Music Rising Donates $25,000 to Nashville Symphony's Music Program for Children

NASHVILLE, TN. (September 1, 2010) - Music Rising, a program administered by the Gibson Foundation, originally dedicated to rebuilding the Gulf Coast music programs post-Katrina, expanded its reach with the announcement of a donation of $25,000 to the Nashville Symphony to help rebuild its Instrument Petting Zoo. An integral part of the Symphony’s music education program, the Instrument Petting Zoo is a collection of more than 50 instruments which were destroyed in the May flooding that affected much of the Middle Tennessee area, including the Symphony’s concert hall, Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

Following two solid days of rain on May 1 and 2, the basement of Schermerhorn Symphony Center filled with 24 feet of water, or a total volume of roughly 5 million gallons. The building’s mechanical operations and electrical systems were significantly damaged, as were a number of instruments stored in the building’s basement. These included two grand pianos, the console for the concert hall’s Martin Foundation Concert Organ, and the entire collection of instruments fondly known to children as the Instrument Petting Zoo. The total cost of all losses, including disaster response, cleanup, business interruption and restoration of the building, is approximately $42 million.

Thanks to the generosity of Music Rising and the Gibson Foundation along with several other donors, the Nashville Symphony has begun replacing many of the instruments in the Petting Zoo, which encourages people of all ages to try their hand at making music. The Zoo is a feature of the pre-concert activities at The Symphony’s Ann & Monroe Carell Family Trust Pied Piper Series and it also travels around to area schools and community events.

“We are hugely grateful to the Gibson Foundation and Music Rising for helping us to rebuild this valuable educational resource,” says Mitchell Korn, the Nashville Symphony’s Vice President of Education and Community Engagement. “Music has the power to change lives, and for many people, our Instrument Petting Zoo may be their very first encounter in what we hope will be a lifelong engagement with making music.”

Music Rising was founded in 2005 by U2’s the Edge, producer Bob Ezrin and Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz to help musicians affected by Hurricane Katrina and represents a diverse group of major supporters from the entertainment industry. Music Rising program recently expanded its efforts to help the Nashville music community by donating $250,000 to help musicians replace instruments lost in the flood. Partnering with The Recording Academy’s MusiCares organization, Music Rising and the Gibson Foundation have already assisted over 100 musicians in the Nashville area. The $25,000 donation to the Nashville Symphony is part of these efforts.

For more information about the Nashville Symphony’s music education programs, please visit NashvilleSymphony.org/education.

FOX News Reports: Music Rising Five Years Later

It's been five years since Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf. On the day of its fifth anniversary, Fox News takes a look at how Music Rising has played a significant role in helping the region’s musicians regain their livelihoods, and how that effort is still going strong today.

Watch:

Help Music Rising continue to make a difference in the musical community of New Orleans and the Gulf region! Click 'DONATE' above and help spread the word on Facebook and Twitter! We've come a long way since 2005, but there's still a ways to go.

Good Gulf Ideas

Pepsi is responding to the Gulf oil spill in a big way. They recognize that the catastrophe isn't just an environmental crisis, but an economic and cultural one too. As an extension of the Pepsi Refresh Project, Pepsi is funding $1.3 million towards ideas that help communities in the Gulf States.

Visit the official website to browse ideas and vote for your favorites.

Here are just two great ideas that we at Music Rising support:

Keep the music and the youth of New Orleans alive
From the Silence Is Violence Youth Music Clinics in New Orleans
In the running for: $50K
How will the money be used? Future instrument purchases, Clinic expenses for many years, and Scholarships for those who wish to pursue music
Vote for this idea

Create a musical monument to New Orleans
From the Threadhead Records Foundation
In the running for: $50K
How will the money be used? Studio fees, Musician fees, Mixing/mastering costs
Vote for this idea

A Music Rising Playlist Podcast from The Edge

After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in 2005, U2‘s The Edge knew something had to be done to preserve the rich musical heritage of the region. Along with producer Bob Ezrin and Gibson CEO Henry Juszkiewicz, he co-founded Music Rising, a charity dedicated to replacing the instruments that had been lost or destroyed in the storm. Now more than ever, Music Rising is committed to keeping the region’s unique musical culture alive through its continued support of education and the musical community.

In this exclusive iTunes Podcast Playlist, the Edge shares some of his favorite songs from New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, reminding us that much of today’s music originated from a musical culture that we must fight to preserve for future generations.

Click here to listen to the free podcast on iTunes, where all 21 songs are available for download.

Music Rising Helps Nashville Musicians Regain the Tools of Their Trade

Recently, Music Rising partnered with MusiCares to administer the Music Rising Nashville Flood Relief efforts to aid musicians with the repair and replacement of instruments damaged or destroyed in the Tennessee floods earlier this Spring. On Saturday, May 1, many musicians who call Nashville home lost instruments or equipment essential to their livelihood.

Here’s what several Nashville musicians had to say after receiving relief grants from Music Rising following the devastation of the floods:

"Getting financial assistance from Music Rising not only will help me recover from the flood disaster, but it helps my spirits recover knowing that members of the music community are behind me and supporting me.  Keeping your chin up during the recovery from a loss like this is as important as recovering the loss.  My studio and home were wiped out.  I lost both my cars.  My musical equipment insurance policy had lapsed from non-payment by the person responsible for paying my bills-and that wasn't me at the time.  I compose for many television shows and without my studio gear I'm left with no tools of the trade to earn the means to recover.  This was not just a loss, but a set back.  Thank you so much for the significant contribution.  It was one of the rare times I've been able to smile during the ordeal."
-Danny Tate

"An artist's role is to look at the world and describe it, and at times when life requires more than a description, artists get their hands dirty and spend a bit of themselves to know the privilege of giving to those in need... I have been on the receiving end of such privileged people and it has made me want to give more of myself in turn. Thank you for your generosity and care. I never could have imagined needing the music community this way, and could never have thought it would respond to my need so well."
-Dan Haseltin

"As someone who has made an increasingly precarious living playing music for over thirty years, it was heartwrenching to come in off the road to find my basement music room underwater. As with most, my insurance company was no help at all, and the help provided by MusiCares and Music Rising was very helpful in not only a practical "dollars and cents" way, but more importantly in giving a sense of community and solidarity during a difficult time. That part is truly invaluable and impossible to calculate... thanks!"
–Anonymous

To learn more about Music Rising’s pledge to Nashville, click here.

If you’re a musician who’s been affected by the flooding, or if you know a musician who could use our help, download the application form today.

All applicants must meet the eligibility requirements listed in the application and provide supporting documentation.

Nashville Musicians: Apply for Instrument Replacement and Repair

Nashville and its surrounding communities were unexpectedly struck by a major disaster on Saturday, May 1. Many musicians who call Nashville home have lost instruments or equipment that are essential to their livelihood.

Music Rising has partnered with MusiCares to administer the Music Rising Nashville Flood Relief efforts to aid musicians with the repair and replacement of instruments damaged or destroyed in the recent Tennessee floods.

To Apply
Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements listed in the application and provide supporting documentation.
Download the application form.

