Neil Diamond

An immensely talented singer-songwriter, Neil Diamond first penned hits like "I'm a Believer" for The Monkees as a Brill Building songwriter before scoring big with his own self-penned hits like "Solitary Man," "Cherry, Cherry," "Kentucky Woman," "Sweet Caroline," "Holly Holy" and "I Am I Said." A 1970s musical phenomenon, he hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts three times with "Cracklin' Rosie," "Song Sung Blue" and his duet with Barbra Streisand, "You Don't Bring Me Flowers." On the Hollywood front, he won a Grammy for writing the soundtrack for "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" (1973), and starred in "The Jazz Singer" (1980), whose soundtrack spawned the massive pop hits "Love on the Rocks," "Hello Again" and "America." Despite his unquestionable chops for writing enduringly popular, catchy songs, Diamond was often perceived as a little cheesy throughout the years. Time ultimately validated him, however, when acts like UB40 covered his "Red Red Wine," and director Quentin Tarantino scored a pivotal "Pulp Fiction" (1994) scene to Urge Overkill's cover of his "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon." Lovingly parodied by Will Ferrell on "Saturday Night Live' (NBC, 1975- ) and in "Saving Silverman" (2001), Diamond was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010 and the next year won a Kennedy Center Honor. Guilty pleasure or not, Neil Diamond was a world-class singer-songwriter who crafted many of the world's most popular and enduring songs.