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Thursday May 1st, 2003

Dickey Betts to present Gibson Master Class at Rock Hall of Fame

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum will host the second of a series of three Gibson Master Classes featuring guitar legend Dickey Betts Tuesday, June 3 at 7:00 p.m. on the Museums main stage in Cleveland, OH. The class will be hosted by Lee Roy Parnell, the featured guitarist of the first Gibson Master Class.

The event will focus on the art of guitar playing and, more specifically, Betts style and technique. Betts will also discuss his career and give a short solo performance. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, May 7 for $10 at the Museum box office and through Ticketmaster.

"Dickey Betts has created one of the most identifiable sounds and some of the most memorable solos of any guitarist in any style of music," said Henry Juszkiewicz, chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar Corp. "His career exemplifies the independence and individualism that is associated with Gibson players, and hes a perfect artist for the Gibson Master Class series."

"Guitar playing is central to rock and roll music," said Terry Stewart, President and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. "The Museum is proud to partner with such an innovative company as Gibson to bring exceptional guitar players here to discuss their craft."

The Gibson Custom Shop has made two Dickey Betts signature models - the Dickey Betts Ultra Aged 1957 Les Paul Gold Top, a replica of Betts' personal instrument right down to the years of play and wear, and the Dickey Betts Redtop Les Paul with all the unique features of Dickey's recently refinished Goldy, down to the scarfed back and concho-style jackplate and switchwasher.

Betts was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 with the Allman Brothers Band, where he shared lead guitar duties with Duane Allman. Although the bands core sound was blues/rock, Betts fluid, melodic solo style gave them an extra dimension that was unique among rock bands. His compositions "Jessica" and "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" are among the all-time classic instrumentals. The bands recording of his song "Ramblin Man," featuring Betts lead vocal and another memorable lead guitar line, was released after the deaths of Duane Allman and bassist Berry Oakley. It not only became a pop hit, establishing a future for the band, it also helped their Brothers And Sisters album become their best-selling LP. He currently leads the Dickey Betts Band, whose last release was Lets Get Together in 2001.

Custom Shop GM Ric Gembar, Dickey Betts, Gibson CEO Henry Juszkiewicz, and Lee Roy Parnell

Lee Roy Parnell hosted the first Gibson Master Class in June 2002. Since his 1990 debut, he has released seven studio albums and garnered numerous Top 10 hits, including "What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am," "Love Without Mercy" and "Im Holding My Own." His latest release is Tell the Truth.

Gibson is known worldwide for producing classic models in every major style of fretted instrument, including acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins and banjos. Gibsons digital guitar, introduced in 2002, represents the biggest advance in electric guitar design in over 70 years. The Gibson family of brands includes Epiphone, Dobro, Kramer, Steinberger, Tobias, Slingerland, Maestro, Trace Elliot, Baldwin, Ellington, Chickering and Wurlitzer.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum exists to educate its visitors, fans and scholars from around the world about the history and significance of rock and roll music. The Museum carries out this mission through its efforts to collect, preserve, exhibit and interpret this art form.