“When we created Music Rising in 2005, our mission was to help rebuild and preserve the musical culture of the Central Gulf Region. We started by replacing the musician’s instruments that were lost or destroyed by the hurricanes, and we continue to expand our efforts to benefit the region’s musical heritage. Now, it’s our responsibility to help Nashville’s music community recover from these historic floods, and Music Rising will do just that.”
- Music Rising Co-Founder Bob Ezrin

“As a co-founding partner, Gibson Guitar will continue to support Music Rising. As we have done in the Gulf Region, we plan on staying the course until the Nashville music community has recovered. It continues to be a great honor to work aside the Edge of U2 and producer Bob Ezrin in every effort of Music Rising. We will see Nashville rise again and it will be better than ever."
- Henry Juszkiewicz, CEO and Chairman of Gibson Guitar

“Nashville is a treasure chest of Southern heritage and American musical tradition and is indisputably the world’s Country Music capital. But it’s more than that. It is also home to one of the greatest concentrations of musical talent on earth. The news of the floods brought back terrible memories of Katrina and when Anderson Cooper of CNN titled his new coverage 'Nashville Rising' it became obvious what we had to do.”
- U2’s the Edge

Music Rising / Nashville Flood Relief, is administered by MusiCares in partnership with Gibson Foundation.

Music Rising Announces Pledge to Nashville

Campaign Co-Founded by U2’s The Edge, Producer Bob Ezrin and Gibson Guitar CEO Henry Juszkiewicz Launches Program For Nashville Musicians

Nashville…May 14, 2010….Music Rising, a campaign launched in 2005 to aid the musicians of the Gulf Coast Region after the hurricane disasters of Katrina and Rita, has pledged support to the city of Nashville and its musicians affected by the recent floods. Music Rising, co-founded by U2’s the Edge, legendary producer Bob Ezrin and Gibson Guitar CEO and Chairman Henry Juszkiewicz announced its partnership with MusiCares in cooperation with the Gibson Foundation to administer the Music Rising Nashville Flood Relief efforts that will aid musicians with the repair and replacement of instruments damaged or destroyed in the recent Tennessee floods.

Effective immediately, Music Rising will donate $250,000 to MusiCares to be used specifically for Music Rising/Nashville Flood Relief. These funds will be earmarked to help musicians in the Nashville area repair or replace instruments that fell victim to the flood waters. Hundreds of musicians who call Nashville home have lost instruments and equipment. In the aftermath of the floods, as the entire city is trying to grasp the enormity of the loss, the musicians are hoping they will have the instruments they need to perform. Anyone interested in donating to Music Rising Nashville’s effort and increasing the initial $250,000 donation can do so by going to www.gibsonfoundation.org and clicking on Flood Relief donations. Contributions should be noted by the donor with the request to go directly to Music Rising Nashville.

“When we created Music Rising in 2005, our mission was to help rebuild and preserve the musical culture of the Central Gulf Region. We started by replacing the musician’s instruments that were lost or destroyed by the hurricanes,” said co-founder Bob Ezrin, “and we continue to expand our efforts to benefit the region’s musical heritage. Now, it’s our responsibility to help Nashville’s music community recover from these historic floods, and Music Rising will do just that.”

“As a co-founding partner, Gibson Guitar will continue to support Music Rising. As we have done in the Gulf Region, we plan on staying the course until the Nashville music community has recovered.” said Henry Juszkiewicz, CEO and Chairman of Gibson Guitar. “It continues to be a great honor to work aside the Edge of U2 and producer Bob Ezrin in every effort of Music Rising. We will see Nashville rise again and it will be better than ever.”

“Nashville is a treasure chest of Southern heritage and American musical tradition and is indisputably the world’s Country Music capital. But it’s more than that. It is also home to one of the greatest concentrations of musical talent on earth,” said U2’s the Edge. “The news of the floods brought back terrible memories of Katrina and when Anderson Cooper of CNN titled his new coverageNashville Rising it became obvious what we had to do.”

In order to be considered for assistance, musicians must complete the confidential application process Each applicant must be able to demonstrate that they have a damaged or destroyed instrument. MusiCares will be handling the verification. Beginning Monday, May 17, 2010, the MusiCares (www.musicares.com), Music Rising (www.musicrising.org) and Gibson Foundation (www.gibsonfoundation.org) sites will have applications, contact numbers and information for musicians who would like to apply. Music Rising / Nashville Flood Relief, is administered by MusiCares in partnership with Gibson Foundation.

About Music Rising:
Music Rising, a campaign launched in 2005 to replace musical instruments lost or destroyed by hurricanes in the Gulf Region was co-founded by U2’s the Edge, producer Bob Ezrin and Gibson Guitar CEO and Chairman Henry Juszkiewicz. The campaign has since aided over 2,700 musicians and over 50,000 students and choir members in its initial three phases. In its fourth phase Music Rising plans on preserving the rich musical heritage of the Gulf Coast with a dedicated academic program which will be announced late 2010. Partners of Music Rising represent one of the most diverse partnerships in the entertainment industry and include MusiCares, Guitar Center Music Foundation, Musician’s Friend, Julien’s Auctions, Live Nation, Kennedy/Marshall,Ticketmaster, Hard Rock International, VH-1 Networks, MTV Networks, Real Networks, ABC News Now, The NFL, Rolling Stone Magazine, Mr. Holland’s Opus, ACT and the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund. Music Rising is the recipient of the prestigious 2005 Halo Award for Cause Marketing, 2006 Billboard Humanitarian Award, the 2008 PRISM Award and has been recognized around the world by various media organizations. Music Rising has launched Music Rising Nashville to aid the musicians who lost instruments in the May 2010 floods. Music Rising is administered by the Gibson Foundation.

About MusiCares:
Established in 1989 by the Recording Academy, MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. MusiCares’ services and resources cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies and in each case is treated with integrity and confidentiality. MusiCares also focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community. For more information please visit www.musicares.com

About Gibson Foundation:
Founded in 2002 by Gibson Guitar Corp., the Gibson Foundation is committed to making the world a better place for children by creating, developing and supporting programs and other non-profit organizations in their efforts to advance education, music and the arts, the environment and health & welfare causes. For more information go to www.gibsonfoundation.org

CONTACTS:
Caroline Galloway
GIBSON FOUNDATION/MUSIC RISING
615-423-4904
caroline.galloway@gibson.com
Follow us @musicrising on Twitter and Music Rising on Facebook

New Radio Stream from UNC's Southern Folklife Collection

The Southern Folklife Collection at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is launching a series of geographically-oriented radio streams, featuring music from the library’s extensive archives. The first region in the series is New Orleans and its surrounding areas!

Download the "New Orleans" radio stream to get a taste of the distinctive jazz, R&B, barrelhouse boogie, and brass bands that gave New Orleans its reputation as a center for rich musical culture.

The link works best with iTunes, Winamp, or VLC media players. Click here for more radio streams from the Southern Folklife Collection.

The Gibson Foundation Launches Campaign Initiatives and Events to Benefit Flood Relief

We at Music Rising have decided to extend our support to help musicians who lost everything in the recent Nashville floods. Like New Orleans and the surrounding area affected by Hurricane Katrina, Nashville is one of America's greatest music cities, and we are deeply saddened by the prospect of so many great musicians losing their livelihoods due to the disaster.

Below is a press release from the Gibson Foundation announcing their flood relief efforts in Nashville. Later this week, we will announce how Music Rising will be participating in these efforts. In the meantime, head to www.gibsonfoundation.org to view a series of PSAs by several celebrity musicians who have pledged their support to these initiatives.

