Neil Diamond to Release 'Freedom Song (They'll Never Take Us Down)' to Benefit Boston Charities on July 2

Music Icon Neil Diamond has confrmed plans to release a newly writen song inspired by the recent Boston Marathon bombings. "Freedom Song (They'll Never Take Us Down)," will be released on July 2nd, with 100% of the purchase price, for at least the next year, equally beneftng One Fund Boston and the Wounded Warrior Project. Writen, recorded and produced by Diamond in the wake of this past April's Boston Marathon bombings, the new and original song will be released on Columbia Records and available on iTunes (iTunes.com/NeilDiamond) and Amazon MP3. Diamond, Columbia Records, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Major League Baseball, MLB.com, Washington Natonals, iTunes and Amazon MP3 have all donated their tme, expenses and support to the "Freedom Song (They'll Never Take Us Down)" project.

"I, like so many other Americans, felt helpless during the recent atacks in Boston and wanted so much to reach out and not only help those people affected in a direct way but to lift their spirits as well and let them know they were not alone; that the entre American community felt a close kinship with them," shared Diamond. "I was inspired enough to devote myself to the creaton of a new song which expressed my love for this country and its two greatest assets: the spirit of its people and the freedoms it has afforded us all by law."

Diamond will perform as a special guest at the 33rd annual broadcast of A CAPITOL FOURTH, America's Natonal Independence Day celebraton, which airs on PBS Thursday, July 4th from 8:00PM - 9:30PM ET. The event is broadcast live from the West Lawn of the US Capitol before a live concert audience of hundreds of thousands, millions more at home, as well as to all ourroops serving around the world on American Forces Network. The program can also be heard live in stereo over NPR member stations nationwide. Diamond will perform a selection of his hits, as well as the new single.

In addition, Diamond will debut his live performance of the new song during the NatonalsBrewers game on Thursday, July 4 at Natonals Park in Washington, DC. Military outreach is a top priority for the Natonals, who partner with various military groups throughout the baseball season to create special opportunites that highlight the indelible spirit of our naton's military forces. For this reason, the unique performance will take place during the Natonals In-Game Military Salute, a team traditon that occurs every home game. It will mark the frst tme Diamond performs this song live. Fans who wish to catch this special performance must have a valid tcket for the July 4 Natonals-Brewers games. Tickets may be purchased online at natonals.com/tckets, by calling 888.632.NATS(6287) or by visitng the Natonals Park Main Box Office at Half and N Streets, SE.

About NEIL DIAMOND: Across a musical career spanning nearly fve decades, Neil Diamond has sold more than 125 million albums worldwide, with a remarkable track record of 16 Top Ten albums, and 37 Top Ten singles. A Grammy Award-winning artst, Neil Diamond has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Songwriter's Hall of Fame, and is a Kennedy Center Honoree. Among Diamond's many other honors, he has received a Golden Globe Award, 12 Grammy nominatons and was named the 2009 MusiCares Person of the Year.