It’s (insert date), 2051 and a few of us current fans are sitting on the edge of our clouds, high above, waiting for the concert to begin. Others are using whatever means it takes to get them there, wheelchairs, walkers, canes (reality bites)—and some are still very capable of maneuvering on their own. People of all ages are there. The venue has been sold out for weeks and you can feel the anticipation in the air.

The sound of a heartbeat grows louder.

The band begins playing, the curtain drops and there is David! ♫♫ “Saw you from a distance, saw you from the stage” ♫♫. He still has the same beautiful voice, coming from a little older, very handsome David, who is appearing in one of his rare concerts.

This is my hope and wish for David:  FOR HIM TO HAVE A LIFE TIME OF SUCCESS!

With all the angst going on in David’s career (it seems to us), changing labels and management and all the things that go along with it, i.e. promotion –radio play-concerts- PR… I thought this would be a good time to address something that’s been bouncing around in my head for a quite while now.

SandyBeaches’s article on mentoring brought it back to mind again. The fact is I would like to see Neil Diamond mentor David. It probably won’t happen, but I think they think along the same lines about their music and Neil certainly has the experience.

Truth be known Neil Diamond is the only other singer that I would trip over myself to go see other than David.

There are probably a lot of stories out there like Neil Diamond’s but somehow it has always struck me that he and David are similar in a lot of ways.

Although Neil started out his career differently than David, it was his love of music that finally won over his plans for his future. After trying out college, Neil decided it was music that he wanted to do the rest of his life. He started out writing songs in a one room apartment with a piano and phone at age twenty. Those songs were recorded by a vast array of performers from many different musical genres. Later, he started recording songs himself and it was a slow but steady climb to the recognition and fame he has enjoyed for years now.

Neil has recorded over 40 albums and recorded over 100 songs he wrote himself. His style is hard to pinpoint. It varies from ballads, to classic rock and roll, to pop, to a piano and singer gig, sometimes even to a harder beat. But he never changes his style. He was and is a musical prodigy and I would like to see David’s career run a course parallel to his. Although at this point we don’t know which direction David is going to decide to go, you can be sure it will be diverse, not sticking with just one sound. He will have his own style.

When Neil and David are singing there is no mistaking who is singing. They both have their own unique sound and can sing any style of music with feeling and emotion. They both give dynamic, captivating live performances on stage, drawing their audience’s full attention.

David loves the connection he has to the audience in smaller venues, and Neil Diamond liked playing at these smaller venues also, around 1500 to 3000. He often stayed at one place for quite a while, playing to sold-out crowds. As his career grew he began playing at arenas and stadiums.

Neither sings or writes because they are ego driven or thrive on the lime light. They just want people to enjoy and appreciate their music. They both write and sing songs that have personal or meaningful thoughts. Neil Diamond wrote several unique songs, two of which were “Cracklin’ Rosie” and “Crunchy Granola Suite.” And if you’re wondering Cracklin’ Rose is a wine. The second one was inspired by his trip to an Indian reservation because he was impressed with their healthy food, and enjoyed it so much he wanted to write a song about it. Sound like anybody we know? The song “Elevator” David wrote about a dream he had comes to mind. David has stated that he doesn’t have writing a big hit in mind while writing a song; he just wants people to enjoy his songs and relate to the meaning or message he puts in them. Neil Diamond didn’t write for big hits, although it sometimes happened unexpectedly as with “Cherry Cherry” which to this day remains a famous tune. During his Hot August Nights concert, I recall him saying how it was a complete surprise the way it took off, because it took only about 15 minutes to write. I know in my bones that this will happen to David also.

Neil Diamond changed recording companies several times, once in a dispute over what kind of songs they wanted him to do. For him, it was sometimes a long drought in between song successes. There was never one hit after another. Without knowing how it worked back in Neil Diamond’s younger years, I’m sure he wasn’t marketed to just one age group. Everybody liked listening to him because he was good, and like David, appealed to people of all ages

On the final 5 show David sang Neil’s “Sweet Caroline” and “America.” Neil Diamond was the mentor and I’m sure he was referring to David when he said “there are a couple of prodigies in this group.”

David is just getting started, and as he matures and gains more of life’s experiences, he will write some mega hits. Maybe some will be sung by someone else, but he WILL record many himself. David began writing songs at the age of eleven. He has since written several wonderful songs and is presently working on writing more and perfecting his skills in this area. At twenty years old he is already head and shoulders above anybody out there when it comes to singing and expressing a song. This musical prodigy has something else in common with Neil Diamond—-they both adore their mothers.

Diamond continues to tour successfully, and maintains a very loyal following.

On Monday, March 14, 2011 , at age 70, Neil Diamond was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He continues to tour successfully, and maintains a very loyal following.

I just want David to achieve success, security, balance and happiness, cause that’s not a bad place to be and if it comes slowly but surely, like Neil Diamond’s, that’s just fine with me!