The Gibson Foundation Launches Series of Star Studded Public Service Announcements, Campaign Initiatives and Events to Benefit Flood Relief

“A Night Out for Nashville” – An Evening for Music City Flood Relief Set for Friday, June 18, 2010 Throughout City

Nashville, Tenn….May 12, 2010 - Gibson Guitar and its philanthropic division the Gibson Foundation have announced a series of programs to help aid the victims of the recent Nashville floods, which devastated the city and surrounding areas. Thousands of people have been left homeless and without the basic necessities of everyday life. Gibson Foundation, based in Nashville, will spearhead an initiative with landmark venues and businesses throughout the city, including the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau Visitor’s Center, Gibson Café, and Diana’s Sweet Shoppe where Gibson Guitar banks created from actual Gibson guitar cases will be placed for visiting patrons to make a donation. The guitar case banks will be placed in area establishments in Nashville through June 18, 2010, when the initiative will culminate in a final push to raise funds through a sponsored event titled “ Night Out for Nashville” – An Evening for Music City Flood Relief. Participating clubs and venues around the city will host simultaneous music events with all donations made to the guitar case banks going directly to the Gibson Foundation Flood Relief Programs.The Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau is supporting the effort and will be helping to spread the word on where donations are being accepted, along with having a guitar case bank set up at their downtown Visitor Center. 100% of all proceeds will benefit the flood victims in Nashville and surrounding affected areas.

Sister city, Austin, Texas and home of Gibson Guitar Austin, has also pledged its support with special events being planned with a host of celebrity musicians. Gibson Guitar case banks will be set up in area establishments throughout Austin during the popular Memorial Day weekend, again with 100% of the donations collected going for flood relief. For many years Austin, Texas and Nashville, Tennessee have competed for the title of “world’s greatest music city.” But now, the two cities have come together in an effort to spearhead events across their markets in an effort to garner proceeds to support the flood relief programs being supported by the Gibson Foundation. Landmark venues across Austin, including Antone’s Home of the Blues in downtown Austin and Maggie Mae’s on 6th Street are participating. At select locations, each donation of $20 or more will automatically enter the patron into a sweepstakes to win an exclusive Gibson or Epiphone guitar. The Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau has volunteered to help spread the word through social media and several local marketing company resources. For more information on Gibson Austin’s support of the Nashville Flood Relief programs, go to www.twitter.com/gibsonaustin. For more information on “Night Out for Nashville” go to www.gibson.com. Details and updates will be posted regularly each week.

Gibson Foundation has also launched a series of Public Service Announcements by such popular Gibson and Epiphone artists such as Slash, Zakk Wylde, Peter Frampton, Luke Bryan, Keb Mo, Heart, Sammy Hagar, Corey Taylor, JT Hodges, Honor Society, Rev Theory, Gloriana, Paulie Z, Billy Morrison, Ray Benson, Austin City Limit’s Terry Lickona, Jonathan Singleton and others. All PSAs have been donated by the artist and are currently available for viewing at the www.gibsonfoundation.org site. Gibson Foundation will also place the series in a viral campaign via YouTube in an effort to bring attention to the current need for donations for Flood Relief. The Jonas Brothers, a signature Gibson band known for their sold-out tours and #1 hits, have also been tweeting asking their Twitter followers to support Gibson Foundation’s request for donations.

For more information on Gibson Foundation’s on-going efforts with Flood Relief please go to www.gibson.com or www.gibsonfoundation.org. Founded in 2002, the Gibson Foundation is committed to making the world a better place for children by creating, developing and supporting programs and other non-profit organizations in their efforts to advance education, music and the arts, the environment and health & welfare causes. Follow Gibson at http://twitter.com/gibsonlifestyle or http://www.facebook.com/GibsonGuitar

CONTACTS:

Caroline Galloway
GIBSON GUITAR
caroline.galloway@gibson.com
615-423-4904

Silence Is Violence Music Clinics Get a Boost From Music Rising

In New Orleans, there is a community program called Silence Is Violence, which focuses on countering the city’s violence to achieve a safe New Orleans. One of the group’s longest-standing programs is the Music Clinics, an after-school youth empowerment program offering students a positive activity and an introduction to music performance.

A couple of years ago, Music Rising gave a grant to the Music Clinics in support of the venture, and we are pleased to find that we, along with other supporters such as the Threadheads organization, have made a huge different in the lives of these students. Below, read what Youth Outreach Coordinator Allison Padilla-Goodman has to say about the success of the Clinics!

The youth all rush into the empty space near the Sound Café, grab an instrument off the rack, and set up their chairs and music stands, eager to get started. Every Tuesday, trumpet virtuoso Shamarr Allen and his band teach a large group of students from across the community to play trumpet, saxophone, clarinet, guitar, drums, and piano. Thanks to Music Rising, these students who normally would not get to take music lessons are able to learn how to play on real instruments with recognizable music teachers who serve as important role models in their lives.

The students come from different neighborhoods and schools from all over the city, and are from a variety of racial and class backgrounds. The Tuesday night SilenceisViolence Music Clinics is one of the few events in New Orleans that is a true celebration of diversity and collaboration. Friendships are formed across differences, and music brings them all together. And it’s not just important for the students, as parents Sonia Gomez and Hope Jones exemplify: their students are in the same class at the same school, but they had never met before the Music Clinics brought them together. Now they are friends and enjoy celebrating together in the positive changes they’ve seen in their children’s lives.

The parents attest that the Music Clinics have provided a very important shift in their children’s behaviors. The students are so enthused by learning to play that they practice, very diligently, every day at home. This has made them sharpen their time management skills, as they learn to balance their homework and music, and complete their homework efficiently so that they can satisfy their urge to play. Hope’s daughter, Rumor (age 8), loves learning to play the guitar and has become a much more disciplined student. On Tuesdays, she rushes home from school, gets her homework done right away, and gets her mom organized to get to Music Lessons on time.

Sonia’s son, Joaquin, who is learning to play the drums, has even taken to focusing on the drummers when he listens to music at home. He insists that his family partake in the local music scene and go to hear live music whenever they can—like during all of the city’s many music festivals—where he watches the drummers and learns what they do.

Hope’s son, Roddrick (age 5), is one of the youngest musicians there, but also one of the quickest learners. He is able to keep up with the older students around him, and loves learning to play the trumpet. As his father is a trumpet-player, it is especially meaningful to him to get to follow in his father’s footsteps and continue an important New Orleans musical tradition.

Click here for more information on the Silence Is Violence campaign and the Music Clinics.

JazzFest April 23 - May 2, 2010

JazzFest 2010 is upon us, and here are a few online resources to make sure you get the optimal experience:

• Official site of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

Get your knowledge from the source--the official Fest site contains the full breakdown of everything from the history of JazzFest to a list of all of the food scheduled to be served this year.

• OffBeat Magazine’s definitive list of JazzFest 2010 performers, from A to Z.

• Use the JazzFest cubes (brought to us by NOLA.com and the Times-Picayune) to create your own schedule so you don’t miss anything!

• JazzFest artists Galactic uploaded a 40-minute podcast guide to New Orleans for those in town just for the festival. Download it here.

