Multifaceted Diamond is coming to Aloha State

When Neil Diamond calls, you know it. There’s no mistaking that baritone voice or intonation.

Even if he’s talking about "puttering around the house" or relaxing in the company of his fiancee, and not proclaiming, "I am, I said," some of the same lung power and confident, measured presence still comes across.

"I just finished some dates in Europe," he said. "Now I’m resting."

He was surely sincere, but Diamond does not impress as a man who remains relaxed for long, despite the attractions of his Beverly Hills home or a blooming romance. (If you’re curious, you can see a photo of Diamond’s fiancee, Katie McNeil, on his Twitter and Facebook accounts.)

Diamond’s Feb. 16 concert at the Blaisdell Arena, announced today, will bring him back to Hawaii for the first time since 1976. In a phone interview Thursday, he said he’s grateful to think he still has fans waiting for him in the islands.

"I’m very satisfied to know that I’m still able to do the same thing, and in the same place," he said.

Diamond, 70, is a consummate pop songwriter, one of the top-selling solo artists of all time, and generations of fans have taken his direct, romantic lyrics and affection for listeners to heart.

Chances are you can sing along to some or all of these Diamond songs: "I’m a Believer," "Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon," "Red, Red Wine," "Shilo," "Sweet Caroline." The list goes on.

This year, Diamond was chosen for the annual Kennedy Center Honors, a presidential performance. The event will be shown on CBS Dec. 27.

The Kennedy Center labeled him a "songwriting genius" for his contributions to American pop music.

"I got started about the same time as the Beatles," Diamond noted when talking about the artists he listens to, ranging from Adele to the Everly Brothers.

He’s been making hits since the ’60s, starting with "I’m a Believer," performed by the Monkees. Diamond’s first hit single as a performer was "Solitary Man," in 1966.

The hits kept coming, right through the ’80s. All along, Diamond continued performing. And he attracted a new round of interest in his music when approached by producer Rick Rubin (who famously worked with Johnny Cash on the country singer’s later albums) to make two records, "12 Songs" in 2005 and "Home After Dark" in 2008.

"Home After Dark" went to No. 1 on the Billboard charts, more than 40 years after Diamond’s first singles were released.

In 2009 he released a live album, "Hot August Night/NYC," recorded during a four-night run at Madison Square Garden. Overall, Diamond has sold more than 128 million albums worldwide, with 37 Top 10 singles.

"My work is absorbing me, still, after all these years," Diamond said.

As for live performance, "What I enjoy most are the audiences," he said. "I like seeing the smiles on people’s faces. I like it when they enjoy the music. I’m there to see them and they’re there to see me. It’s a win-win situation!"

Diamond is returning to Honolulu as the result of a first-time collaboration between Marek Lieberberg Presents and Ron Gibson Entertainment. Gibson, a hands-on concert promoter who brought the Crater Festival back to life in Diamond Head, most recently presented the Doobie Brothers and War at Blaisdell Arena. In December he’ll bring Steve Miller and Dave Mason to Hawaii.

Marek Lieberberg Presents, known internationally as MLK, consistently ranks among the top five international concert promoters, according to trade publication Pollstar, and has been bringing acts — including the Eagles, Prince, Billy Joel and Celine Dion — to Hawaii since 1997.

"We hope to put on a show that will be memorable," Diamond said. "All my theatrical, my traveling people are very excited about coming to Hawaii. … I’ll come out with a big smile on my face."

Remarkably, he’s been working with many of the same musicians and touring support crew since the 1970s. Diamond said the secret to their longevity is "mutual respect — and we love the gig."