1974 No. 1 Pop Smash Left Listeners Stunned When They Learned It Wasn't Neil Diamond
In 1974, music fans did a double take when a voice strikingly similar to Neil Diamond climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard charts with a catchy pop hit.
Andy Kim was the artist behind the chart-topper, "Rock Me Gently." The song's unexpected success quickly sparked confusion among listeners who couldn't believe it wasn't the familiar voice they were hearing.
The mix up was obvious to many radio fans. Both singers had rich, baritone voices that sounded almost indistinguishable.
In 2019, Stereogum said that in "Rock Me Gently," "[Kim] sounds almost exactly like Neil Diamond, a schticky belter with a clearly audible grin. Maybe 'Rock Me Gently' is a Neil Diamond ripoff. (The way Kim delivers the line "you got the moves" could almost be a sample.) It's formulaic as all hell, but formulas become formulas for a reason."
Parade Daily🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬
In the caption of a fan-created Instagram reel asking, "Who thought this was Neil Diamond at one time?" listeners shared their thoughts on the Andy Kim song. Many admitted they were completely fooled by the vocal similarity, while others said the comparison made perfect sense in hindsight.
"When I first heard the song, I thought the same," penned one music fan. A second added, "I've always thought this was Neil Diamond. Still do, even though I know it's not him."
"He does look like Neil Diamond! Sounds like him too," wrote a third listener. "I have always thought this song was by Neil!! Only a few years ago found out, thanks to Instagram Lol!! Now I gotta turn in my 70s card," joked a fourth fan.
RELATED: 1970 Iconic Folk Rock Classic Ranked Among the Decade's Best Songs
Before the huge success of "Rock Me Gently," Kim was an established songwriter. He moved to New York City as a teenager from Canada, and worked at the infamous Brill Building, a major songwriting hub and home to Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, and Jeff Barry.
According to Stereogum, Kim partnered with Barry to write The Archie's hits, "Sugar, Sugar" (which he sang background vocals on), "Jingle Jangle" and The Monkees "Oh My My." However, when the songwriting hits stopped, Kim relied on his knowledge in the music business to record and produce "Rock Me Gently" himself. The song eventually went to No. 1 on the Billboard charts.
In an interview with Canadian Billboard, Kim recalled the moment he learned the song hit the top of the charts. "Rock Me Gently was on the charts for four months. I cried. Then a night I remember - Al Corey called me at midnight on a Tuesday, because Tuesday is when Billboard changed their charts. By the time you've got the print, it was the weekend. He told me it hit #1 on Billboard Hot 100. I cried like a baby."
RELATED: 1974 ‘Irresistible' Sultry Soft Rock Classic Became a Signature Mood-Setting Hit
He continued, "It was like an athlete or someone who just worked so hard to climb up that hill and, once they got there, not only are you exhausted, and you've given every ounce of your body and intellect and emotions into something, it really was so sweet. Then John Lennon gives me my gold record a couple of weeks later and I get to hang with him. So much that's been given to me was because I was brave enough to dream."
Andy Kim continues to perform. "Rock Me Gently" has been featured in commercials for Jeep and Jif, and has been covered by artists such as Michelle Wright, Trans-Canada Highwaymen, Dylan Lock, and James Last.
MORE: 1978 Timeless Yacht Rock Gem Ranks Among the Decade's Greatest Hits
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 4:19 AM.