Nashville, Tennessee…..November 9, 2009…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 that several global key markets will host an exclusive viewing party of the upcoming Tribute to Les Paul for special invited guests and press. The tribute concert, which is free to the public, will originate in Nashville on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at the historic Ryman Auditorium. That same evening Gibson Entertainment Relations and Public Relations staff will host their own viewing parties in key global markets giving exclusive first-row experiences to guests that will include VIPs, press and musicians. From Berlin, Germany to Toronto, Canada, Gibson will host these special viewing parties at the Gibson Entertainment Relations showrooms or select venues the next evening. The entire Tribute to Les Paul concert program will be shown. This exclusive opportunity will give fans from around the world the chance to experience  Les Paul, the innovator and inventor who passed away at 94 years old this past August in a very special way . Paul 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. Markets participating include New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Austin, London, Mumbai-India, Singapore, Shanghai, Orlando, Miami and Madrid.
                                   
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. Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz will tell a very special story that relates back to Les Paul’s early childhood and his experience at the Ryman Auditorium while President of Gibson Guitar, Dave Berryman shares 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.

ABOUT GIBSON GUITAR:
Gibson is known worldwide for producing classic models in every major style of fretted instrument, including acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins, and banjos. The Gibson Les Paul guitar is the best selling guitar of all time and bears the name of the late, great Les Paul. Gibson’s HD.6X-PRO Digital Guitar, the Gibson Robot Guitar and Gibson's Dark Fire represent the biggest advances in electric guitar design in over 70 years. The Gibson Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Gibson Guitar Corp., and dedicates its time and services to making the place a better world for children through its support of music, education, health and human services. Founded in 1894 in Kalamazoo , Michigan , and headquartered in Nashville since 1984, Gibson Guitar Corp.’s family of brands now includes Epiphone, Dobro, Kramer, Steinberger, Tobias, Echoplex, Electar, Flatiron, Slingerland, Valley Arts, Maestro, Oberheim, Baldwin, Sunshine Piano, Take Anywhere Technology, J&C Fischer, Chickering, Hamilton, and Wurlitzer. Visit Gibson’s website at  www.gibson.com

ABOUT HARD ROCK INTERNATIONAL:
With a total of 157 venues in 52 countries, including 127 cafes and 12 Hotels/Casinos, Hard Rock International is one of the world's most globally recognized brands. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world's greatest collection of music memorabilia, which is displayed at its locations around the globe. Hard Rock is also known for its collectible fashion and music-related merchandise, Hard Rock Live performance venues and an award-winning website. In addition to the two flagship Seminole Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos in Tampa and Hollywood, Fla., Hard Rock Hotels/Casinos are located in Las Vegas, Biloxi, Orlando, Chicago, San Diego, Tulsa, Pattaya, Bali, Macau and Penang.  Additional hotel and casino projects have been announced in; Singapore, scheduled to open in 2010; Atlanta and Panama, both scheduled to open in 2012; and Hungary, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, scheduled to open in 2013.  Hard Rock International is owned by Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment, Inc. For further details on Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos, visit www.hardrockhotels.com.  For more information on Hard Rock International, visit www.hardrock.com.

ABOUT THE COCA-COLA COMPANY:
The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with nearly 500 sparkling and still brands. Along with Coca-Cola®, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company's portfolio includes 12 other billion dollar brands, including Diet Coke®, Fanta®, Sprite®, Coca-Cola Zero®, vitaminwater, POWERADE®, Minute Maid® and Georgia® Coffee. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, juices and juice drinks and ready-to-drink teas and coffees. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate of nearly 1.6 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that protect the environment, conserve resources and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. For more information about our Company, visit www.thecoca-colacompany.com.

ABOUT BEST BUY:
With operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, China and Mexico, Best Buy is a multinational retailer of technology and entertainment products and services with a commitment to growth and innovation. The Best Buy family of brands and partnerships collectively generates more than $45 billion in annual revenue and includes brands such as Best Buy; Audiovisions; The Carphone Warehouse; Future Shop; Geek Squad, Jiangsu Five Star; Magnolia Audio Video; Napster; Pacific Sales; The Phone House; and Speakeasy. Approximately 155,000 employees apply their talents to help bring the benefits of these brands to life for customers through retail locations, multiple call centers and Web sites, in-home solutions, product delivery and activities in our communities. Community partnership is central to the way we do business at Best Buy. In fiscal 2009, we donated a combined $33.4 million to improve the vitality of the communities where our employees and customers live and work. For more information about Best Buy, visit www.bestbuy.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Caroline Galloway/ Gibson Guitar/ 615-423-4904/ caroline.galloway@gibson.com