Sufficiently famous.

miss you Ellie Greenwich

Hmmmm, let me ponder a moment: "Forever in Blue Jeans"? "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" (with "Babs" Streisand)??? Noooooooooo, I really don't think rock and roll HOF would be the place for him....

R.I.P. Ellie Greenwich

I would say so. Never fully aprreciated for what he did. And he did it for 4 or 5 decades. A great songwriter as well.

solitary man

Be 1973
Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show 1969
Cherry, Cherry 1966
Cherry Cherry From "Hot August Night" 1973
(This song is a "Live" remake of the 1966 hit song.)
Cracklin' Rosie 1970
Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon 1967
("Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon" later also charted for Urge Overkill in 1994.)
He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother 1970
("He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" also charted for the Hollies (1970) and Olivia Newton-John (1976).)
Holly Holy 1969
("Holly Holy" later also charted for Jr. Walker & the All Stars in 1971.)
I Am... I Said 1971
I Got The Feelin' (Oh No, No) 1966
I'm A Believer (massive Monkees chart topping single form the late 1960s)
I Thank The Lord For The Night Time 1967
Kentucky Woman 1967
("Kentucky Woman" later also charted for Deep Purple in 1968.)
Longfellow Serenade 1974
Play Me 1972
Red, Red Wine (hit for UB40 in the 1980s)
Shilo 1970
Solitary Man 1966, 1970
("Solitary Man" later also charted for T.G. Sheppard in 1976.)
Song Sung Blue 1972
Soolaimon (African Trilogy II) 1970
Stones 1971
Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good) 1969
("Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good)" later also charted for Bobby Womack in 1972.)
Walk On Water 1972
You Got To Me 1967

First half o his career was flawless as a...Diamond

yup

Probably

  Hall of Fame for ROCK N ROLL and NO DIAMOND?  What?!  Neil is the Pete Rose of the R & R HOF. 

Where do we start with what he has done and who he has influenced? 

Singer, Songwriter, Performer, Entertainer, Actor..... The COMPLETE package!!!

Worldwide SUPERSTAR!  Get this guy in!

This is the rock and roll hall of fame, not the old lady music hall of fame. Considering the other losers already in the Hall, I'm surprised he isn't already in.

The Hall of Fame needs to induct Neil!!! He is a vital, driving force in popular music, and it's high time he got recognized for it.

Yes, N. Diamond should already be in.  Maybe he is to creative, bright, straight up, sensable or just too human carrying his soul on his sleeve.   He is brilliant and has worked hard to be the satisfaction of his soul.  He oozes r&r and can write anything from ballets to hymns to operas...multi-talented and interesting to say the least...he has more to show us with his creative genius.....***** for Mr. Diamond who has earned respect from his peers as well as his fans....BRAVO

Just for writing songs for the monkees He Belongs In

I am not a fan of Neil Diamond, but it's hard to ignore the body of work that he has produced. I think he could be considered on sheer quantity alone. But there is quality there too. "Sweet Caroline", "Cracklin' Rosie" and "Love on the Rocks" are examples. Also, he's enough of a rocker when you consider I'm a Believer", Cherry, Cherry", and "Thank the Lord for the Night Time." The Band thought well enough of him to include him in "The Last Waltz". It's true that a lyric might occasionally bomb, (Think of all that conversation with the chair in "I Am... I Said"), but everyone is allowed a Mulligan or two. Consider the song, "Heaven Help Us All" which Joan Baez and Stevie Wonder, among others, recorded. It has the lyric "Heaven help the roses if the bombs begin to fall." I don't mean to be insensitive, but if the bombs begin to fall, %#@* the roses! So give Diamond a break. Look at the big picture, and let him in the HOF.

underrated brill building singer / songwriter.

Many laugh at his later day sequence of events, but he had many a top hit back in the 60s.

See "Kentucky Women" covered by DEEP PURPLE. Monkees (I'm a Believer)

CHEERY, CHERRY
SOLITARY MAN (covered by Chris Isaak)
Girl, You'll be a WOann Soon (

Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show
Cracklin' Rosie
Forever in Blue Jeans
Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon
He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
Holly Holy
I Am...I Said
Love on the Rocks
Red, Red Wine Neil (UB40)
Shilo
Soolaimon
Sweet Caroline
Thank the Lord for the Night Time
You Got to Me

One of the best, most sellable singers of his day.

I think that Neil Diamond is one of the first American Folk Singers in the 1960's.

Some folks don't remember how big and influential Diamond was in the 1960s and '70s.

I think he's been penalized for what he became, a pop crooner pandering to the broadest public taste.  And if his work in the last three decades qualifies for consideration  in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, then you might as well put Barbra Striesand on the ballot too.  But like a number of reviewers have noted, there was a time when he was a top flight songwriter and performer with an impressive run of hits and strong albums.  However, I'd argue that even then he was less than influential.  He was an excellent craftsman and entertainer, but a notch below contemporaries like Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot.