• Can’t make it this year? NOLA.com and The Times-Picayune have also provided 5 ways to tune into JazzFest from the web! Featuring a live blog feed, a frequently-updated photo gallery, a live webcam, the latest video uploads, and twitter stream.

• Popular radio station WWOZ offers a live stream of their broadcast, which will surely be covering JazzFest, available on the web.

For those of you in attendance, have a blast and don't forget to send us your photos!

Upload them to our Facebook page, or email photos to musicrising@gibson.com

Music Rising Helps A Recording Studio Remain Open

Music Rising was created to help rescue the musical culture of the Gulf Coast. For musical culture to exist and spread, recording studios play an essential role in helping musicians produce quality records that they can distribute.

It was important to us to recognize all that goes into creating and preserving great music, which is why we helped not only the musicians themselves, but also the people who allow music to be heard. Here, Herman Cowart of Cowart Recording Studio shares his story:

My name is Herman Cowart. I own Cowart Recording Studio in Pascagoula, Mississippi. After Hurricane Katrina, we had over half of our equipment gone, along with most of the building. It took months to get back open but my 24-track recorder was gone along with many other pieces of equipment.

A musician friend came by and told me about Music Rising. He said they had helped him replace his keyboard. I did not think they would help me because I had a business, but I applied anyway and in a short time I was contacted and they replaced my 24-track recorder. That got me back going and I am so grateful to this organization--they were a blessing to me. Today the studio is doing good and we’re in our 28th year in the same location. Once again, thank you Music Rising for helping me and others.

Visit the official website to learn more about Cowart Recording Studio. http://cowartrecordingstudio.com

Musicians Supporting Musicians

Marcel Kardol is a member of U22U, a U2 tribute band from the Netherlands. As “The Edge,” Marcel wears his Music Rising t-shirt at every gig to support the cause.

Despite living on the other side of the planet, Marcel and U22U recognize music as the universal language and are true supporters of Music Rising. Here, Marcel shares his personal story of what Music Rising’s cause means to him:

It was around the mid-'80's when my dad decided to hand over his mint condition, red ('66) Gibson SG and Fender amp to me, as I was progressing my guitar play. With U2 and Simple Minds as the main sources of inspiration we started a rock band and in no time we got ourselves some great venues. A major step forward was when we got ourselves a dedicated rehearsal "studio". It wasn't much more than a garage somewhere in the harbor, but it became our second home. On an early Sunday morning, just weeks after we got that place, I received a phone call from one of the other guys in the band. Our studio was burnt down that night. When I arrived at the scene everything was gone, all guitars, amps, the drum kit, the lounge sofas. It was devastating and what hurt me the most was the fact that my dad's beautiful "heritage" was completely destroyed. It took us many months of hard work to fight ourselves back on stage, but it remains a black day in my personal history.

When I saw the news on Hurricane Katrina in August 2005 and what it did to fellow musicians in the New Orleans area, it brought back memories to that fire 20 years earlier. It's hard to describe what the impact is of losing your gear. For outsiders it might "just" be material stuff, but only a musician knows that an instrument is more than that... it's an extension of the musician's soul, a means of expression. And as music is the heart of New Orleans I can fully understand the statement that Katrina ripped out the soul of an entire city. I play guitar in a U2 Tribute Band and whenever we play I'm wearing my black Music Rising t-shirt. One of the five I bought over the past years. We have embedded Music Rising visuals in our show as we keep endorsing the initiative for as long as it is necessary to bring back the heart in the city of New Orleans. And there's still a long way to go. That's why I've ordered that limited edition Epiphone Music Rising guitar... another small contribution, but it's for the good cause!

Visit U22U’s official website for more info on the band.

Music Rising Helps a Drummer Recover from Katrina

Sergio Yetta is a professional drummer and native New Orleanian. Prior to Hurricane Katrina, he often performed on Bourbon Street and was highly respected in the music scene for his playing versatility. When disaster struck, Sergio became one among thousands of Gulf Coast musicians who were displaced by the storm. He and his family lost their home along with a great deal of musical equipment.

In a guest post for our blog, Sergio recounts how Music Rising helped make it possible for him to continue playing drums for a living:

Sergio Yetta on Hurricane Katrina and Music Rising

Our disaster recovery was just that, a disaster. Upon assessing the damage to the areas of New Orleans I lived and played in, I was sent to Music Rising through the House of Blues. Music Rising was the only assistance we got throughout our ordeal. They not only helped, but also did in such a compassionate and sympathetic way. After listing everything lost to see what, if anything would be covered by insurance, we were able to estimate about $80,000 in lost equipment, which was defaulted by both insurance companies.

The only equipment not lost was a 1930's Gibson Acoustic that was my fathers, a 1978 Les Paul and thankfully my drums which were on a bus that weathered the storm; however, all of my recording equipment, mikes, several keyboards, drum kits, another 10 or so guitars, and my original recordings...all destroyed.

Thanks to Music Rising, I was able to get back on my feet upon moving to Nashville after the storm. If it weren't for the equipment they replaced, I would have never been able to get back into the music industry. They replaced a multi-track recorder, mics, headphones, etc which allowed me to learn the songs that resulted in gigs. I used them to rehearse material for auditions, which landed me live shows as a professional drummer. Since that time, I have had the honor of performing with several multi Grammy nominated and multi platinum artist.

My decision to stay in Nashville and not return to New Orleans is due to finances like so many others not able to return to their homes. The state of New Orleans and its musicians has changed in the last 4 years after the storm. I am terrible saddened by the talent that has been displaced and moved to other cities. Much of the local flavor is gone. I can only hope the city will flourish with amazing talent and livelihood as it once did.

Sergio’s wife, Shea, has a unique story of her own. After the storm, Sergio returned to the Yettas’ destroyed home and began collecting objects--“door hinges, knobs, armoire remnants, broken fragments of jewelry, old beads, glass and anything metal.” Taking these salvaged bits of “junk,” Shea delved into jewelry-making, creating beautiful, unique and personal pieces out of found fragments from her old home. Many of her designs are available for sale online at http://www.sheayettadesigns.com.

Sergio and Shea currently reside in Nashville, Tennessee. We at Music Rising feel honored to have played a role in helping Sergio continue making music. and we hope to do the same for many, many more. Thanks to the Yetta family for sharing their inspiring story!

Who Dat? Saints Superbowl Victory!

Music Rising CONGRATULATES THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS ON A SUPER BOWL WIN!

Can you believe how things have turned around in just five years? It seems like only yesterday that we supported the re-opening of the Louisiana Superdome just one year after Hurricane Katrina with an amazing performance of "The Saints Are Coming" by U2 and Green Day.

Click here to watch the music video shot by Chris Milk, and here to watch the full U2 and Green Day's opening performance from 2006. Edge can be seen wearing the official Music Rising T-shirt, which is available for sale in our store. Also, make sure not to miss the very end of the clip, where Bono sings a shout out to Music Rising. Let's hear it for the spirit of New Orleans!

Music Rising is more inspired than ever to keep the amazing culture of New Orleans alive and kicking. Get the word out about Music Rising on Twitter (@musicrising) and support us on Facebook.

Have photos from Superbowl celebrations that you'd like to share? Upload them to the "Fan Photos" section of our Facebook page!

Official Music Rising Guitar Now Available in the Store!

