Home Forums Guitar News Weekly Guitar News Weekly Archive Music Rising Helps 1,200+ Musicians Effected by Hurricanes

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    – Press Release

    Music Rising, a campaign to replace musician’s instruments lost or destroyed in the Gulf Region hurricanes, today announced it has replaced over 1,200 instruments to date.

    Launched in November 2005, Music Rising has replaced these 1,200
    instruments to musicians located in over 34 States from California to New
    York and in the Gulf Coast region.

    Music Rising was formed in late 2005 by U2’s The Edge, legendary
    producer Bob Ezrin, Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz, and
    MusiCares. The Guitar Center Music Foundation is also an inaugural partner.
    Its purpose is to maintain the essence of the Gulf Coast’s musical
    tradition and help those devastated by the hurricane disasters. An
    exclusive Gibson Music Rising guitar sold through Guitar Center launched
    the effort with all proceeds going directly to Music Rising.

    Over half of the current Music Rising recipients are in Louisiana and
    instruments have been sent to over 54 towns within the State alone. Texas
    and Mississippi have the second and third largest recipient group. Music
    Rising clients have received a gamut of instruments from amps to guitars,
    to drums to saxophones and more. The current application and qualification
    process for musicians is handled by MusiCares, a nonprofit organization
    dedicated to helping music people in crisis.

    “Providing replacement instruments through Music Rising, not only helps
    the professional musicians to regain a foothold on their future, but will
    also ensure that one of the Gulf Coast’s greatest assets, its music, will
    rise again,” said The Edge.

    The pool of applicants has remained steady since the tragedy struck,
    and each week new clients emerge who need assistance. The number of
    musicians affected by the hurricanes is estimated to reach as high as 7,000
    — this initiative aims to put musical instruments back in the hands of
    people who lost everything.

    “We knew when the hurricanes struck the Gulf Region that we had to do
    something to help. Music Rising has now assisted more musicians than we
    ever expected and we are dedicated to helping restore the rich musical
    tradition of that region,” said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of
    Gibson Guitar.

    Bob Ezrin added, “Artists and lovers of music from around the world can
    help to replace its heart. Once the music is playing, the people will once
    again have a reason to gather. We believe: if they hear it, they will come
    and Music Rising is there to make it happen.
    “Music Rising will continue its outreach beyond the professional
    musicians with aid eventually going to churches and schools in the area.
    Other programs helping to raise funds for Music Rising include a month-long
    online auction with Ticketmaster in April ( http://www.ticketmaster.com ) and a
    special event in New Orleans on April 27th, 2006 at the historic
    Preservation Jazz Hall.

    For more information or to make a donation to Music Rising go to
    http://www.musicrising.org or http://www.gibson.com

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