Pierce Professor Sings, Writes About Life

Diane Rose Kelly knows a thing or two about life and she showed it Saturday night in the infamous red room at Guitar Merchant on Topanga Canyon. The local musician, accomplished author and Pierce College professor performed a moving acoustic set to promote both her latest book, What’s Up Within: The Courage To Know and new CD of the same name. 

Speaking from the heart, Kelly describes her book as a tool that will help people navigate the inner journey through life and give them knowledge for transformation to live passionately. At Pierce in her physical education and health courses, which she dubs “Conscious Health,” Kelly teaches the principles of her written pages about mind, energy and body connection.

“It’s not a book that you read once,” said Kelly. “At any given time, any page can hit you, have a different meaning each time.” 

Kelly based her writing on numerous transitions in her life including the survival of a relationship ending and a nervous breakdown. She began to ask herself about her purpose in life, her talents and what could be holding her back. 

“Most of us wait until we have a midlife crisis to ask what am I doing with my life,” she said. 

It’s important, in her teaching, to propose those questions to her students.

Kelly is an associate professor of health and has been teaching health and fitness and women’s health classes for the past seven years.

Having students of all adult ages and different cultural backgrounds take her courses is to her a “beautiful thing.”

“I get to empower [my students] with preventative measures, not only for their physical health, but for their spiritual health, emotional health and their mental health,” she said. “It’s a great circle of energy.  I ‘m not the type of professor that stand ups and says I’m above you.  No, we are all equal.”

Last year, Kelly held the position of department chair but stepped down in order to focus on her writing and music.  She just returned from a tour in Colorado that included performances, book signings and radio interviews.

Kelly’s music is also a reflection of her life lived and of what is yet to come. 

“I try to keep it real, keep it soulful, stay true and have fun . . . I sing about joy, about all kinds of emotions,” she said. 

She describes her latest single, which holds the same title as the book and is available on iTunes, as an upbeat rhythm and blues pop song.

Kelly’s latest CD is a venture as a solo artist while she also remains part of a band called Jayla. Jayla has performed nationwide with Pat Benatar, Train, Styx and many others and has played at the Daytona 500, House of Blues, Hard Rock Café and various festivals and expos throughout the country. 

This Fall, Kelly’s plans include school performances as well as a college tour.  For more information about Diane Rose Kelly, visit www.dianerosekelly.com.