Finding musical chemistry and a Neil Diamond connection

Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson play a couple who formed a Neil Diamond tribute band in the 1980s in Song Sung Blue

- Alison de Souza

Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman in the musical drama Song Sung Blue.

(PHOTO: UIP)

Mike and Claire Sardina were a blue-collar American couple who found love and musical alchemy when they formed a Neil Diamond tribute band in the 1980s.

And actors Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson found their own musical chemistry as they played the pair in the musical drama Song Sung Blue, which opens in Singapore cinemas on Jan 1.

Because of the film, the Hollywood stars also became friends with Diamond, the prolific 84-year-old American singer-songwriter who has sold more than 100 million records with folksy pop and rock hits such as Song Sung Blue (1972) and Sweet Caroline (1969).

At a Los Angeles screening of the movie in November, Jackman who played Wolverine in the X-Men superhero franchise (2000 to present) - says Diamond had long known about the Sardinas, who became local legends in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the 1980s and 1990s.

He rang Jackman after watching Song Sung Blue and being moved to tears.