Yamaha Artists Head to Memphis for Beale Street Music Festival

NASHVILLE, TN (April 7, 2005) — The city where the kings of rock n' roll, jazz, soul and gospel all reign is now the setting for one of music's biggest and most diverse gathering of top musicians. Yamaha artists, Sarah McLachlan, Gavin Degraw and many others are the performers for the Memphis in May festival of music and charity.

Memphis in May is an annual gathering of people from across the nation, who join for a weekend of concerts on several stages in downtown Memphis on historical Beale Street. This year marks one the biggest musical lineups in the festival's history as some of the top musicians head south to the home of Elvis and the blues.

Yamaha artist, Gavin Degraw, is fresh off his success from his debut album and gaining more fans everyday. Degraw, who plays several instruments, favors Yamaha pianos including the C7 and CFIIIS. His hit video, "I Don't Wanna Be" features a Yamaha piano. While performing in concert and in the studio, he uses the Yamaha ES6 and ES8 motifs. Degraw performs on Friday, Apr. 29, 2005.

A musical veteran and Yamaha alumnus, Sarah McLachlan, also joins the cast of performers on Beale Street this month. McLachlan's success has only grown throughout the years since her first hit. Her Grammy-winning music has touched thousands across the world. She, like Degraw, favors Yamaha quality and instruments and uses a P250, #, MPC7, and a DGT2APE. Fans of McLachlan can see her performance on Sunday, May 1, 2005.

Other performers for the festival include Elvis Costello, The Killers, Nelly, The Black Crowes, The Wallflowers, Switchfoot, Jerry Lee Lewis, Billy Idol and the King's daughter, Lisa Marie Presley to name a few. This year's festival of artists and activities is more than just a huge outdoor concert. Memphis in May produces extensive education, international and economic programs for the city of Memphis. The proceeds from the event contribute to the economic growth of the community (it raises over 30 million dollars in economic impact), promote tourism, and develop diversity and cultural pluralism.

On Beale Street, the blues beat from B.B. King's, the gospel and soul rise from Isaac Hayes and Elvis is everywhere from the impersonators on Beale to the gates of Graceland. On April 29, the legends meet the artists of today as Memphis welcomes music's all stars and newcomers from every genre to the delight of fans everywhere.

The schedule and list of performers for Memphis in May is as follows:

Trey AnastasioNickel Creek
The WallflowersW.C. Clark
Jack JohnsonIngram Hill
Tommy CastroPopa Chubby
Mavis StaplesBowling for Soup
OzomatliCarey Bell
SwitchfootSeether
Gavin DeGrawAmerican Hi-Fi
Nickel CreekYo Gotti
Michael TolcherEgypt Central

NellySpin Doctors
The KillersAlvin Youngblood Hart's Muscle Theory
Los Lonely BoysHubert Sumlin & Willie Big Eyes Smith
Guitar ShortyLittle Feat
Jonny LangRicky Warwick (Irish)
Jerry Lee LewisNigel Mooney (Irish)
John MooneyTodd Snider
TeslaParticle
K.C. & the Sunshine BandPinetop Perkins & Willie Big Eyes Smith
CrossfadeRobert Belfour
Al KaponeWill Graves
North Mississippi AllstarsBreaking Point

Sarah McLachlanRobert Jr. Lockwood
The Black CrowesIke Turner & The Kings of Rhythm
The RootsBloodthirsty Lovers
Billy IdolE.G. Kight
Robert Randolph and the Family BandBen Kweller
Bobby 'Blue' BlandKenny Brown
Elvis CostelloRelient K
WarBilly Lee Riley
James Cotton Blues BandChevelle
Lisa Marie Presley

For more information on Yamaha Corporation of America's Artist Affairs division, please contact Tiffany Napper at tnapper@yamaha.com or 615-599-0800. Yamaha's ever-growing list of artists can be viewed by going to www.yamahaartists.com.