“Sweet Caroline”
It has been one of the most iconic songs since the late ’60s.
The song was released when the singer and songwriter Neil Diamond’s popularity was not at its height.
He was somewhat irrelevant when “Sweet Caroline” was written in a motel.
Rumors on the song’s origins abounded.
The song was thought to be inspired by the US President, John F. Kennedy, and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ daughter.
Caroline was a sweet pre-teen when the song was released in 1969.
At that time, Caroline was featured in LIFE Magazine, wearing an equestrian outfit.
We can all agree that Diamond is living his life to the fullest.
He was married to his then-wife Marcia Murphey, a production assistant, in December 1969.
They were together for more than two decades before they got divorced in the early 1990s. They had two children, Jesse and Micah.
The marriage did not last.
The song it inspired was eternal.
More than 50 years passed and the song has remained timeless.
It’s still one of the most popular songs in recorded history.
In fact, during the opening night of Broadway’s “A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical” in December 2022, Diamond got up from retirement and sang the iconic song in a packed Broadhurst Theatre.
And he did it impromptu.
The song has received endless praise and it already has a place in American songwriting history.
Sweet Caroline was also selected as an inclusion in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress.
Eternally preserved due to its impact in “cultural, historic and aesthetic importance.”
Broadway was the perfect venue.
When the song first got released and got on the air, Diamond already performed it on Television several times.
It pushed the song to the number 4 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in August 1969.
When it reached over a million single copies sold, it was then certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) shortly after.
Neil is still on the move.
The singer and songwriter was still active and was set for another World Tour in 2018.
However, after Diamond was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, he went into retirement to take a rest and prioritize his health and well-being.
He’s still got gems up his sleeve.
“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 was planning to come to the upcoming shows,” he said in a statement on his website.
Despite being in retirement, Diamond still surprises his fans with impromptu performances at special events.
A beautiful noise.
He did this on several occasions, such as at the 24th Annual Power of Love Gala in Las Vegas in 2020.
Diamond also performed at the Boston Red Sox game in June 2022, singing together with the baseball fans in the continuing tradition of chanting the iconic song during the eighth inning of the game.
To honor his legacy in the music industry, a musical was created retelling the life of the singer. The musical is called “A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical.”
It already ran for four weeks at the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts, prior to its opening on Broadway on December 4.
See Neil surprise fans with an impromptu performance of “Sweet Caroline” in the video below!
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