solo recording career that spanned more than five decades. In July 1963, Columbia released the single "At Night" with "Clown Town"; Billboard gave an excellent review to "Clown Town", and Cashbox gave both sides excellent reviews, but it still failed to make the charts. [43], He began wearing colorful beaded shirts in concert, originally so that everyone in the audience could see him without binoculars. However, he did appear as himself with Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Neil Young in the 1978 documentary The Last Waltz (1978). However, during his senior year in NYU, a music publishing company made him an offer he could not refuse: an offer to write songs for $50 a week. Thats lovely for him. The couple worked together on the documentary Hot August Night/NYC. All relationship and family history information shown on FameChain has been compiled from data in the public domain. "I seriously never thought my career would take me into my 70s," singer Neil Diamond, 71, tells David Browne for this Sunday's issue of PARADE. (See the 2005 Sony BMG CD copy protection scandal. Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts: "Cracklin' Rosie", "Song Sung Blue", "Longfellow Serenade", "I've Been This Way Before", "If You Know What I Mean", "Desire", "You Don't Bring Me Flowers", "America", "Yesterday's Songs", and "Heartlight". Diamond was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1984, and in 2000 he received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award. [32] The unintended consequence was that Diamond began to gain fame as a songwriter. Signing a $1-million contract to appear as the son of a Jewish cantor trying to succeed in the music industry, Diamond was cast opposite the legendary Laurence Olivier and Broadway actress Lucie Arnaz. On November 2, 2010, Diamond released the album Dreams, a collection of 14 interpretations of his favorite songs by artists from the rock era. (1962), Abraham Lincoln High School, New York, United States [13] It also became the anthem of his world tour two weeks after the attacks on America on September 11, 2001, when he changed the lyric at the end from; "They're coming to America", to "Stand up for America!" Diamond's second marriage ended in 1995. It's what you dream of as a creative person. Diamond said that his 2014 album Melody Road was fueled by their relationship, explaining: There's no better inspiration or motivation for work than being in love. One of the people who were there to help him through the difficult times was his long-term and loving wife. Neil grew up in a Jewish family, and is of Polish and Russian descent - his father was Akeeba Kieve Diamond who worked as a dry goods merchant, and his mother was Rose, a housewife. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. In 1993, Diamond opened the Mark of the Quad Cities (now the iWireless Center) with two shows on May 27 and 28 to a crowd of 27,000-plus. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. College sporting events in other states also played it,[58] and it was even played at sports events in other countries, such as a Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament[59] or a soccer match in Northern Ireland. -2011 . Reproduction of albums, CDs, magazine covers, and collectibles are printed as Connect to the World Family Tree to find out, Jayne Posner, Marcia Murphey, Katie McNeil, Marjorie Diamond, Elyn Diamond, Jesse Diamond, Micah Diamond, American Recording Artist; Singer-songwriter, ANU Museum of the Jewish People (formerly Beit Hatfutsot) Exhibit Project. In a surprise appearance, he was joined by Will Swenson, who portrays Diamond in the musical A Beautiful Noise. The 1990s saw a resurgence in Diamond's popularity. He described his ex-wives as "spectacular women" and said he'd had a chance to do right by them. "[26] Among them were "Cherry, Cherry" and "Solitary Man". Though the film's title character is never mentioned in the lyrics, Universal Pictures, which had released E.T. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. Best Friends. "[26] His first recording contract was billed as "Neil and Jack", an Everly Brothers-type duet with high school friend Jack Packer. [12]:95, After the Winter Garden shows, Diamond announced that he needed a break, and he engaged in no live performances until 1976. My grandmother had died of cancer. [25]:26, Diamond next attended New York University as a pre-med major on a fencing scholarship, again on the fencing team with Herb Cohen. He Diamond went to work for Sunbeam Music on Manhattan's famous Tin Pan Alley. How long have you been a Neil Diamond fan? In 1969, Neil married production assistant Marcia Murphey. Jesse and Micah Diamond Jesse and Micah are the sons born during Neil's second marriage to, Marcia Murphey. Diamonds. However, the musician returned the favor by tending to Katie's needs. [52] An abbreviated version played over the film's opening titles. We hung out in the front of Erasmus High and smoked cigarettes. [26] Seeing the widely recognized singer perform, and watching other children singing songs for Seeger that they wrote themselves, had an immediate effect on Diamond, who then became aware of the possibility of writing his own songs. A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? Twitter. Neil Diamond, 2014 | Source: Getty Images. His manager wife had to stop whatever she was doing at that moment to accommodate his needs. [12]:95 That theater had not staged a one-man show since Al Jolson in the 1930s. "[25]:89 The song was performed in full by Diamond during the film's