Neil Leslie Diamond was born in New York.

Neil Diamond is considered to be the third most successful adult contemporary
artist in the history of the Billboard chart for hits like "Kentucky Woman" (1967)
and "America” (1981). He has sold over 125 million records.

Samuel "Sam" Cooke (January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964)

Sam Cooke grew up singing gospel music with his siblings. One of
his first big gigs was lead singer for The Soul Stirrers in 1950. He
was shot and killed at a Motel in Los Angeles at the age of 33.

John Alvin "Johnnie" Ray (January 10, 1927 – February 24, 1990)

                                             

Johnnie Ray was a 1950s rock ‘n’ roll singer who recorded "Cry" and
"The Little White Cloud That Cried," which sold more than two million
copies. He released more than fifty hit singles over the course of his
career. Ray continued touring until he gave his final concert in Oregon
in October 1989.

1951

The song "Twistin’ the Night Away" was written and recorded by
Sam Cooke with session musicians The Wrecking Crew. It charted
in the top ten of both the Billboard Hot 100 (#9) and Billboard’s R&B
chart (#1).

The song "Twistin’ the Night Away" was written and recorded by
Sam Cooke with session musicians The Wrecking Crew. It charted
in the top ten of both the Billboard Hot 100 (#9) and Billboard’s R&B
chart (#1).