Behind the Music

Episode Synopsis

Neil Diamond: Behind The Music profiles one of music's most popular, enduring and misunderstood superstars - a singer-songwriter whose tunes never seem to go away. From mid-Sixties when the moody "Solitary Man" and the infectious "Cherry, Cherry" introduced him to the pop audience in 1966 to today, Neil Diamond has enjoyed an remarkably enduring connection with his masses of fans. Born in 1942 on the "Brooklyn Roads" about which he would later memorably sing, Diamond dropped out of New York University in order to pursue his dream of a life in music. He tried to make his name as a songwriter in New York's famed Tin Pan Alley just as the Brill Building era was peaking. Before long, though, he would emerge as a massively popular singer-songwriter in his own right. After an early Seventies retirement from the road, he reemerged with another long run of hits including "If You Know What I Mean," "Longfellow Serenade," "You Don't Bring Me Flowers," "Love On The Rocks," "America" "Love On The Rocks" and "Heartlight." Diamond remains one of the biggest draws in the touring business and this month releases his latest album, "Three Chord Opera".Interviews include Ellie Greenwich who helped discover Diamond, Lucie Arnez who co-starred as his love interest in The Jazz Singer, producers Bob Gaudio and Peter Asher, band members Reine and Linda Press, comic actor Jack Black who appeared with Diamond in "Saving Silverman," singer Steve Harwell of Smash Mouth who recently sang "I'm A Believer" for the soundtrack to Shrek and Surreal Neil, frontman of the popular tribute band Super Diamond, as well as comments from U2 and Tim McGraw, among others.