Diamond was the recipient of the prestigious “Johnny Mercer Award,” which is the highest award bestowed by the Songwriters Hall of Fame. For this coveted honor, Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, the co-chairmen of the Songwriters Hall of Fame invited acclaimed record producer Bob Gaudio to do the presentation.
Following the “Johnny Mercer Award,” Diamond delivered an endearing live performance of his perennial classic “Sweet Caroline,” which was well-received by all. It was nostalgic and uplifting, and a great way to close this memorable Songwriters Hall of Fame ceremony.
Although Diamond has announced his retirement from touring due to his recent diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, the veteran musician noted that he will continue writing, recording and working on other projects. “New music is on its way out, so we will see how people like it,” Diamond said.
Regarding his definition of the word success, Diamond said, “It means everything.” “Success means everything,” he reiterated.
Earlier in the year, Diamond was honored with the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award from The Recording Academy, a few days after his 77th birthday.
Diamond was previously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1984, and in 2011, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the “Performers” category.
For the latest news on global music star Neil Diamond, visit his official website.
