Parkinson's Silences Another Music Legend
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (62464)
United States
January 23, 2018 7:49am CST
Tomorrow, January 24, is Neil Diamond's 77th birthday. Yesterday, January 22, he received one of the worst "birthday presents" imaginable. His doctors advised him to stop touring immediately due to Parkinson's disease.
Diamond was set to embark on the third leg of a worldwide tour celebrating 50 years in music. Unfortunately, according to his web site, a diagnosis of Parkinson's came with medical advice for him to not tour. His concerts in Australia, scheduled for later this year, have been cancelled.
Diamond's statement said that he hopes to continue to write and "develop new projects for many years to come." I hope so, too.
This is the second music legend that's been removed from the music scene by Parkinson's disease in recent years. In 2013, Linda Ronstadt announced that she has the disease and is no longer able to sing.
Here's one of my favorite Neil Diamond songs. While we're sad that he'll no longer be able to tour, this song (from 2005) expresses Diamond's feelings about his great career:
Neil Diamond and HELL YEAH. Neil Diamond at his expressive and explosive best.
9 people like this
9 responses
@RasmaSandra (73725)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
23 Jan 18
Many prayers and blessings to him. Fantastic singer.
2 people like this
@Graycy (2)
•
24 Jan 18
I’m so saddened by this news. What a cruel disease, indiscriminate in its devastation as it attacks icons of our times along with so many more as our friends, neighbors, and family suffer the effects of one fiorm or another of the Parkinsonian diseases. Prayers for Neil and family.
2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
23 Jan 18
I read the same article. He will go pick up his Grammy lifetime achievement award. Unlike Linda, he can still write songs for others and maybe try his hand at a Broadway show.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (62464)
• United States
23 Jan 18
No, no mention of how advanced it is. I never heard any negative comments about his 50th anniversary tour in terms of quality, so I’m hoping it’s not too severe.
@Marilynda1225 (79960)
• United States
23 Jan 18
I've always been a big Neil Diamond fan but I hadn't seen this news. I've seen him in concert many times and he was awesome. Such sad news for him.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (159474)
• Boise, Idaho
24 Jan 18
He's great! I'm sorry to hear this about him. Guess it is time to retire whether he wants to or not.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34417)
•
26 Jan 18
I was so surprised to hear this news. Such a prolific pop artist. Wrote some great tunes. That is a "Song Sung Blue" to many of his fans 
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