Guitar Center Teams With Don Was And Colbie Caillat For 4th Annual Singer-Songwriter Program

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Guitar Center's Singer-Songwriter launches its fourth installment today, offering aspiring singer-songwriters across the country the chance to take their careers to the next level. Having received over 12,000 entries last year, Guitar Center's Singer-Songwriter again opens for submissions starting Monday, Sept. 1st.  

The winner of Guitar Center's Singer-Songwriter 4 will have the opportunity to record a 4-song E.P with Grammy Award-winning producer Don Was (The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Elton John, John Mayer), perform to a national television audience on Jimmy Kimmel Live! which airs weeknights at 11:35|10:35c on ABC, take home new gear, $25,000 cash and much more. Joining the fold of advisers this year is Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat who, having sold over six million albums and ten million singles worldwide, will lend her talents as a mentor to the winner, guiding them through the writing and recording process. 

Hear Was and Caillat discuss the program here: http://youtu.be/6LOCo1bFlv0

HOW TO ENTER:

Beginning September 1, 2014 through November 2, 2014 unsigned singer-songwriters from across the continental United States are invited to submit an original live music performance video at www.guitarcenter.com/songwriter. Submissions will be ranked on their social media engagement and fan growth throughout the submission period. The top-ranked 150 artists will be reviewed personally by Don Was who will then handpick 5 finalists to perform live at The Troubadour in Los Angeles, CA where one winner will be named. For official rules please visit: songwriter.amplifiertv.com/rules

Guitar Center's Singer-Songwriter 4 Winner Will Receive:

• A 4-song E.P. with Grammy Award-winning producer Don Was
• Mentoring Sessions with Grammy Award-winning Singer-Songwriter Colbie Caillat
• $25,000 Cash
• An on-air performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! which airs weeknights at 11:35|10:35c on ABC
• New gear from Martin Guitar, Gibson, Shure Microphones, Bose, D'Addario, Acoustic Amps, Avid, Casio, GoPro, and TC-Group
• A feature on the award-winning webseries: At: Guitar Center with Nic Harcourt
• Worldwide digital music and publishing support from TuneCore
• Feature story in American Songwriter magazine

"Taking a song and bringing it to life in a professional recording studio can be an intimidating process at first; I know it certainly was for me. So to be able to offer support and guidance to an emerging singer-songwriter is a huge honor. I look forward to playing a role in such an exciting time of someone's songwriting career."

-Colbie Caillat

"My experience working on Guitar Center's Singer-Songwriter last year was a hugely positive one. The amount of uniquely talented musicians that were unearthed in the submissions was just so impressive, I can't wait to discover more this time around. And that's why programs like this are so important for the future of music; they give burgeoning talent a chance to shine."

-Don Was

Guitar Center's Singer-Songwriter supporters include: Jimmy Kimmel Live!, American Songwriter, Martin Guitar, Gibson, Shure Microphones, ASCAP, Converse, Bose, D'Addario, Acoustic Amps, TC-Group, Tunecore, Avid, Casio, GoPro, Troubadour, Sunset Marquis and the Keep A Breast Foundation.

About Colbie Caillat:

Colbie Caillat is a two time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter who has sold over six million albums and ten million singles worldwide. Her breakthrough hit "Bubbly" remains "one of the best-selling digital tracks in history" and her multi-platinum debut COCO hit #5 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart upon release, while her sophomore set Breakthrough landed at #1. From 2011's All of You, "Brighter Than The Sun" went platinum and enjoyed over twenty film and television placements, while seeing acclaim from People and NY Post. She's also played sold out venues everywhere alongside everybody from John Mayer to Sheryl Crow. Beyond music, she's an avowed spokesperson and supporter for ASPCA, the Surfrider Foundation, Save The Music, Farm Sanctuary, and The Humane Society of the United States. Most recently, Caillat released her single "Try," from her forthcoming album GYPSY HEART.  Named an iTunes "Single Of The Week," "Try" has since become one of the biggest performing songs on iTunes.  What's more, the companion video for the song has become an online phenomenon, quickly amassing over 20 million views since its release.  Caillat will release her highly anticipated fourth studio album GYPSY HEART on September 30^th 2014. She is currently on a U.S. headline tour. For additional information visit www.colbiecaillat.com.

