Lance Diamond

{{Short description|American radio personality (1945–2015)}} {{For|the professional wrestler|Simon Diamond}} thumb|Lance Diamond in 2007 '''Lance Diamond''' (born William Shingles;<ref>[https://buffalonews.com/news/local/documentary-explores-life-of-lance-diamond-buffalos-legendary-music-man/article_9a56a3e7-bd4c-55eb-879a-864759f2ad6d.html#:~:text=%E2%80%9CA%20lot%20of%20people%20didn,his%20personal%20life%20so%20private] ''The Buffalo News'' (July 16, 2017). Retrieved January 18, 2022. “Documentary explores life of Lance Diamond, Buffalo's legendary music man.”</ref> July 3,<ref>[http://live.buffalonews.com/2010/06/29/4th-of-july-when-and-where-to-celebrate/ 4th of July: when and where to celebrate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304120633/http://live.buffalonews.com/2010/06/29/4th-of-july-when-and-where-to-celebrate/ |date=2016-03-04 }}. ''The Buffalo News'' (June 9, 2010). Retrieved January 9, 2015. “Lance Diamond will headline the Erie Canal Harbor's Independence Day celebration, and it's also his birthday.”</ref> 1945<ref name=ageatdeath>[http://live.buffalonews.com/2015/12/30/2015-in-review-notable-deaths/ 2015 in review: notable deaths] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407101335/http://live.buffalonews.com/2015/12/30/2015-in-review-notable-deaths/ |date=2016-04-07 }}. ''The Buffalo News'' (December 30, 2015). Retrieved January 1, 2015. “Lance Diamond, 69, singer and Buffalo music legend, died Jan. 4.”</ref> – January 4, 2015) was an American lounge singer and radio personality based in Buffalo, New York, whose career spanned over 40 years.<ref name=wivb>[http://wivb.com/2014/12/31/lance-diamond-cancels-nye-show-due-to-heart-complications/ Lance Diamond cancels NYE show due to heart complications] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313072445/http://wivb.com/2014/12/31/lance-diamond-cancels-nye-show-due-to-heart-complications/ |date=2016-03-13 }}. ''WIVB'' (December 31, 2014); retrieved January 4, 2015.</ref>

==Career==

Diamond, together with his band the 24 Karat Diamond Band, played many classic rock and disco-era songs. He often called himself the "Love Doctor," getting the name from his radio show, ''Saturday Night Fever'' which he hosted Saturday evenings on 96.1 WJYE (now WTSS) featuring love music.<ref name=wgrzobit>[https://archive.today/20150105044435/http://www.wgrz.com/story/entertainment/2015/01/04/lance-diamond-buffalo-dead/21274615/ Local singer Lance Diamond has died]. ''WGRZ'' (January 5, 2015); retrieved January 5, 2015.</ref> His success in Buffalo led him to receive offers to lead shows in Las Vegas, which he declined due to his preference to stay in Buffalo.<ref name=wgrzobit/>

Diamond played with the Goo Goo Dolls live, as well as recording with them on the tracks "Down on the Corner", "Never Take the Place of Your Man", "My Girl", "Do You Believe", and "Bitch." Diamond and the Goo Goo Dolls performed "Bitch" on the 1993 AIDS-Benefit Album No Alternative produced by the Red Hot Organization. Diamond met Goo Goo Dolls' bassist Robby Takac after Takac moved into the apartment directly below him in a Buffalo apartment building.<ref name="Mr. Lance Diamond Buffalo's #1 Entertainer">{{cite web|url=http://www.buffalorising.com/home/archives/2005/02/mr_lance_diamon.php|publisher=Buffalo Rising|work=Editorial/Biography|title=Lance Diamond|accessdate=2007-06-10|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208214212/http://www.buffalorising.com/home/archives/2005/02/mr_lance_diamon.php|archivedate=2007-02-08}}</ref><ref name="Goo Goo Dolls FAQ">{{cite web|url=http://www.musicfanclubs.org/googoodolls/misc/faq.htm#1.5.2|publisher=Music Fan Clubs|work=Goo Goo Dools Frequently Asked Questions|title=Goo Goo Dolls FAQ v4.03 (8/3/99)|accessdate=2007-06-10}} </ref><ref>Violanti, Anthony (June 18, 1993). "Double feature: Lance Diamond and the Goo Goo Dolls at Buffalo Place", ''The Buffalo News'', p. G26.</ref>

He was deemed Buffalo's "best individual vocalist", "king of charisma" and best "genre-defying act" by Buffalo's ''ARTVOICE''.<ref name="Best of Buffalo Music">{{cite web|url=http://artvoice.com/features/best/music|publisher=ARTVOICE|work=Best of Buffalo|title=Best of Buffalo: Music|accessdate=2007-06-10}}</ref> He also performed twice at Melody Fair, a famous performing arts venue in North Tonawanda, NY.

In his last years, Diamond was a regular performer in Buffalo's Elmwood Village and performed at The Elmwood Lounge, a local tavern in Elmwood Village, on a weekly basis until shortly before his death.<ref name=wivb/>

==Awards== * Buffalo Music Hall of Fame 1992<ref>{{cite web |title=Lance Diamond - BMHOF Class of 1992 |url=https://bmhof.org/inductees-d/lance-diamond.html |website=The Buffalo Music Hall of Fame |publisher=bmhof.org}}</ref>

==Death== Diamond died on January 4, 2015, a few days after being hospitalized due to heart complications that prevented him from performing his annual New Year's Eve show.<ref name=wgrzobit/> He was 69<ref name=ageatdeath/> and believed to have no spouse or children (his sister announced his death), although his secretive nature meant that very little of his personal life was known to the public.<ref name=wgrzobit/>

In 2017, Diamond was the subject of the documentary ''A Diamond in the Buff'', co-directed by Kevin Polowy and Brandon Rae. Polowy was able to secure three interviews from the notoriously secretive Diamond before his death, which were incorporated into the film.<ref>[http://www.wgrz.com/news/local/lance-diamonds-life-on-the-big-screen/453419318 Lance Diamond's life on the big screen]. ''WGRZ''. Retrieved July 1, 2017.</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://archive.today/20150105204338/http://esiartists.com/lance-diamond.html Lance Diamond's website] *[https://myspace.com/lancediamond Lance Diamond's MySpace Page] *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQetBH0lzRQ Buffalo's Local Legend Lance Diamond]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Diamond, Lance}} Category:1945 births Category:2015 deaths Category:Place of birth missing Category:Musicians from Buffalo, New York Category:American male singers Category:American radio personalities Category:Singers from New York (state) Category:Goo Goo Dolls