Mega-Star and Solitary Man Neil Diamond Brings a Serenade of New and Classic Material to AOL Music Sessions with a Rare and Stripped Down Performance

NEW YORK, NY. (Top40 Charts/ / AOL) -AOL Music (www.aolmusic.com), a premiere online music destination, brings Neil Diamond, the quintessential American composer of some of the world's most beloved music, back to his native New York for an exclusive AOL Music Sessions performance.

During the set, the singer/songwriter offered intimate performances of 'Save Me a Saturday Night,' 'We' and 'I'm On to You' (all from his latest, Rick Rubin produced album 12 Songs), as well as the classics 'Solitary Man' and 'Sweet Caroline.' The rare, stripped-down performance features Diamond on acoustic guitar, backed by guitar, bass and piano.

Diamond, whose songs have been recorded by everyone from Frank Sinatra to Elvis Presley, also sat down with AOL Music for a candid interview in which he revealed everything from the first song that ever blew him away to why he avoids listening to contemporary artists. He also gave AOL Music an inside look at the creation of two of his career defining songs.

About the 1966 single 'Solitary Man,' Diamond offered, "When I wrote it, it was just another song. I didn't think 'Solitary Man' had anything to do with me, but it turns out that it has a lot to do with me. It became something that represented who I was, and I accept that now."

"'Sweet Caroline' is just about the simplest song I've written and it's probably the most universal song I've written," Diamond continued. "I've heard it all over the world. It didn't take very long to write . . . and it may be my best song ever.'

The exclusive AOL Music Sessions and interview with Neil Diamond will premiere Friday, December 22, and will be available for free and on-demand for viewing anytime at AOL Music (www.aolmusic.com).