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NAMM to Honor Music Legend Brian Wilson with Its Most Prestigious Award - Music for Life

The presentation will be made by NAMM president and CEO Joe Lamond at Noon on Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at the Anaheim Convention Center, Hall E, as a part of NAMM's Media Preview Day. The day is designed to showcase the newest and most innovative music instruments and products at the show and happens one day before The NAMM show officially opens. The NAMM Show is the largest music instruments and products trade show in North America.

The "Music for Life" award is NAMM's highest honor and was created to recognize individuals and organizations who demonstrate support for NAMM's primary causes of promoting music education and creating more active music-makers. Past recipients have ranged from musicians to Congressmen, CEOs and beyond, including Quincy Jones, Bob McGrath and Yoko Ono.

"Brian Wilson's music shaped American popular music and had a lasting impact on the music products industry," said Joe Lamond, president and CEO, NAMM. "In addition, Brian Wilson believes in and has devoted his efforts to supporting music education-a cause that our industry holds dear. With 2012 marking the 50th anniversary of The Beach Boys, NAMM felt this was the most appropriate time to honor Mr. Wilson for his life's work."

The Grammy winner and MusicCares' 2004 Person of the Year, Brian Wilson has a long record of supporting music education. Some highlights include work to benefit The Prince's Trust Charity, which offers music classes to youth with learning difficulties and/or disabilities; performances for The "Amplify Tomorrow" tour as part of the Blue for Save the Music initiative, which raised funds and awareness to support music education programs in U.S. public schools; participation in two Bridge School Benefit concerts; and Wilson has also been honored with the USC Thornton School of Music Legacy Award and possesses an honorary doctorate from Northeastern University.

Known for his unrivaled solo career and former role as singer, songwriter and producer for the super group, The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson is one of the most iconic and influential music legends of our time. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a Kennedy Center honoree and recipient of multiple Gold and Platinum records. On November 1, Capitol/EMI released The SMiLE Sessions, containing the Beach Boys' 1966-67 sessions. For more information, visit www.BrianWilson.com.

Media: To RSVP for NAMM's Media Preview Day, please contact Jeanne O'Keefe or Mary Hong at The Lippin Group / 323-965-1990 / JOKeefe@LippinGroup.com / MHong@LippinGroup.com.

About NAMM

The National Association of Music Merchants, commonly called NAMM in reference to the organization's popular NAMM trade shows, is the not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the $17 billion global musical instruments and products industry. NAMM's activities and programs are designed to promote music making to people of all ages. NAMM is comprised of more than 9,000 Member companies. For more information about NAMM, interested parties can visit www.namm.org or call 800-767-NAMM (6266).

The Lippin Group
Jeanne O'Keefe or Mary Hong
323-965-1990
JOKeefe@LippinGroup.com / MHong@LippinGroup.com.