Neil Diamond operates under the radar to help victims of Hurricane Ike

[MelissaB]

Diamond's backstage action aids Ike efforts

Oak Island could receive $4 million from his concerts

By BRADLEY OLSON
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
Nov. 1, 2008, 10:47PM



Neil Diamond meets with Mayor Bill White during a recent visit to Houston on a concert tour.

When he takes the stage tonight in St. Louis, soft-rock legend Neil Diamond has an unusual speech planned amid wildly popular renditions of America and Sweet Caroline.

He wants to tell fans about Oak Island: the heaping, rotting piles of debris; the hundreds of homes washed away; and the people, some still sleeping in tents and cars, struggling to rebuild after Hurricane Ike decimated the area in September.

Two weeks ago, after his concert in Houston, Diamond paid an incognito visit to the small, unincorporated hamlet in Trinity Bay and was shocked by the devastation.

Ever since, he has given something of a stump speech about the former fishing village at each of his concerts. And, operating almost completely under the radar, he has promised to donate 100 percent of the gross merchandise sales at 20 concerts to assist in the rebuilding of the small community, which sits just a few miles south of Anahuac in Chambers County. If sales continue, proceeds could exceed $4 million by year's end.


More: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/chronicle/6090135.html

Everybody now: Sweet Caroline, good times never seemed so good, so good, so good.

[tilsammans]

1. He's a good man, that Neil! n/t

:applause:

[EFerrari]

2. That's how he moves. What a good man.

My brother's friends have played with him forever and, he's just the best.

:yourock:

[MelissaB]

3. What do you mean?

Are they in the band or just fans like me?

[EFerrari]

6. Two of my horn player brother's friends are in his band

and have been since the late 80s. They have nothing but good things to say about him. :)

[MelissaB]

9. The HornDogz! I love them.

I sat on their side on the first row the last concert I went to. They put on quite a show.

[EFerrari]

14. I haven't seen them for years. Last time was in San Jose and

they got us into the thingy. Sweetest guys on this green Earth. :)

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

4. I've heard that about him and his musicians and that's another reason why I love him!

BTW... Neil Diamond was the first boyfriend of an old friend of mine...when she was 5 years old and he was six! lol!

:hi:

[MelissaB]

5. Now that is cool!

She's one lucky girl. :)

BTW, I'm about to see Neil for the 3rd time this tour. I guess you could call it an obsession. :blush: I just love his music!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

24. It really is a cool story! I've seen Neil twice in concert and I have most of his

music. I think some of his lyrics border on brilliant.

There are only 2 things that nag at me with him. When I heard that a 5 year old Caroline Kennedy was his inspiration for Sweet Caroline..it made me cringe. And September Morn still confuses the heck out of me.

September Morn

Written by: neil diamond and gilbert becaud

Stay for just a while
Stay, and let me look at you
Its been so long, I hardly knew you
Standing in the door
Stay with me a while
I only want to talk to you
Weve traveled halfway round the world
To find ourselves again

September morn
We danced until the night became a brand new day
Two lovers playing scenes from some romantic play
September morning still can make me feel this way

Look at what youve done
Why, you've become a grown-up girl
I still can hear you cryin
In the corner of your room
And look how far we've come
So far from where we used to be
But not so far that we've forgotten
How it was before

September morn
Do you remember how we danced that night away
Two lovers playing scenes from some romantic play
September morning still can make me feel this way

[EFerrari]

7. That's hilarious.

:hi:

[spanone]

8. brother love's travelin' salvation show.....

[MelissaB]

10. pack up the babies and grab the old ladies cause everyone goes to brother love's show...

Well, I'm packing up my daughter who is 13 and loves Neil to travel to Green Bay Tuesday. (Yes, election day.) I guess that makes me the old lady. :rofl:

[MelissaB]

11. By the way, I think some of Neil's band reads here. Can't we get 3 more recommends?

[EFerrari]

12. Do they? Hey, guys! Geno's sister sends a bunch of love to you all.

:hi:

[MelissaB]

19. One of them posted he reads "liberal blogs" and at least one has been seen wearing an Obama cap.

[Lithos]

15. LOL

Not a big fan of his musical style, but he's doing the right thing. So if a K&R helps to let him know it's appreciated, then that's it is the least I can do.

[MelissaB]

16. Brief story: I'm singing the chorus of Sweet Caroline Tues for the Democratic office in

Sault Ste Marie, MI. I went in the other day and we were talking and I told them I had to vote absentee because I'd be out of town for a concert. They asked who and when I told them they all went nuts. LOL! These were young people in their 20's and 30's. :)

[EFerrari]

18. The last show I went to had the most diverse audience I've ever seen.

I was drug there and had a great time.

[MelissaB]

20. LOL! If it makes you feel better, he did a fundraiser for John Kerry 4 years ago.

:rofl:

Wish I could remember the story about the Kennedy fundraiser. I think one of the ladies threw a drink on him (all in fun) because he sang a song another one requested and she didn't get to hear hers.

[SammyWinstonJack]

13. K&R!

[JeffR]

17. K & R.

That's a good man right there.

[Qutzupalotl]

21. He is a mensch.

Rumor has it he also studies with the Rosicrucian Order, which is essentially a mensch school.

[MelissaB]

23. Where did you hear/read that?

I've never read or heard that he studies with the Rosicrucian Order.

Thanks for the link.

[Qutzupalotl]

26. It was a grapevine, really.

I've been with them awhile, and love it. I heard about Neil Diamond from other members, but was offered no proof. Typically prominent people don't advertise their membership, since there are other people who are apt to misunderstand what it's all about--which is basically service to others and self-improvement.

[MelissaB]

27. Very interesting.

Thanks! :hi:

[Catherine Vincent]

22. Very cool and noble of him.

:kick:

[shadowknows69]

25. Forever in freaking blue jeans!!!

Go Neil!!!