**ONLY 25 LEFT**

The limited edition Music Rising Epiphone Les Paul guitar is now available for purchase exclusively in our store! All proceeds from sales go directly to fund programs for Music Rising. Head to the media gallery to check out photos of the guitar, including the ones currently owned by The Edge, blues musician Alabama Slim, and David Freedman of WWOZ. Remember, these last 25 guitars are highly collectible and produced in limited quantity. After they’re gone, they will never again be re-issued!

This guitar features exclusive artwork along with the campaign’s slogan, “Rebuilding the Gulf Region Note By Note.” The artwork has become a symbol of the campaign, and is also emblazoned on the official Music Rising T-shirt worn by The Edge at the 2006 Grammy Awards broadcast.

The guitar specs include all the features that have made the legendary Les Paul guitar synonymous with great rock tone including a solid mahogany body with carved top, glued-in mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, Alnico Classic Humbucking pickups and stopbar/tunomatic bridge and tailpiece combination. Backed by a Limited lifetime warranty, it also includes a custom Music Rising soft gig bag as well as a certificate of authenticity individually hand-signed by U2's The Edge.

P.S. Follow @musicrising on Twitter at http://twitter.com/musicrising
Sometime in the near future, we’ll be randomly selecting a winning follower to take with us to JazzFest 2010!

Saints Win NFC Championship, Headed to the Superbowl!

It’s hard to believe that just five years ago, the New Orleans Superdome was a scene of unimaginable misery--a ramshackle refuge for survivors of Hurricane Katrina.

But on Sunday night, we witnessed a complete turnaround. Confetti poured down over the raucous crowd as the Saints topped the Minnesota Vikings 31-28 in OT to win the NFC Championship and a shot at their first Superbowl title.

In 2006, U2 & Green Day performed their cover of “The Saints Are Coming” to celebrate the re-opening of the Superdome and the Saints’ first home game since the devastation. The song was made available to download with all proceeds benefiting Music Rising, and we raised over $1 million! Now, the song is being played during game breaks and has become an anthem for the team.

Gone are the days when fans used to dub the team “Aints” and show up at games with brown paper bags over their heads. With passion, persistence, and tireless heart, our boys did it for the Big Easy. Onward to Miami and the Superbowl!

Music Rising co-founder Bob Ezrin offers some words of congratulations:

Ain’t it just the sweetest!
My heart, my soul and my stomach were all in NOLA tonight!!!!
I have tears in my eyes and a huge smile on my face!
Superbowl here we come!!!

Love,

Bob

A New Guitar for Walter "Wolfman" Washington

On a Saturday night back in 2008 at the Maple Leaf Bar in New Orleans, Walter 'Wolfman' Washington and his band, The Roadmasters, played a show in celebration of their new CD release. After the first song, Quint Davis, co-founder and executive producer of Jazz Fest surprised Walter by coming onstage to present him with a very special ES 137 in Blues Burst with his name inscribed on the guitar by local artist, Frenchie.

Quint Davis, speaking to the large crowd, told of how Walter was the first musician to play a note in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Walter played a mere week after the Storm on a generator on the very same stage at the Maple Leaf Bar. Davis also spoke about the great dedication that Music Rising has provided to New Orleans musicians and continued to give background and glowing praise towards the Gulf Coast charity.

Davis then announced that—as a gesture of continued support to one of the city's most devoted musicians—Music Rising was presenting Walter the ES 137 as a gift. Walter was very touched and the crowd cheered for a full several minutes.

Head over to the Media section for photos of the presentation!

Download the Official Music Rising Screensaver

The Music Rising screensaver is back! Created by renowned designer Bill Cathcart, this winged MR logo is also featured on the official T-shirt, which is available in our store.

Download for PC (2.9 MB)

Download for Mac (2.8 MB)

Bay-Waveland Schools Receive Instruments

Thanks to our supporters, music students attending the Bay-Waveland District schools in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi were able to resume pursuit of a music education despite the hurricane that ravaged the area five years ago.

This is what Albert Gunsch, associate band director at Bay-Waveland Middle School, had to say about the devastation:

"Bay Saint Louis was nearly wiped off of the map from this hurricane. Our area is what you would call ground zero. Our students were not able to attend school until 2 months after the storm hit the coast. We, to this very moment, still have our lower elementary and our upper elementary schools in portable buildings. The high school was still under construction until January of this year rebuilding and repairing damage from the storm. The middle school is the campus that had the least bit of damage and was repired first. High school classes had to resume, without any materials, in the middle school gym. The band director that was here at that time, told me that she taught band class by counting and clapping rhythms on the floor of the gym since every single instrument was destroyed by the 30+ foot storm surge.

We have lost 40% of our population. We have been hit hard by the declining economy and we are under some extremely stringent budget cuts that could greatly affect our band program.

Just a side note...our district has been providing 100% of the students with free breakfast and lunch since the hurricane out of a government grant."

In the disaster’s wake, Gunsch spent many hours seeking grants to help replace instruments for the students. Music Rising partnered up with the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation to meet this need, contributing over $70,000 in instruments and equipment. Today, kids attending Bay-Waveland schools have access to new band equipment, formal concert attire, storage cabinets, cymbals, and percussion mallets.

These students have you to thank for giving them the opportunity to continue learning and helping to keep the music alive. But there is still a long way to go--we at Music Rising hope to keep preserving the musical traditions of the region for generations ahead.

Gibson Acoustic Announce The Keb' Mo' Signature Blues Master

The turn of the decade marks our fifth year serving the musical culture of the Gulf Coast and we once again thank our supporters for their unwavering dedication to this important cause. We’re already looking forward to supporting Gulf Coast musicians at this year’s New Orleans JazzFest, which is set to take place on April 23-25 and April 29-May 2 (Get tickets online here!).

One out of the many artists we’re excited to check out at JazzFest this year is legendary blues musician Keb’ Mo,’ who just released a new Signature guitar with Gibson Acoustic. His postmodern playing style constantly refers back to the Delta acoustic style while incorporating contemporary electric blues, jazz, and R&B. Keb’ Mo’ has supported Music Rising in the past when he donated concert tickets for his Denver performance with Bonnie Raitt to be sold at a Music Rising auction in 2006. Here’s the official announcement from Gibson Acoustic:

The Gibson Acoustic Keb Mo Blues Master model honors the three-time Grammy Award winner. The guitar is a flat-top acoustic made in the tradition of the great small bodied Gibson blues boxes with the added versatility of a built-in L.R. Baggs Element pick up with sound hole mounted volume control. The Keb Mo Signature model is available in a limited edition of only 300. Gibson’s “L” series acoustic guitars were there at the very birth of blues played by the great blues originator Robert Johnson, among others. This inspiration follows through with the Keb Mo Blues Master.  The model packs all of the tonal nuance and sweetness you could hope for in a high-end, hand-crafted acoustic guitar while vintage specs include the 12th fret neck/body joint that positions the bridge right in the body’s “sweet spot” for optimum resonance. The new model is reminiscent of the best of acoustic guitars from the 20s and early 30’s.  Finishes include Antique Natural or Vintage Sunburst with double antiquing. The guitar has a cream top, back and fingerboard binding, herringbone trim, mother of pearl inlays and double-ring soundhole rosettes. It comes with a Gibson hardshell case, a personally signed interior label by the artist Keb Mo himself, an owner’s manual and Gibson Acoustic’s Gold Warranty.