About Don Was:

Don Was is a man of many talents -- musician, producer, composer, filmmaker, director, and even record company president. As a musician, Don founded the influential band, Was (Not Was).  He continues to play bass on records and at various events such as the Detroit All Star Revue. As a producer, Don's work has sold over 120 million albums worldwide.  His work is so highly regarded that he's been asked by some of the most influential artists of the past several decades to make records for them:  The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Waylon Jennings, Bonnie Raitt and Roy Orbison. Don has taken home numerous awards, including a Grammy for Producer of the Year, a BAFTA for Best Original Score, an Emmy for Music Direction on The Beatles: The Night That Changed America and an Emmy Nomination for his documentary on Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. In January of 2012, Don was named president of Blue Note Records.  At the same time, he continues to produce albums including "My True Story" for Aaron Neville (co-produced with Keith Richards) and "Paradise Valley," the latest release from John Mayer.

About Jimmy Kimmel Live: (Weeknights at 11:35|10:35c on ABC)

Jimmy Kimmel serves as host and executive producer of Emmy nominated "Jimmy Kimmel Live," ABC's late-night talk show. 

"Jimmy Kimmel Live" is well known for its huge viral video successes with 1.5 billion views on YouTube alone.  Some of Kimmel's most popular comedy bits include - Mean Tweets, Lie Witness News, Jimmy's Twerk Fail Prank, Unnecessary Censorship, YouTube Challenge, The Baby Bachelor, Movie: The Movie, Handsome Men's Club, Jimmy Kimmel Lie Detective and music videos like "I (Wanna) Channing All Over Your Tatum" and a Blurred Lines parody with Robin Thicke, Pharrell, Jimmy and his security guard Guillermo. 

Now in its eleventh season Kimmel's guests have included: Johnny Depp, Meryl Streep, Tom Cruise, Halle Berry, Harrison Ford, Jennifer Aniston, Will Ferrell, Katy Perry, Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, George Clooney, Larry David, Charlize Theron, Mark Wahlberg, Kobe Bryant, Steve Carell, Hugh Jackman, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Bridges, Jennifer Garner, Ryan Gosling, Bryan Cranston, Jamie Foxx, Amy Poehler, Ben Affleck, Robert Downey Jr., Jake Gyllenhaal, Oprah, and unfortunately Matt Damon. 

Kimmel has also created one of a kind concert experiences, taking over Hollywood Blvd. for artists such as: Paul McCartney, Coldplay, Jay-Z, Depeche Mode and Justin Timberlake as well as special outdoor and lobby performances by Lady Gaga, Adele, Miley Cyrus, Prince, Linkin Park, Drake, Tony Bennett, Pitbull, Britney Spears, Kings of Leon, Lady Antebellum, Usher, Lenny Kravitz, Brad Paisley, No Doubt, Phoenix, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, MUSE, Empire of the Sun, The Killers and Elton John.

Jimmy Kimmel and Jill Leiderman serve as executive producers. Jason Schrift, Douglas DeLuca and Erin Irwin serve as co-executive producers. "Jimmy Kimmel Live" is shot live in front of a studio audience and produced by Jackhole Industries in association with ABC Studios. For more info go to jimmykimmellive.com or Facebook.com/jimmykimmellive.  You can also follow Jimmy's personal twitter account - @jimmykimmel.  #Kimmel 

About Guitar Center:

Guitar Center is the world's largest retailer of guitars, amplifiers, drums, keyboards, recording, live sound, DJ, and lighting equipment, with more than 260 stores across the U.S. 2014 marks the milestone 50th anniversary of the Guitar Center Brand as we continue to help people make music from coast to coast. In addition, the Music & Arts division operates more than 120 stores specializing in band & orchestral instruments for sale and rental, serving teachers, band directors, college professors, and students since 1952. With an unrivaled in-store experience and passionate commitment to making gear easy-to-buy, Guitar Center is all about enabling musicians and non-musicians alike to experience the almost indescribable joy that comes from playing an instrument. All we sell is the greatest feeling on earth. For more information about Guitar Center, please visit www.guitarcenter.com.

For more information, please visit www.guitarcenter.com, contact [email protected], or visit our Press Room at http://gc.guitarcenter.com/pressroom/.

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Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140902/142027

SOURCE Guitar Center

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