The Neil Diamond Concert I’ll Never Forget

The legendary entertainer just announced he’ll no longer perform, but I’ll never forget the wonderful and strange show he gave my college class not long after 9/11

Some sad news: Neil Diamond, Jewish pop music legend and general cultural icon, has declared his retirement from touring and live performances on Monday, due to complication from Parkinson’s disease. The announcement came after the singer of “Sweet Caroline,” “Cracklin’ Rose,” “Shiloh,” “Rhinestone Cowboy,” and other hits too numerous to name that have somehow transcended kitsch into the realm of the genuine America sublime cancelled several performance dates that were to take place in Australia and New Zealand in March. On a somewhat brighter note, the 77-year-old says he plans to continue writing and recording, although this may come as cold comfort to the superfans who hoped to see him in concert one last time.

I’m horribly sorry to hear of Diamond’s illness, and while wishing him a speedy recovery is obviously hopeless in this case, I deeply wish that some of the worst symptoms of his terrible disease are mitigated or absent in his case. I want the remainder for his days to be as happy as he’s made so many people over the years. And rather than make some kind of sweeping statements about his importance to the culture at large, I’d like to share a personal story.