Keith Diamond

Biography

The heart attack death of Keith Diamond (born: Keith Vincent Constantine Alexander), on January 18, 1997, took the life of one of New York's top producers and songwriters of urban contemporary dance music. The composer and producer of Billy Ocean's chart-topping 1983 hit, "Caribbean Queen", Diamond went on to produce hit recordings by Donna Summer, Mick Jagger, Anne Murray, Michael Bolton, Melba Moore and Sheena Easton. James Ingram called him, " one of the most talented and creative forces in the music industry."

The third of six children, born in Trinidad, Diamond proved himself to be a talented athlete and scholar and attended St. George's College. His love of music was inspired by his experiences at the Pentacostal Church that he attended from the age of nine.

Teaching himself to play the guitar, with assistance from his brother, LeRoi, Diamond spent many childhood hours playing music on the front porch of his home. Writing his own songs, he often sang with his brother, Carl.

When his mother traveled to the United States, to set up a new home, Diamond remained in Trinidad, playing guitar and bass for a local band. By the time that he joined his mother in Brooklyn, in 1969, he had also become a highly inventive pianist. Within a few weeks of his arrival, he had joined band and had taken the first steps to becoming a successful studio musician.

Although he supported his musical endeavors by working as a manager at two McDonald's restaurants and a bank teller, Diamond was able to turn to music full-time after the success of &"Caribbean Queen".

A charter member of the Tabernacle of Praise, a church in the Bronx founded by his brother, Carl, Diamond increasingly turned to religion towards the end of his life, producing a gospel album for the McLendon Singers. ~ Craig Harris, All Music Guide