Neil Diamond is far and away one of the most successful musicians of contemporary times. His career has extended through five decades, and he has published several legendary songs and albums. It is worth taking a look at what it takes to organize and run a Neil Diamond tribute band.
To begin with, then, some information about the original artist. Neil Leslie Diamond was born in January 1941 in the suburb of Brooklyn in New York City, to Jewish parents. His ancestors came from Russia and Poland. He began recording as a university student, and since then he has sold in excess of 120 million copies of his recorded work. His career as a musician has lasted from those early days in the 1960s until today.
It is only to be expected that an artist of this level of success is going to have many cover acts. Songs such as "Kentucky Woman" and "Solitary Man" are world famous. They are therefore easy options for outfits who specialize in covering (imitating) famous musicians.
Cover acts of this musician are an established sub-industry in the music scene. At present, the most popular tribute bands include acts like Super Diamond (Surreal Neil), Cherry Cherry and more. These outfits perform his songs for die-hard fans who are unable to see the original artist in concert or who want his sound at their events and functions.
A cover band needs to resemble the original artist, both musically and visually, and at the same time be able to entertain the audience in its own right. Playing cover tracks is never easy. It may seem easy given that it involves the mere reproduction of already composed material, but there is an art to it that requires a great deal of practice and artistic inspiration.
At the same time, a tribute outfit is a musical entity, and so it needs to have the necessary musical capacity to perform the chosen work, which in turn translates into a need for talent and experience. Cover outfits are under extreme pressure because the audience already has the original artist to compare them to. This frame of reference means that top selling artists like the one under discussion are exceptionally hard to imitate.
It is to the advantage of the band if their key vocalist bears some resemblance to the artist being covered. This is about more than mere physical appearance, although that is also important. Costume, performance style and even stage banter need to be researched and practiced. It may appear to be simple to imitate an existing band, but skill and hard work are required to do so in a fashion that is entertaining to the audience.
A Neil Diamond tribute band needs to have an accomplished main vocalist who is a genuine fan of the original artist, a guitarist who is familiar with Diamond's material, a drummer and a bassist. The higher the level of imitation, the more entertaining the band is to watch. Although a cover remains a mere imitation, there is a certain excitement in seeing (or in performing) your favorite musician as a cover.
To begin with, then, some information about the original artist. Neil Leslie Diamond was born in January 1941 in the suburb of Brooklyn in New York City, to Jewish parents. His ancestors came from Russia and Poland. He began recording as a university student, and since then he has sold in excess of 120 million copies of his recorded work. His career as a musician has lasted from those early days in the 1960s until today.
It is only to be expected that an artist of this level of success is going to have many cover acts. Songs such as "Kentucky Woman" and "Solitary Man" are world famous. They are therefore easy options for outfits who specialize in covering (imitating) famous musicians.
Cover acts of this musician are an established sub-industry in the music scene. At present, the most popular tribute bands include acts like Super Diamond (Surreal Neil), Cherry Cherry and more. These outfits perform his songs for die-hard fans who are unable to see the original artist in concert or who want his sound at their events and functions.
A cover band needs to resemble the original artist, both musically and visually, and at the same time be able to entertain the audience in its own right. Playing cover tracks is never easy. It may seem easy given that it involves the mere reproduction of already composed material, but there is an art to it that requires a great deal of practice and artistic inspiration.
At the same time, a tribute outfit is a musical entity, and so it needs to have the necessary musical capacity to perform the chosen work, which in turn translates into a need for talent and experience. Cover outfits are under extreme pressure because the audience already has the original artist to compare them to. This frame of reference means that top selling artists like the one under discussion are exceptionally hard to imitate.
It is to the advantage of the band if their key vocalist bears some resemblance to the artist being covered. This is about more than mere physical appearance, although that is also important. Costume, performance style and even stage banter need to be researched and practiced. It may appear to be simple to imitate an existing band, but skill and hard work are required to do so in a fashion that is entertaining to the audience.
A Neil Diamond tribute band needs to have an accomplished main vocalist who is a genuine fan of the original artist, a guitarist who is familiar with Diamond's material, a drummer and a bassist. The higher the level of imitation, the more entertaining the band is to watch. Although a cover remains a mere imitation, there is a certain excitement in seeing (or in performing) your favorite musician as a cover.
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