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CartNeil Diamond to Receive Billboard Legend of Live Award
Fri, 19 Oct 2012 12:01:55
The Jazz Singer aka Neil Diamond will receive Billboard's prestigious Legend of Live Award at the 2012 Billboard Touring Awards on November 8 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York. Additionally, Harlem's legendary Apollo Theater will be the recipient of the Humanitarian Award at the event, which will be hosted by comedian Sandra Bernhard.
Neil Diamond is a true live icon in every sense of the word. I have seen him three times and he always puts on an A+ performance. Seeing Neil is not a concert; it's an experience. Few can entertain the divorcee set like Diamond. Swoon! His hair and his stage attire scream: I am a sexy beast.
And the Apollo Theater is a historical relic of a venue! I've been there twice and adore it!
Billboard's highest accolade in the touring space is the Legend of Live Award, as it honors individuals or bands who have made significant and lasting contributions to live music and the touring business. Beyond success at the box office, the Legend of Live Award recognizes professionalism and steadfast commitment to the art and craft of live performance and the fan experience at concerts. Previous honorees include promoter Michael Cohl, promoter Jack Boyle, Sir Elton John, agent Frank Barsalona, The Allman Brothers Band, Ozzy Osbourne, Rush and Journey.
"There is no musical expression that quite compares with that of presenting your work to a live audience," Diamond said. "It is the kind of experience that can both exhilarate and humble you at the same time. I'm honored to receive Billboard's Legend of Live Award, and to have had the opportunity to perform live to audiences all over the world for the past 45 years. For me, there is no higher musical calling."
The 2012 Billboard Touring Awards honor the concert industry's top artists, venues and professionals for the year, primarily based on the Billboard Boxscore chart and actual box office performance between October 1, 2011 - September 30, 2012. Non-boxscore related awards, in addition to the Legend of Live, the Humanitarian and the Road Warrior Awards, include the Eventful Fans' Choice Award, and the Creative Content Award, the latter to be given to the Michael Jackson Immortal World Tour by Cirque du Soleil.
This awards reception culminates the two-day Billboard Touring Conference taking place at Roosevelt Hotel in New York City on November 7-8. The conference unites today's top touring professionals to discuss the current state of the industry. Guided by Ray Waddell, this unique event includes provocative panels, productive roundtables and networking opportunities with touring industry power players and decision makers.
Congrats to Neil Diamond on this high honor. He deserves it.
What is your favorite Neil Diamond song?
—Katie Sheehan
10.19.12
