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Guitar Center, GC Pro Offer Nashville Flood Relief

Guitar Center Nashville guitar technician Ron Matthews works on a Fender Stratocaster that was damaged at Soundcheck Nashville during the flood of May 1, 2010. The Nashville Guitar Center staff aided in the cataloging and disassembly of various musical instruments and Pro Audio gear in order to help assess damages.

Musical instrument and professional audio retailer Guitar Center, based in Westlake Village, Calif., has launched “Operation High Ground” for Nashville flood relief, to help musicians, songwriters, recording studios and audio professionals re-build their lives following the recent devastation. The goal of the program is to help Nashville’s music community get back on its feet as quickly as possible to keep the music going in Music City. Guitar Center’s president, Greg Trojan, made the announcement.

As the events of May 1 unfolded, Guitar Center management was kept apprised of the Nashville storm situation as the unprecedented floods destroyed several communities. Immediately the company began to formulate a strategy to take advantage of its extensive resources, both locally and nationally, and put into place a comprehensive, multi-tiered plan that addresses the various musical instrument and professional audio needs of the flood victims.

Dedicated team specialists from both Guitar Center and GC Pro are on the ground in Nashville to interface with and advise flood victims on the best way to either repair or replace their musical instruments and recording gear as quickly as possible.

Guitar Center has mobilized its distribution network to capitalize on the nearby warehouse in Indianapolis, to ensure that if a replacement instrument, recording product or piece of audio equipment is not in stock in Nashville, it will be expedited to arrive as quickly as possible.

A special toll-free Tennessee direct hot line to the High Ground Emergency Team, 877/687-5405, is for customers who have experienced catastrophic loss. Callers can use this number to quickly gain access to musical gear purchases, along with personalized priority shipment and delivery logistics.

A shattered Kay acoustic guitar (circa late 1950s or early 1960s) sits on the floor of Soundcheck Nashville, waiting to be assessed for damage.

Guitar Center is partnering with MusiCares to assist the Nashville area music community by providing emergency financial for those who were affected by this crisis. Donations can be made at any of Guitar Center’s 214 stores, or online at www.guitarcenter.com.

TimePayment Corporation, an equipment-leasing provider, is working with Guitar Center and GC Pro to develop a lease offering that will help the victims of the floods replace their equipment.

Guitar Center has also partnered with local Nashville FM radio station 104.5, The Zone, to help musicians rebuild their devastated communities. Beginning in May, for a six-week period, 104.5 will be holding live broadcasts from storm-damaged areas. Guitar Center representatives will be on-site to evaluate damaged gear and provide advice and assistance.

Guitar Center has additionally partnered with local Nashville FM radio station 103 WKDF and the historic 3rd and Lindsley music venue to host a charity country music show titled “Putting The Music Back in Music City.” The show will be broadcast nationwide, and listeners will be solicited for donations to aid flood victims. Guitar Center will donate guitars that will be signed by the various performing artists and give one lucky listener in each market a signed guitar for donating to this event.

Guitar Center staff helped catalog hundreds of musical instruments and pieces of pro audio equipment damaged from the flood. Here sits a row of guitar amplifiers waiting to be assessed for damages.

“Nashville has the greatest concentration of musicians, recording studios and audio professionals anywhere in the world,” states GC Pro Director Rick Plushner. “The entire community has banded together to rebuild Music City, and Guitar Center and GC Pro are proud to be a resource for those players and studios that have suffered a loss. We look forward to helping everyone get back on their feet and keeping the music alive in Nashville.”

Visit Operation High Ground at www.gcpro.com/nashville. Donations to MusiCares Nashville Flood Relief may be made at www.musicares.com/NashvilleFloodRelief.

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