Course Title:  Music 502, Neil Diamond

Prerequisite:  None

Credits:  3

This course is designed to introduce the student to one of Rock N’ Roll’s greatest song writers and live performers: Neil Leslie Diamond, born January 24, 1941 in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Early in his career, Mr. Diamond wrote songs for many performers on New York's famous 4th St., including a #1 with “I’m a Believer”, sung by The Monkeys. Later, he began to write for himself, topping the charts with songs like “Cherry Cherry” and “Sweet Caroline.” The man was a diamond in the ruff, but he became polished in a way very, very few singer/songer writers have been able to duplicate. The student will learn more about his life on-stage (and off) through this course.

Required readings (and listenings) include:

• Neil Diamond: His Life, His Music, His Passion
  By Laura Jackson
• Solitary Star: A Biography of Neil Diamond
  By Rich Wiseman
• The Essential Greatest Hits Collection 2005 USA Tour Edition
  By Neil Diamond

Neil Diamond: His Life, His Music, His Passion. By Laura Jackson. Just published in September, 2005, this book presents a Neil Diamond not well known to the public. It captures Neil’s darker side as well as the charismatic performer we all know. It depicts how these two worlds combined to make Neil Diamond, the man and the performer.

Solitary Star:  A Biography of Neil Diamond. By Rich Wiseman. A Biography that doesn’t always focus on what we want to hear about Mr. Diamond. Though the man and his band refused to be a part of the publication, Rich Wiseman still manages to get to the personal side of Neil Diamond. Through hundreds of interviews with people who have been associated with Neil over the years, Wiseman paints a picture of the “real” Neil Diamond.

The Essential Greatest Hits Collection 2005 USA Tour Edition. By Neil Diamond. This is a compilation of his best hits from over 40 years of works. The CD included songs like “I'm a Believer”, “America” and “You Don't Bring Me Flowers.” When you buy the CD, you also get a bonus 60 minute DVD titled “Greatest Hits.”

Albums