Star-Studded Concert Highlights Winter NAMM

BUENA PARK, CA (January 23, 2003) — More than 12,000 people shared a once-in-a-lifetime experience on January 17, as a parade of top recording artists took to the stage at The 2003 NAMM Concert Honoring Sir Elton John: A Benefit for Music Education. But the waves of good feeling from the star-studded tribute event will spread far beyond the Arrowhead Pond arena – since the proceeds will benefit the ongoing pro-music efforts of The American Music Conference, The International Foundation for Music Research and The Museum of Making Music.

Vanessa Carlton, Ray Charles, Nikka Costa, Bruce Hornsby, Jewel, Norah Jones, Diana Krall, John Mayer, Michael McDonald, Brian McKnight, Randy Newman, Take 6, Rufus Wainwright and Brian Wilson each offered a personal take on a favorite from Sir Elton's catalog, and even emcee Eric McCormack of NBC's Will & Grace got into the musical act. In a surprise performance, vocalist Carmen Twillie recreated her original rendition of the award-winning theme from The Lion King.

"The success of this concert is really a tribute to the entire Yamaha organization, from the extraordinary efforts of our producer Chris Gero to the many dealers whose attendance made it such a special night," says Terry Lewis, senior vice president, Yamaha Corporation of America. "Yamaha staff and Yamaha dealers can be very proud of the way in which this event benefited music education – which, in turn, helps ensure the future health of our industry. NAMM's generous support was also critical to the success of this event."

Gero, Yamaha's corporate director of artist affairs, his staff, and in particular Tara Eifert, the associate producer of the show, gathered the amazing lineup of talent and coordinated the selection of material – making possible renditions such as Norah Jones' smoky "Tiny Dancer," Nikka Costa's amped-up "Levon," Ray Charles' haunting "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" and Jewel's sweet "Your Song." The evening's highlights included Diana Krall putting emotional force behind her rendition of "Border Song," Brian Wilson's uplifting harmonies on "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" and the arresting a cappella of Take 6 on "Philadelphia Freedom."

Lewis capped the affair by personally presenting Sir Elton with Yamaha's 2003 Lifetime Achievement in Musical Excellence Award, last given to McDonald, who was honored in January 2000.

Those who purchased tickets to the concert also became honorary members of the American Music Conference (AMC), a national non-profit educational association dedicated to promoting the importance of music, music-making and music education to the general public. AMC's goal is to build credibility for music and music education, especially at an early age, and to expand that portion of the population that enjoys and makes its own music.

"The concert exceeded our expectations both as a benefit for our cause and as an evening of entertainment," says NAMM Chairman Joe Lamond. "No one who was there will ever forget it, and people across America who weren't there will feel its benefits for years to come."

For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622, telephone (714) 522-9011 or e-mail: infostation@yamaha.com

Yamaha Corporation of America manufactures a complete line of musical instruments, professional audio products, customer-driven support products and computer-based products targeted to both the amateur and professional markets.

The International Music Products Association, commonly called NAMM in reference to the organization's popular NAMM trade shows, is the not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the $16 billion global musical instruments and products industry. NAMM's activities and programs are designed to promote music making to people of all ages. NAMM is comprised of approximately 8,000 member companies. For more information about NAMM, interested parties can visit www.namm.com or call 800-767-NAMM (6266).

The American Music Conference is dedicated to promoting the importance of music, music making, and music education to the general public. For more information about AMC and this new partnership, visit www.amc-music.org.

The mission of the Museum of Making Music is to celebrate the rich history and encourage the future of music making. The one-of-a-kind museum invites all NAMM members to tour the Museum FREE of charge. Located in the NAMM Industry Headquarters in beautiful Carlsbad, Calif., the museum is a great way to experience first-hand the impact of the music products industry over the last 100 years. For more information about the museum or its activities, interested parties should call 877-551-9976 or visit www.museumofmakingmusic.org

The International Foundation for Music Research (IFMR) was founded in 1997 to support scientific research to explore the relationship between music and physical and emotional wellness, with particular attention to the elderly population, the impact of music making on at-risk youth, and music education and the effect of music and music making. IFMR also convenes scientists, educators and others around critical issues in music research and disseminates research through its publication, IFMR News, and various on-line research referral services and archives. For more information about IFMR, interested parties should visit www.music-research.org.