Music Rising Remembers Kathy Carpenter

In bidding 2009 farewell, we at Music Rising must also pay tribute to a dear friend who unexpectedly passed away last September. Kathy Carpenter, a Louisiana native and strong supporter of Music Rising, was with us from the beginning and will be sincerely missed.

With Kathy Carpenter Marketing Inc., she produced many memorable events over the years, including the celebrity jam sessions at the Gibson Guitar Mountain Lodge during the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, where celebrities autographed guitars that were eventually auctioned to benefit Music Rising. Kathy worked relentlessly to help spread awareness and never failed to make sure that our cause was highlighted at every event, such as the Grammy Lounge and a host of others. Evidence of the success of her efforts can be seen in the photos featured on this site.

Kathy truly had a giving spirit and is survived by two sisters and a brother, as well as all of us here at Music Rising. We hope all of you will join us in continuing her legacy into the new decade.

Happy Holidays!

As the decade comes to a close we look back with pride on the work that Music Rising has been able to accomplish with your help. Back when we began over 4 years ago (doesn't seem that long, does it?), our goal was to preserve the musical culture of the central gulf. For our first phase of operation, we provided instruments to almost 3,000 professional musicians from the region who had lost theirs in the floods. This was the simplest and quickest thing we could do at the time.

But we knew then that the music there belongs to more than the folks who play for a living. It belongs to the church bands and choirs and to the school orchestras and community groups like the Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs of New Orleans. So in phases two and three we expanded to provide instruments to scores of churches and schools and then to community groups as well, affecting thousands of folks from the region by helping to keep their music alive.

We've done a good job of being responsive to the needs of most of the folks that have applied for help. And we've done it with no overhead (thanks to the kind folks at the Gibson Foundation who administer the Music Rising fund).

We've got some pretty exciting ideas about what to do now as we head towards the 5th anniversary of the disaster. We're working on them as we write this. But in the meanwhile, more schools apply for help and there are still churches and community groups that we have not yet been able to serve so we must keep working hard at that and we must continue to ask for your help. Your generosity and support has meant more to us than we can express - and it's helped beyond measure to put the heart back in the central gulf after Katrina and Rita had nearly ripped it away.

Please stick with us. The need is still there, and we appreciate your continued support.

Here's wishing all of you all a healthy, happy and fruitful new year. May all your dreams come true.

Bob and Edge

Music Rising site Relaunch

Welcome to the newly relaunched official site for Music Rising, an organization dedicated to preserving the rich musical heritage of the Gulf Coast region.

The new site has many new features giving our supporters and friends new opportunities to keep in touch and exchange information. We will be announcing new events, campaign initiatives and other interesting facts and remain immensely grateful to all of you for your continued support. Stay tuned to the blog for all the latest on Music Rising.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2009

Celebrity iPod Auction Benefits Music Rising

Tonic to Auction off 60+ Autographed iPods from A-List Celebrities from Music, Television, Film and Fashion.

New York, N.Y. (February 12, 2009) Tonic, (www.tonic.com) the leading media and ecommerce site focused on effortless activism and social good, announced today the launch of an exciting and extraordinary auction series. Leading celebrities from the worlds of music, film, television, and fashion have contributed an autographed iPod loaded with their personal playlists to be auctioned off by Tonic, with all proceeds benefiting Music Rising, a campaign founded in 2005 to replace lost or destroyed instruments of musicians in the Gulf Coast Region after the hurricane disasters.

Over sixty celebrities will participate in the auction series including U2’s the Edge, former President Bill Clinton, Donna Karan, Warren Buffett, Christy Turlington, Britney Spears, Michael Stipe, Gwen Stefani, Mariah Carey, Ben Affleck, Ellen DeGeneres, Estelle, Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood, Scarlett Johansson, Pete Wentz, Randy Jackson, Kevin Bacon, Gisele Bundchen, Marc Jacobs, Ed Burns, Samantha Ronson, Nick Lachey, Petra Nemcova, Mandy Moore and many others.

Each celebrity was given a new iPod, which they autographed and pre-loaded with a playlist of ten to twenty of their favorite songs. Beginning February 12th, between one and five separate iPod auctions will launch simultaneously every week on eBay; playlists will be revealed to the public on both tonic.com and eBay when the auctions are launched. To learn more about the series, see the complete list of celebrities and auction calendar, or bid on a current auction, visit www.tonic.com.

“Everyone who has ever wondered what songs their favorite celebrities listen to in their home or on the road won’t have to wonder much longer,” said Pankaj Shah, CEO and Founder of Tonic. “We’ve compiled pre-loaded, autographed iPods from countless iconic celebrities to share with the public. By bidding on an autographed iPod, you’ll be helping to aid in the continued rebirth of the Gulf Coast Region. The Celebrity iPod Auction Series is Tonic’s first major campaign of 2009 to offer consumers an opportunity to create social good and we’re thrilled to rally people behind a great cause.”

About Tonic:

Tonic is the leading media, ecommerce, and community site focused on effortless activism and social good, making it easy for people to do good things every day. Founded by entrepreneur Pankaj Shah, Tonic is supported by a diverse and impressive Board of Creators including: Chris Blackwell, Island Records founder and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee; Peter Buffet, musician and son of legendary investor and businessman Warren Buffett; Donna Karan, fashion designer and philanthropist; Phil Quartararo, music industry executive; Ellen Siminoff, Efficient Frontier Chairwoman; and Whitney Williams, Founder and President of Williamsworks.

About Music Rising:

Music Rising is a campaign launched in 2005 to replace musical instruments lost or destroyed by hurricanes in the Gulf Region. It has since launched a second phase dedicated to the aid of schools and churches. Music Rising was formed by U2’s the Edge, legendary producer Bob Ezrin, Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz. Partners of the campaign represent the most diverse partnership in the entertainment industry and include MusiCares, Guitar Center, Musician’s Friend, Live Nation, Kennedy/Marshall, Ticketmaster, Hard Rock International, VH1, MTV, Real Networks, ABC News Now, The NFL, Rolling Stone, The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation, Julien's Auctions, ACT and the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund. Music Rising is the recipient of the prestigious 2005 HALO Award for Cause, the 2006 Billboard Humanitarian Award and the 2008 PRISM Award and has been recognized around the world by various media organizations. Music Rising is administered by the Gibson Foundation.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2009

Music Rising Awarded Heroes of the Storm on 3rd Anniversary

Hi All, it's been way too long since we posted to the blog here for Music Rising. We wanted to let you know that Music Rising is front and center at the Gibson Lodge this year at the Sundance Film Festival. Sting, Billy Morrison and The Doors stopped by today to sign special edition Music Rising Epiphone guitars, which will be auctioned to benefit Music Rising; the proceeds will continue to go straight to the Gulf Coast Region along with the campaign's promise to help everyone who needs our aid.

It's been three years since the hurricane disasters, and we know that there's still work to be done and we are committed to stand the test of time. Take a look at some of the press coming out this week at Sundance and you will see some very special photos and stories on how Music Rising is present there amidst the many musicians and actors who are willing to give us their support. In this new year we are thankful for our many friends who visit this blog and continue to write and tell us their personal stories. Make sure to visit often as we will be announcing more news this year. All the best and blessings in 2009!

MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2008

Music Rising Awarded Heroes of the Storm on 3rd Anniversary

Last night in Denver, as part of the Democratic National Convention festivities, Music Rising was awarded a Heroes of the Storm Award from the Friends of New Orleans who produced a concert event to raise awareness for the help and aid still needed in the Gulf Region.

Music Rising was awarded for its continuous efforts to support the Gulf Coast Region and we are happy to report that over 2,700 musicians have been given new instruments to regain their livelihood. Music Rising has also aided over 50,000 students and parishioners to date. Soon we will announce Phase Three, so stay tuned to the blog. The Music Rising Heroes of the Storm award was accepted on our behalf by legendary musician Allan Touissant, The Meter's Leo Nocentelli, and Walter Wolfman Washington. It was an exceptional evening of New Orleans entertainment and a moving moment. Thanks to all of you for your continued support of our effort and lets not forget on this third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina that there are many still in need!

THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2008

Star Studded Red Carpet at Music Rising Auction

U2’s The Edge Hosts Icons of Music II Auction to Benefit Music Rising at Hard Rock Café New York

WHO: U2’s the Edge to host with special performance by Aaron Neville and appearances by Les Paul, Tiki Barber, Christy Turlington, Petra Nemcova, Joan Jett, “Cry-Baby” Broadway star James Snyder, Earl Slick, Jody Porter of Fountains of Wayne, writer May Pang, Donna Karan, legendary producer and Music Rising co-founder Bob Ezrin and many more. Jim Kerr will emcee the auction. Lisa Loeb will be hosting the Auction Network show live from the red carpet.

WHAT: U2’s the Edge will host the star-studded Icons of Music II Auction at Hard Rock Café New York to benefit Music Rising, a campaign founded in 2005 to support musicians, students and parishioners of the Gulf Coast Region affected by the hurricanes. Music Rising has since aided over 2,700 professional musicians and nearly 50,000 students and parishioners and will soon launch Phase III of the campaign. The event will be conducted by world renowned Julien’s Auctions (www.juliensauctions.com). The exclusive event will include a performance by legendary musician Aaron Neville and a star-studded red carpet. Auction Network, the first 24/7 multimedia network solely dedicated to auctions, will conduct a live webcast of The Icons of Music Auction II hosted by Lisa Loeb.

For more information about bidding registration, etc. please visit www.juliensauctions.com or call (310) 816-1818. For tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

WHEN: 5:30 PM Media Check-In
6:00 PM Red Carpet

6:30 PM Performance

7:00 PM Auction

MEDIA RSVP: Caroline Galloway, Maureen O’Connor
Music Rising/Gibson Guitar Rogers & Cowan

440-338-3469 or 615-423-4904 or 310-854-8116

Caroline.galloway@gibson.com moconnor@rogersandcowan.com

About Music Rising

Music Rising, a campaign launched in 2005 to replace musical instruments lost or destroyed by hurricanes in the Gulf Region. It has since launched a second phase dedicated to the aid of schools and churches. Music Rising was formed by U2’s the Edge, legendary producer Bob Ezrin, Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz. Partners of the campaign represent the most diverse partnership in the entertainment industry and include MusiCares, Guitar Center, Musician’s Friend, Live Nation, Kennedy/Marshall, Ticketmaster, Hard Rock International, VH1, MTV, Real Networks, ABC News Now, The NFL, Rolling Stone, Mr. Holland's Opus, Juliens Auctions, ACT and the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund. Music Rising is the recipient of the prestigious 2005 HALO Award for Cause Marketing and the 2006 Billboard Humanitarian Award, the 2008 PRISM Award and has been recognized around the world by various media organizations. Music Rising is administered by the Gibson Foundation.

SATURDAY, MAY 03, 2008

Tickets on Sale for Music Rising Icons of Music II

As noted before, the Icons of Music II event to benefit Music Rising will take place on May 31, 2008 at the Hard Rock Café in NYC's Times Square. A limited number of tickets are on sale with 100% of proceeds going to the charity. The tickets, $250 each, are available at Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com) or at Hardrock.com.

Tickets include food and beverage, commemorative catalog and entry into the private affair where celebrities will mingle amongst the world's greatest rock memorabilia. Tickets are available now and can be purchased via the sites above. For more information check back at MusicRising.org or Hardrock.com.  Thanks for your support of Music Rising, rebuilding the Gulf Coast Region note by note.

MONDAY, MARCH 31, 2008

Icons of Music Sale 2 Announced

Music Rising has announced that the second Icons of Music Sale to be held at the Hard Rock Café in NYC's Times Square will take place on Saturday May 31, 2008. Julien's Auctions will host the star studded auction event featuring rock n' roll memorabilia to benefit Music Rising. Tickets to the event will go on sale next week via Ticketmaster or HardRock.com.

The event will begin at 10am and last well into the evening. Julien's will be holding three auction sessions and special entertainment in the evening. For more information check back here regularly or visit www.juliensauctions.com . We will continue to update you on all the great things around this event. And as always, we thank you for your continued support.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2008

Music Rising Shines at the Grammys 2008

Gibson, U2, artists come together to support charity at the Grammys

by Jim Dalrymple

Behind the glitz and glitter of the 50th annual Grammy Awards, there is something special going on to help victims of the 2005 hurricanes in the Central Gulf region. Founded by U2’s the Edge, Gibson CEO Henry Juszkiewicz and legendary producer Bob Ezrin, Music Rising is an organization dedicated to replacing musical instruments lost in the devastating storms.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without the unique musical heritage that is New Orleans,” said U2’s the Edge. “So much has come from that part of America. From the birth of jazz, the roots of R&B and Rock ‘n’ Roll, to the traditional celebrations in the streets, New Orleans has provided all of us with so many traditions.”

When the artists are finished with their Grammy rehearsals they go to a special area where they can relax and talk to some of the companies attending the event. This is where Gibson set up its area with several Music Rising Les Paul guitars available to be signed.

After explaining to each artist what the guitars and Music Rising project were all about, each gladly sat down and the signed the guitars. The guitars will be up for auction on May 31, 2008 in the second Icons of Music Sale in NYC, where some of the worlds great rock memorabilia will be up for grabs. All proceeds will go to Music Rising — last year the group raised $2.4 million.

Artists that signed the Music Rising guitars include Ringo Starr, Foo Fighters, John Paul Jones, Plain White T’s, Blair Underwood and Brad Paisley, to name just a few.

“When we created Music Rising in 2005 we had a mission, which was to preserve the musical culture of the Central Gulf Region by replacing the instruments that were lost or destroyed in the storms,” said producer and co-founder Bob Ezrin. “We will continue to do that until the region is rebuilt and the music is restored no matter how long it takes.”

In Phase One of the project, Music Rising has helped 2,700 musicians gain back their livelihood by making sure they had new instruments. Phase Two of Music Rising focused on replacing musical instruments for schools and churches — so far 40,000 parishioners and students have been aided from the project, but the work continues.

“We continue to support Music Rising as a cofounding partner and will do so in every effort to help restore the rich musical heritage that originates from New Orleans,” said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. “With the support of the Gibson Foundation we plan on staying the course until the region is rebuilt ‘Note by Note.’”

