Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Neil Diamond Impersonator And Other Chart Toppers

By Helene Norris


Neil Diamond is an American singer-songwriter. Born Neil Leslie Diamond (NLD) in 1941, he began his career in the 1960s and has been going strong ever since. He has a unique velveteen voice and he is popular with all generations. His folksy-rock music, most of which he writes himself, is timeless and ageless. This is why it is so easy to find a Neil Diamond impersonator. He is one of the top three adult contemporary artists on the Billboard charts. The other two are Barbra Streisand and Elton John.

Among his many, many top hits are "Cracklin' Rosie, " "I'm A Believer, " "Sweet Caroline" and "I Am, I Said." His Jewish parents raised him in Brooklyn, New York, where he attended Abraham Lincoln HS. It was at Lincoln that he learned fencing, and attained the skill to join the NCAA men's championship team in 1960.

Barbra Streisand is one of the world's great all-round talents. Not only does she excel at acting and singing, she has also successfuly tried her hand at writing, directing and producing top films. Listed among her most popular records are "Evergreen, " "People, " "Memories" and "The Way We Were." The song, "Evergreen, " won her no fewer than four Grammy Awards in 1977 for Best Pop Female Vocal Performance, Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Original Score.

Born Reginald Kenneth Dwight, Sir Elton Hercules John was born in 1947 and began quietly working his way into our hearts in the late 1960s. He has received numerous awards for his music, including Oscars, Tony's, Grammy's, Brits and Golden Globes. He performed at the funeral of the late Princess Diana in 1997, where he reprised a rewritten version of his hit, "Candle In The Wind."

Elvis Presley, had he lived beyond 1977, would have been higher on the chart than #4, with 53 titles. This compares to Streisand's 64, Elton's 69 and NLD's 58. The legendary Elvis was, and many believe still is, the undisputed King of Rock and Roll. His first single, released in 1956 for the RCA label, was "Heartbreak Hotel." His last recorded hit was "Way Down, " released in 1977 just a few days before he died.

Next on the list is Barry Manilow, with 50 entries in the BBC. Born Barry Alan Pincus in 1943, some of Manilow's biggest hits include "Mandy, " "Copacabana" and "Can't Smile Without You." He also recorded a New Year's anthem, "It's Just Another New Year's Eve."

Numbers 6 to 10 on the BBC are Johnny Mathis, Frank Sinatra ("Old Blue Eyes"), Kenny Rogers, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass and Dionne Warwick, with 49, 48, 47, 46 and 45 entries in the adult contemporary artists chart, respectively. Up and coming singers in the Billboard Hot 100 include the likes of Katy Perry, Robin Thicke and Lady Gaga.

A person in the role of Neil Diamond impersonator would have a lot to live up to. The singer was entered into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011, alongside Dr John, Darlene Love and Alice Cooper. He was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012 and headlined the Royal Variety Performance centenary show in 2012. His latest release is "Freedom Song (They'll Never Take Us Down), " recorded in the wake of the Boston bombings in April 2013. The song was performed for the first time in July 2013 at a Washington Nationals baseball game.




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