Yamaha and ABC Give Lucky Family a Makeover

BUENA PARK, CA (February 27, 2004) — Yamaha Corporation of America recently helped make dreams come true for an unsuspecting family by donating a selection of musical instruments, recording equipment and accessories as part of ABC's "Extreme Makeover/Home Edition," which aired Sunday, February 22.

Each week, the primetime inspirational home makeover show gives one deserving family with a compelling story a complete home renovation in a one-week period of time. The February 22 segment, Episode 3, "Garage Band/Recording Studio," focused on a family with musical talents.

While John Cox traveled worldwide to help churches and organizations, his wife Wendy quit her job as a nurse to support her husband's work and stay at home with their three daughters. John recently received a permanent position as a youth pastor, and was able to buy his family their very first home. As the family plays in a band, the renovation team turned the garage into a performance/recording studio area – something John had always wanted, but was unable to afford.

"Prime time network television exposes music industry products to potential customers who may not normally walk into a music store," states Tom Sumner, general manager, Yamaha Professional Audio & Combo Division. "This type of exposure is part of Yamaha's market expansion strategy to drive customers into its dealers. These consumers are amazed at the quality and value in Yamaha products when they get the opportunity to experience them."

Yamaha supplied several acoustic and electric guitars (CPX5S, AES620 and SLG100N), an acoustic and electronic drum kit (Stage Custom and DTXPRESSII), a small P.A. system, a P90 digital piano, an 02R96 digital mixer and AW16G digital workstation, MSP10 Studio monitor speakers and a complete selection of accessories.

The show's lead designer and host is Ty Pennington, best known as the master carpenter from TLC's hit "Trading Spaces." Pennington and the design team of Paul DiMeo, Michael Moloney and Constance Ramos began construction for the first season in early December, and are in production until May 2004, redesigning twelve homes.

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