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 02, 2008

Music Rising Stays the Course in 2008 Giving Hope for the New Year

Music Rising, a campaign founded in 2005 after the devastation from Hurrican Katrina, continues to support the schools and churches of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast Region through its outreach efforts to replace musical instruments. Over 40,000 students and parishioners have been the recipients of Music Rising's aid through the Gibson Foundation's assistance. In its first phase, Music Rising assisted over 2,500 musicians. Photos attached are fof students at Andrew Jackson Elementary in New Orleans, one of the many schools helped by Music Rising, whic his administered by the Gibson Foundation.

About Music Rising:

The Music Rising campaign was launched in 2005 to replace musical instruments lost or destroyed by hurricanes in the Gulf Region. The initiative continues to aid those in need through its consistent efforts to aid professional musicians, churches and schools. Music Rising was formed in late 2005 by U2’s The Edge, legendary producer Bob Ezrin and Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz. Partners of the campaign represent the most diverse partnership in the entertainment industry and include MusiCares, Guitar Center, Musician’s Friend, Live Nation, Kennedy/Marshall, Ticketmaster, Hard Rock International, VH1, MTV, Real Networks, ABC News Now, The NFL, Julien's Auctions, Toyota, Rolling Stone, Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation, ACT and the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund. Former President Bill Clinton has even participated in press coverage for the campaign when he presented a Music Rising Gibson Les Paul guitar to a recipient in Baton Rouge, LA in 2006. Music Rising is the recipient of the prestigious 2005 HALO Award for Cause Marketing, the 2006 Billboard Humanitarian Award and the 2007 PRISM Awad. It has been recognized around the world by various media organizations. Music Rising is administered by the Gibson Foundation. For more information go to www.musicrising.org and www.gibsonfoundation.org.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2007

Happy Holidays from Music Rising

Happy Holidays to everyone who has continued to support Music Rising in its efforts to bring aid to musicians, schools, churches and celebratory groups in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast Region since Hurricane Katrina struck. We are so grateful to call all of you friends and promise to continue our efforts until everyone is taken care of in those areas most affected. Look forward to our involvement with the NBA All-Star game in New Orleans in February and our next Icons of Music Sale in New York on May 31, 2008. To all of you, we wish you the best of the holiday season and many blessings in 2008.

All the best,

The Music Rising team

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2007

Music Rising Wins Another Award!

Hi Everyone!

Last night, Music Rising won the PRSA (Public Relations Society of America) PRism Award for Ongoing Entertainment Organization. Music Rising also won a PRism Award of Excellence in the non-profit campaign category. We are thrilled about the recognition and thank all of you once again for your continued support. We recently visited New Orleans and were able to see Music Rising in action. Children at Andrew Jackson Elementary performed for us with their new instruments provided by Music Rising and the vibrant choirs of Corpus Christi Church and the New Israel Missionary Church rejoiced in song when we visited. What a sight it was to see! We are incredibly grateful to be able to continue the work of Music Rising.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2007

Music Rising Says Thank You 2 Years Later

On the two year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, we at Music Rising wanted to say thank you to everyone who has donated or supported us through volunteer work in our efforts to bring the music back, "note by note."

To date we have served thousands of musicians, students and church parishioners in the hope that the sounds of music coming from the streets in New Orleans makes a difference to the lives it has helped nourish. Thank you to all of you for your continued support. As many of you know there is much still to do, proven once again by the vast media coverage this past weekend on how much New Orleans still needs in recovery aid. Lets keep the faith, keep the energy and keep the support going until every person in New Orleans can call it home again.

Thank you once again,

Your friends at Music Rising

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2007

Happy Anniversary Superdome

Music Rising says "Happy Anniversary" to the Louisiana Superdome. Many of you may remember that it was this time last year that Music Rising supported the re-opening of the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans for the first time since Hurricane Katrina hit. An amazing pre-game show featuring U2 and Green Day helped lift the spirits of the city and showed the world that New Orleans and its rich musical heritage were here to stay. "The Saints Are Coming," performed by the two bands, was available for download and soon become an anthem for Music Rising.

All of us are proud of what Music Rising has been able to accomplish since the Hurricanes devastated the Gulf Coast Region and we are working hard every day to continue to aid those in need. Thank you to all of you for your continued support and thoughts. Special thank you's go out to Irene, who continues to be passionate and enthusiastic about what Music Rising does, and to Josh in Newton, MA who just sent us a nice donation from his bar mitzvah tzedakah project; both of you are inspiring. Good luck also to CJ, who has taken on Music Rising as his Eagle Scout project. We can't wait to see the results.

Thank you to all of you whose names we may not know but whose spirit we feel every day. Music Rising, replacing the Gulf Coast Music Note by Note!

SUNDAY, AUGUST 05, 2007

The Edge Rocks Out on ABC New Nightline Show

Hello to all of you who continue to support Music Rising! U2's The Edge was recently featured on the highly rated ABC News program "Nightline" where he spoke about New Orleans and Music Rising. You can read the transcript or view the video by visiting http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Playlist/Story?id=3440730&page=1

If the link doesn't work, just copy and paste the URL into your browser's address bar.

Enjoy, Caroline Galloway

The Edge visits New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina

In November 2005, U2’s The Edge visited the areas of New Orleans devastated by Hurricane Katrina. It was during this time that Edge co-founded Music Rising, a charity dedicated to replacing the lost or destroyed instruments of professional musicians.

Edge spent two days surveying the destruction to get a first-hand look at the tremendous amount of work that needed to be done with the help of Music Rising, to preserve the rich musical heritage of the region.

Music Rising supports the many vibrant traditional celebratory sounds of New Orleans

New Orleans, an exceptionally creative environment with a wealth of musical heritage, continued the tradition of Mardi Gras and Jazzfest despite the challenges they faced following the Hurricane Katrina and Rita disasters.

Photographed on the streets of New Orleans was one such group that exemplifies the bright colors, vibrant music and cultural history that keeps New Orleans one of the most culturally valued places on the planet.

Edge, Billy Joe, and Bono perform “The Saints Are Coming” at the Louisiana Superdome Reopening

In September 2006, Music Rising joined the NFL for the grand re-opening of the Louisiana Superdome. A year prior, the Superdome became a site of horror when evacuees of the Hurricane Katrina disaster lived for days amid heat, food and water shortage, and what seemed to be an impossible recovery effort. U2 and Green Day performed “The Saints Are Coming” to a sold-out crowd while New Orleans welcomed back the New Orleans Saints to play for the first time since the hurricanes struck.

“The Saints Are Coming” has become the anthem for Music Rising, an organization dedicated to the music and rebuilding efforts of the Gulf Coast region. In the photo, U2’s The Edge (left) is seen performing while wearing the official Music Rising t-shirt which is for sale in the Store section, with all proceeds benefiting the charity.

Music Rising at the Preservation Jazz Hall in New Orleans Reopening

In April 2006 Music Rising supported the re-opening of the famous Preservation Jazz Hall in New Orleans’ French Quarter. The legendary venue had sustained much damage from the wrath of Hurricane Katrina. U2’s The Edge, producer Bob Ezrin, Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz, and a group of Music Rising supporters celebrated with special performances and presentations of new instruments as part of the organization’s effort to restore the music of New Orleans.

The Preservation Jazz Hall is one of the most famous musical landmarks in the world, and will continue to remain standing thanks, in part, to Music Rising.