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Wynonna added to Les Paul Tribute at The Ryman on 11/19

Free Concert For Fans Co-Sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company, Hard Rock, and Best Buy Musical Instruments Sells-Out in Minutes and Exhibits Staggering Support for the Late, Great Les Paul
 
Special Opportunity for Fans to Get Last Group of Tickets Soon To Be Announced on www.gibson.com/lespaultribute <http://www.gibson.com/lespaultribute>

Gibson Guitar, the world’s premier musical instrument manufacturer and home of the cherished Les Paul guitar model along with the Gibson Foundation has announced a sell-out tribute show in honor of the late, great Les Paul at the historic Ryman Auditorium, former home to the Grand Ole Opry, in Nashville on Thursday, November 19, 2009. Tickets, which were made available to the public on Monday, October 26th, were free and open to the many fans of Les Paul and Gibson Guitar. Les Paul, the innovator and inventor who passed away at 94 years old this past August was known throughout the world as the man who created multi-track recording and the father of the electric guitar. Many musicians pay homage to Les Paul and credit their careers and musicianship directly to him.
 
For fans that missed out on getting a ticket, Gibson will soon be releasing a special allotment of tickets to the general public on the website www.gibson.com/lespaultribute <http://www.gibson.com/lespaultribute> . Fans still interested in obtaining tickets to the show should go to this website regularly for information on this opportunity as well as links to various promotional and media opportunities to win tickets.

BREAKING NEWS: Joining the star-studded list of performers is 5-time GRAMMY Award winner and country-soul diva, Wynonna Judd.  Judd holds multiple gold, platinum and multi-platinum certifications from the RIAA in excess of 30 million units sold for albums released throughout her illustrious 25-year career. This holiday season, Wynonna will be spreading festive cheer as she kicks off her 3rd annual “A Classic Christmas” tour on November 28th in Hershey, PA where she will bring soulful performances of both beloved seasonal classics and her biggest hits to fans across the country. In addition to her countless musical achievements, Wynonna became a New York Times best-selling author in 2005 with the release of her long-awaited autobiography, Coming Home to Myself, released in conjunction with her live CD and DVD Her Story: Scenes from a Lifetime. Wynonna recently released her critically acclaimed seventh solo studio album, Sing: Chapter 1, an eclectic assortment of standards paying homage to all the different genres and songs that have formed the soundtrack to her life (February 2009/Curb Records).
 
“I could not be more thrilled that Wynonna will be joining us to honor my father, Les Paul,” said Russ Paul. “She is among my favorite performers of all time and a powerhouse in the music industry.”
                                                                                                       
About the Les Paul Tribute Concert: Gibson Guitar along with some of music’s most respected celebrities will join together to celebrate the life of Les Paul during a night of music, special announcements, video tributes and testimonials and storytelling. The event marks the first tribute held by the guitar maker in honor of Les Paul. Many other programs and special events will continue to take place throughout the year and early 2010 to mark anniversary dates significant to Les Paul’s life and in an effort to preserve the legacy of the man who made modern music what it is today.
 
Les Paul’s son, Russ Paul, along with Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO, Henry Juszkiewicz and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum President Terry Stewart will emcee the 90 minute program which will begin at 8pm at the Ryman (doors open at 7pm CT).  The Les Paul Trio, widely known for their Monday night performances with Les Paul at the Iridium in New York while Les was alive, will serve as house band and be joined on stage by musical great Steve Miller, also Les Paul’s godson.  The evening will be a mix of Les Paul’s music and instrumentals and supported by chart-topping musical acts own memories of Les Paul and their own performances in tribute to the man, the music and the guitar.
 
Joining Steve Miller for the show will be rock’s elite including  Ace Frehley, Zakk Wylde and Jennifer Batten. Joining them will be contemporary artist Josh Kelley and Nashville’s own country hit-makers Wynonna Judd, John Rich, Charlie Daniels, Emerson Drive, JD Souther and Steve Wariner.  NY Jazz artist Sarah Partridge will perform a special rendition of Les’ own version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow while Anna Wilson will take the stage to perform her personal jazz remembrance.  

Les Paul was an acclaimed guitar player, entertainer and inventor. One of the foremost influences on 20th century sound and responsible for the world’s most famous guitar, the Les Paul model, Les Paul's prestigious career in music and invention spans from the 1930s to the present. Though he's indisputably one of America's most popular, influential, and accomplished electric guitarists, Les Paul is best known as an early innovator in the development of the solid body guitar. His groundbreaking design would become the template for Gibson's best-selling electric, the Les Paul model, introduced in 1952. Today, countless musical legends still consider Paul's iconic guitar unmatched in sound and prowess. Among Paul's most enduring contributions are those in the technological realm, including ingenious developments in multi-track recording, guitar effects, and the mechanics of sound in general. Les Paul passed away this past August at the age of 94.

In addition to the musical performances, legendary artists including Scotty Moore (Elvis Presley) and Lou Pallo of the Les Paul Trio will give personal stories from the stage about their experiences with Les Paul. President of Gibson Guitar, Dave Berryman will also share some entertaining tales of working with Les Paul. The audience will also be treated to exclusive video testimonials from globally recognized artists including Slash, Billy Gibbons, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter and many more.  Additional surprises will be planned and announced throughout the show.