Neil Diamond

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Neil Diamond

Diamond is probably the most famous Jewish male musician. He is known in some circles as "The Jewish Elvis."

He began his career as a songwriter, working in New York City near the end of the Tin Pan Alley era in the mid-'60s. His songs were recorded by Jay and the Americans, Cliff Richard and The Monkees.

He went to Erasmus high school in Brooklyn, New York, where he sang in the chorus with Barbra Streisand (they never spoke). He later went to Abraham Lincoln High, which is where he graduated. Carole King and Neil Sedaka also went there.

Unlike many Rock Stars, Diamond tends to stay out of trouble. Will Ferrell used to imitate him on Saturday Night Live, poking fun of his mild demeanor in bits where he would use crude language and talk about things like hanging his agent out of the Brill building.

Neil Diamond is his real name, but despite this good fortune, he considered using that stage names Eice Cherry and Noah Kaminsky.

He wears shiny shirts adorned with beads on stage. This can come off as cheesy, but he does it to make himself easier to see.

According to Amusement Business magazine, Diamond was the top solo concert act of the '90s.