Most kids dream of getting a car for their 16th birthday, but Neil Diamond wanted a guitar. Diamond got what he wanted, and after 30 years it’s still paying off.

Diamond soon left for NYU where he became a pre-med student on a fencing scholarship. Just six short months from graduation, Diamond left college to pursue his true interests.

Working as a songwriter for a publishing company at $50 a week, Diamond eventually went out on his own. It was one of his coffee house performances, though, where Diamond was discovered. Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwhich of Bang Records decided to give Diamond a shot by granting him his first recording session in 1966.

Diamond succeeded with recordings that eventually went on to become classics “Solitary Man,” “Cherry, Cherry” and “I’ve Got A Feeling.” His debut, The Feel of Neil Diamond, was released later that year with Just For You shortly following.

The artist’s lovable baritone voice, childlike spirit, melodic simplicity and sweet romanticism earned Diamond fans across the world. Songs like “Sweet Caroline,” “Song Sung Blue,” “Cracklin’ Rosie,” and “I Am … I Said” helped him to become one of the most prominent songwriters of the 70s.

Diamond also wrote “I’m A Believer,” a Monkees hit, and “Red Red Wine,” a UB40 hit. His 1978 duet with Barbara Streisand, “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers,” was just one of Diamond’s number one hits of that era.

The 80s brought Diamond the Jazz Singer remake project, along with a variety of records. His 1987 live record, Hot August Night II, paved the road for a number of successful tours including 1991’s Love In The Round World Tour.

The 90s have been a decade of projects for Diamond, who recorded two Christmas albums and a video along with a double disc greatest hits release.

Now, at 55, Diamond is back with his first all-original release since 1991’s Lovescape. Tennessee Moon marks Diamond’s first country record, going back to his early days of simple acoustic guitar work.

The album includes “One Good Love,” a duet with Waylon Jennings, along with contributions by Chet Atkins, the Maverick’s Raul Malo and Diamond’s son Jesse. “Talking Optimist Blues,” an uplifting song about a man’s everyday problems, has received considerable air-play on morning programs of all formats.

Diamond also remakes one of his early classics with “Kentucky Woman.” Neil Diamond comes to Ames this evening on support of Tennessee Moon.

This show is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. in Hilton Coliseum. Tickets for the show are still available through Ticketmaster.