finale. In 1976, he released Beautiful Noise, produced by Robbie Robertson of The Band. 1974, Marlon Brando{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Marlon Brando", "gender": "Male" } An album and accompanying video/DVD of the show includes a version of "Song Sung Blue" with duets with Helen Reddy and Henry Winkler, a.k.a. His male classmates took note and began asking him to write poems for them, which they would sing and use with equal success. [92], On June 18, 2022, Diamond sang "Sweet Caroline" during the 8th-inning stretch of a Red Sox game at Fenway Park. when it first aired, and all the moods and feelings and [61][f], The New York Rangers also adapted it as their own and played it whenever they were winning at the end of the third period of their games. She worked as a producer, and some of the still she's worked on include 2003's "Heart: Alive in Seattle," 2004's "Underneath Acoustic Live," and 2006's "Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj. Updated on 02/04/19. does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. "[96], On July 28, 2018, Diamond and his wife Katie McNeil made a surprise visit to the Incident Command post in Basalt, Coloradonear where Diamond livesto thank the firefighters and families with a solo acoustic guitar concert for efforts in containing the Lake Christine Fire, which began on July 3 and had scorched 12,000 acres (4,900ha; 49km2) of land. I was just "After 'Jonathan,'" Diamond declared, "I vowed never to get involved in a movie again unless I had complete control." The song was also the one he was most proud of, partly because of when it was later used: national news shows played it when the hostages were shown returning home after the Iran hostage crisis ended; it was played on the air during the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty;[53] and at a tribute to slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., as well as the Vietnam Vets Welcome Home concert, he was asked to perform it live. [97], In 1967, Diamond was featured on the fourth episode of the detective drama Mannix as the 'featured' artist in a small underground club called 'The Bad Scene' and was interrupted during his singing by one of many fights that took place weekly on the show. Oct 17, 2021. [2][3][4] He has had ten No. news.AmoMama.com does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. The Very Best of Neil Diamond, a compilation CD of Diamond's 23 studio recordings from the Bang, UNI/MCA, & Columbia catalogs, was released on December 6, 2011, on the Sony Legacy label. Baby. In Australia, which at the time had the most Neil Diamond fans per capita of any country,[12]:94 the album ranked No. He sat in with the tribute band Super Diamond at the film's premiere party. I'm happy for Neil on such a wonderful reception of 12 songs. [12]:94[40]. [73] In November 2012, he topped the bill at the centenary edition of the Royal Variety Performance in the UK, which was transmitted[where?] Neil Leslie Diamond (born January 24, 1941)[1] is an American singer-songwriter. He went on to NYU on a fencing scholarship. Neil's maternal grandparents were Abraham and Molly Rapaport, who emigrated from Russia. Neil Leslie Diamond is born in Brooklyn, New York, to Rose and Akeeba (Kieve) Diamond, children of Jewish immigrants. [50] He said he had been losing feeling in his right leg "for a number of years but ignored it". All four of his grandparents were immigrants, from Poland on his father's side and Russia on his mother's. [e] Diamond followed with "Cherry, Cherry" and "Kentucky Woman". There he first met Jaye Posner, who would years later become his wife. Neil Diamond's siblings: Neil Diamond's brother is Harvey Diamond Neil Diamond's grandchildren: Neil Diamond's grandson is Elijah Diamond Neil Diamond's former in laws: Neil Diamond's former daughter in law is Sheryl Lee Neil Diamond FameChain Links Marcia Diamond Bio Details Full name Marcia Diamond Maiden name Marcia Murphy Gender Female Age Bartlett also added, "Neil is extraordinarily talented. How many nieces and nephew luther vandross have? At the time Marcia worked as a production assistant. Renting a storage room in a printer's shop located above the famed Birdland nightclub on Broadway, Neil began to live there and installed a $30 piano and a pay telephone, and set about writing his songs his own way.A chance encounter with the songwriting/record producing team of Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich led to a contract with Bang Records. Diamond was also dissatisfied with his royalties and tried to sign with another record label after discovering a loophole in his contract that did not bind him exclusively to either WEB IV or Tallyrand, but the result was a series of lawsuits that coincided with a slump in his record sales and professional success. His lead-in line to the first song of the evening was, "You may have dumped me a bit too soon, baby, because look who's standing here tonight. We went all out to really knock 'em dead in LA. "[12]:93 Many consider it his best work; critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine called Hot August Night "the ultimate Neil Diamond record [which] shows Diamond the icon in full glory. [12]:95 The approximately 1,600-seat Broadway venue provided an intimate concert setting not common at the time, with every performance reportedly sold out. [82] The North American leg of the World Tour 2015 launched with a concert in Allentown, PA at the PPL Center on February 27 and ended at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on May 31, 2015.