It's way over time!

lost steam after 1970...

He was not really my cup of tea, but, my word, he is a giant in the industry and should already be in!

Neil should've been in so long ago. Not much to be added to what all previous Neil voters have said. I'm wondering who died and voted Jann Wenner the "Decider" of the fate of the Hall of Fame anyway? Why does HE have the power? Does Patti Smith's performance of People Have the Power on the ceremony this year really mean Nothing? Why not let the People vote on who get's inducted? Why is it decided by an elite few who have their own selfish agendas which obviously don't even remotely include things such as Great Songs, Great Performances, Talent, Charisma, or even Record and Ticket Sales, or oh yeah, I almost forgot, Rock and Roll, ALL of which Neil DOES excel at, as anyone who's old enough to remember Hot August Night or the Winter Garden concerts would know...

On the VH1 special, Paul Schafer said Neil Diamond was a Rock Legend.  I grew up to his music and recall an article which stated that Neil was the apparent heir to the title, "King of Rock and Roll."  Where were these people when Neil was indeed singing and writing rock and folk rong songs?  Put him in, as he absolute deserves this honor!

I cannot believe this living legend has not been voted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame. His incredible voice and distinct lyrics defined at least two eras of music in America and around the world. His songs ranged from folksy to romantic. I know every word to Song Sung Blue.

He should have been in YEARS AGO!!!

NEIL DIAMOND is a rock star, pure and simple. There is no reason he should not be included. VH-1 (a rock video station by the way) aired a BEHIND THE MUSIC on Neil in 2001. And even though he writes ballads, so has Springsteen, Billy Joel, Elton John, The Beatles, Elvis, Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, need I name more? Neil Diamond is a LIVING LEGEND and a true American rock pioneer and icon who has played to sold out concert venues wherever he goes. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame needs to put Neil Diamond into the museum in 2009. COME ON ALREADY!!!

Neil should be in the RRHOF because he's part of the 60's rock era as well as the rest of the 20th century music scene. He's written a lot of great songs and should be honored for his body of work and contributions to the rock scene!

I have a feeling that people who dis' Neil as a Las Vegas Lounge singer dont own a single Neil Diamond album or gone to a single Neil Diamond concert.His concerts are rock shows with a live rock band and a singer that plays guitar.All his albums have guitar-based rock songs in them.His songs have been covered by every style of rock music.From Punk to Metal to Folk to Indie.And what Las Vegas Lounge singer released one of the best acoustic albums in years-the Rick Rubin produced 12 Songs?

one great career, but he wandered into Vegas land after early succcess.

Very weak connection to rock, plus his lounge image, keeps him rightly out.

after he is dead

An American Icon after 40 years of being the peoples choice on Billboard magazine. Critics be damned, sometimes the people are right.
I actually believe Diamond's lack of recgonition it being used by the Hall to actually continue interest in it, otherwise I cant think of any reason other than arrogance why Diamond hasnt been nominated.

IT IS A SHAME HE WASN'T INDUCTED IN 1991,TO INDUCT HIM NOW WOULD BE A SLAP IN THE FACE.HE DESERVES IT MUCH MORE THAN R.E.M OR THE RONETTES.THEY SUCK,AS DO MOST OF THE BANDS THAT ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN RECOGNISED BY THIS DREADFULL HALL OF SHAME.

neil diamond deserves to be in not just for his singing but his writing

Hes the Greatest!

A reluctant performer, in the early years. Truely, " the frog who dreamed of being a king...and then became one". Rock's most charismatic, in-person perfomer....and he wrote every lyric and every note! All that glitters is not gold, but this gem, Mr. Diamond, belongs...put him in! Yes!!!!

As cheesy as I generally consider Neil Diamond to be, I do think he made a notable mark on the history of Rock-n-Roll. Ok, some might think it is more of a skidmark, but he wrote, sang and sold some worthy pieces.

Like him or not the body of work this man has is astounding .He wrote so many songs and has just released a cd he deserves the honour

Most folks know Neil from his love-on-the-rocks days, but for about a decade in the mid-1960s thru early 70s Neil was a solitary man, puting out song safer crackling song. He may not make it but it won't be for lack of good early material. Sometimes you are better off to stop recording, but Neil is deserving. After Deep Purple, of course.

I be sick......bleeaach!!

Yes indeed he is the Jewish Elvis! Neil absolutely rules and deserves to be in!

he's the jewish elvis. show love.

Another snub from the RRHF. Neil Diamond has had a great career but doesn't get the recognition he deserves.

Are you kidding? Stricly a vegas-esque crooner.

I can't believe he is not in for his tremendous body of work.

He was a very great singer and artists in my time..We could dance and sing his songs together..not like music of today.

For his time he was a good rock artist. Saying that he isn't is like saying the Beatles aren't rock and roll. He also wrote a lot of music for other artistw.