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In the 1970s, Neil Diamond was the hottest thing on the radio! He was a Jewish kid from Brooklyn who grew up in a house of immigrants. He had the energy of a rockstar and the look of a legend. Because of his wild stage presence and massive female fan base, the world started calling him The Jewish Elvis.
The funny thing? The real Elvis Presley was watching him very closely.
The two giants finally met in August 1970. Neil was in Las Vegas to see Elvis perform at the International Hotel. Neil was nervous. He was a huge fan, and seeing Elvis was like “worshipping a god.”
Halfway through the show, Elvis did something shocking. He stopped the music, pointed into the dark audience, and introduced Neil Diamond to the crowd. The fans went wild! They started screaming for the two of them to sing together. Neil was too shy to get on stage, but after the show, he went backstage to meet the King.
In the dressing room, the conversation turned to a song that was changing the world: “Sweet Caroline.”
Neil Diamond talks about Elvis
Elvis looked Neil right in the eyes and made a confession. He didn’t talk about fame or money. He talked about the music. He told Neil, “I wish I had written that song.”
For Neil, it was the ultimate win. Elvis was the king of performing, but Neil was the king of writing. The “student” had finally created something that the master envied.
Elvis didn’t just talk about the song; he took it!
He loved “Sweet Caroline” so much that he performed it in the same show that Neil Diamond attended! Elvis even released a live version on his 1970 album, On Stage. When Elvis sang it, he didn’t change a word. He sang it with pure respect for the man from Brooklyn!
It might be one of the best moments of Neil’s career, considering the legendary Elvis Presley nodded to him!
