Local artists rush to aid a Bryan Diamond benefit.

A legion of 14 local bands and musicians are enthusiastically donating their talents to a benefit concert to raise money for local music icon Bryan Diamond’s cancer treatment.

“So many musicians volunteered that we had to turn some away,” says local artist and promoter Kiki Wow.

All of the performers know Diamond well. The benefit was organized by his longtime friends Wow, event planner Lori Carter and guitarist Michael Chatfield.

Wow says Diamond was one of her first friends when she relocated to Monterey 10 years ago. He gave her fledgling career a boost by collaborating on gigs for his Cat Stevens cover band, Peace Train, and solo performances.

Carter counts over 40 years of friendship with one the most respected and beloved musicians on the Peninsula. She was 16 and working at an indoor crafts fair in L.A. when they met. Professional studio musicians would gather there to jam and so did Diamond, then 15. Even as an adolescent, Diamond had killer guitar chops and played tête-à-tête with the pros.

In 1973, Diamond and Carter were living in Monterey by coincidence. Carter describes a vibrant music scene that included Diamond as a major player. “He was one of the few who could make a full-time career out of it,” she says.

In November of last year, Diamond shared with Carter that he was quietly battling stage four lung cancer and had brain tumors. He is not a smoker.

Diamond’s original song, “Summer’s Gone,” ranks among his most memorable thanks to flawless execution and sincere delivery. “Will the things we said lose meaning in time,” he sings.

The musical performances to be held at Hidden Valley are divided by genre. First, a singer/songwriter hour will feature seven performances including Kathleen Reclusado, Laurie Anderson, Kyle Kovalik and Kiki Wow.

A jazz hour features Roger Eddy’s Jazzy All-Stars, Laurie Hofer and Bob Wider, among others. The event closes with a “dance hour” courtesy of WildCard (former Money Band member Chatfield and Michael Kobrinski), Jon Gorman and John Tindel of Red Bean and Rice, and Scott Dickson of Sons of Twang.

A cover of Carole King’s “You’ve Got a Friend” performed by a collective of local musicians is available for purchase online at CDBaby. All proceeds from downloading the song benefit Bryan Diamond.

BRYAN DIAMOND FUNDRAISER 6pm doors, 7pm music, Thursday Sept. 8. Hidden Valley, 88 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley. $25. 659-3115, www.hiddenvalleymusic.com