Early Life and Background
Jayne Posner (sometimes spelled Jaye) was born around 1940 in the United States. Although little is publicly known about her early life, family, or background, most reports describe her as a private and humble woman who preferred to stay out of the spotlight.
She attended Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, New York — the same school Neil Diamond attended — and later worked as a schoolteacher before marrying him.
Meeting Neil Diamond
Neil Diamond met Jayne Posner in the early 1960s when he was still a young man working summer jobs at the Catskills resorts. The two began dating during high school, long before Neil found fame as one of America’s greatest songwriters.
Their relationship blossomed quietly — built more on youthful dreams than on stardom.
Marriage and Family Life
The couple married in 1963, at a time when Neil was struggling to establish his career in music. Jayne became his emotional anchor during those uncertain early years, offering both stability and faith in his potential.
They had two daughters, Marjorie and Elyn Diamond, who would later remain close to their father through his long career.
For a few years, their marriage seemed steady. Jayne continued teaching while Neil began writing songs for other artists and performing small gigs in New York. Those early struggles forged the foundation of many heartfelt lyrics that later defined his music.
Separation and Divorce
By 1967, as Neil’s fame began to rise, the couple’s relationship started to drift apart. The growing pressure of his touring and recording schedule eventually led to their legal separation, finalized in 1969. Just ten days after the divorce papers were signed, Neil married television production assistant Marcia Murphey, marking the beginning of his second marriage.
Following the split, Jayne Posner chose a life away from the media. She rarely gave interviews and devoted her time to raising her daughters. Several biographers describe her as “the quiet figure who witnessed the birth of Neil Diamond’s musical soul.”
Influence and Legacy
Although Jayne Posner is not a public figure, her influence on Neil Diamond’s life and art remains undeniable.
Their relationship represents a poignant chapter — a blend of innocence, struggle, and the first heartbreak that shaped his songwriting voice.
It is believed that songs like “Hurting You Don’t Come Easy” and parts of “Solitary Man” were inspired by the emotional aftermath of their separation.
In later interviews, Neil admitted that his early relationships — especially his first marriage — taught him the value of patience and emotional balance. In his words:
“I wasn’t ready for what love demanded. But she believed in me when nobody else did.”
A Silent Figure in His Story
Today, Jayne Posner’s name rarely appears in tabloids or retrospectives, yet she remains part of Neil Diamond’s enduring story — the woman who shared his earliest dreams and stood beside him before the fame, the records, and the sold-out arenas.
Her quiet grace and the purity of their young love have become a kind of myth among longtime fans — a reminder that even legends begin with a simple, human story.