Little Kids Rock to Honor Steven Van Zandt at 10th Anniversary Gala and Provide Music Education to more than 100,000 Disadvantaged School children

NEW YORK, Sept. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Before Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band finish the second U.S. leg of its world tour, many of its members will attend Little Kids Rock's 10^th anniversary Right to Rock Celebration, sponsored by the House of Marley and 1Love.  On October 16^th in New York city Steven Van Zandt will be presented with the "Big Man of The Year Award," given annually to honor the legacy of the late, great Clarence Clemons.  Van Zandt joins past honorees Lady Gaga and The Big Man himself. The event is being co-chaired by actress Maureen Van Zandt and E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg.

The gala will resemble an all-star rock and roll festival with Van Zandt performing alongside many of his musical friends, including Elvis Costello, Dion DiMucci, Tom Morello, Darlene Love, Southside Johnny, Kris Allen, Rubén Blades, Gary U.S. Bonds, Michael Des Barres, Michael Johns, Jesse Malin, Jake Clemons, NYC Hit Squad and more surprise guests expected to attend. Little Kids Rock students will join these rock legends on stage to perform along side and celebrate the joy of music.

The event, sponsored by The House of Marley and 1Love.org, will be held on Tuesday, October 16 at the Manhattan Center's Grand Ballroom and will run from 6:30pm until the music stops. Table sponsorships are available for purchase and limited balcony-level tickets for the show (no bar or dinner) will be made available next week. For more information visit www.littlekidsrock.org/rtr12/sponsorship.htm

A key part of the evening will be the live and silent auctions (opening online in the weeks leading up to the event and concluding live at the October 16^th event) featuring hard-to-find treasures like a keyboard signed by Lady Gaga, a guitar signed by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (with Jake Clemons making the piece a "first of a kind"), a tour of NFL Films and the set of Inside the NFL with Phil Simms, a custom guitar featuring Bob Marley hand painted by famed tattoo artist Mister Cartoon, an exclusive dinner with Maureen and Steven Van Zandt, a 5-night stay at one of the Hard Rock All-Inclusive Collection Resorts and much more. The funds raised by this once-in-a-lifetime musical extravaganza and unique auction will help Little Kids Rock bring the gift of music education to disadvantaged youth across the United States. The funds from this event and auction will enable Little Kids Rock to bring free lessons and instruments to over 100,000 disadvantaged public school students in 12 states.

"Putting instruments in [children's] hands is empowering," Van Zandt said after personally delivering guitars to Little Kids Rock students in the Bronx last year. "We're the only country in the world that thinks that art is a luxury. It's not a luxury; it's a necessity of life."

"It is a privilege to honor Steven Van Zandt," said David Wish, Little Kids Rock's Founder and Executive Director. "To do so with the company of the E Street Band friends and family is just thrilling."  Wish added, "Steven Van Zandt is a great artist, philanthropist and humanitarian who has provided tremendous support for Little Kids Rock students and for many people around the world. No wonder so many other artists are coming out and paying tribute to him."

Together, The House of Marley and 1Love.org are this year's presenting sponsors of the Right to Rock Celebration and an ongoing partner with Little Kids Rock.  The House of Marley is a collection of premium quality, earth-friendly lifestyle and personal audio gear, created in partnership with the Marley family, and donates a portion of all sales to 1Love.org, the Marley family nonprofit organization that focuses on youth, planet and peace.  During the event, 1Love.org will announce a surprise fundraising project with Little Kids Rock that honors the spirit and artistry of the legendary Bob Marley.

***Tickets and sponsorship opportunities for the Right to Rock Celebration are available, and include dinner, drinks, souvenirs, and corporate brand placement.   

RESERVE YOUR SEATS: http://www.littlekidsrock.org/right2rock

About Steven Van Zandt

Steven Van Zandt is a musician, songwriter, performer, arranger, record producer, actor, writer, human rights activist, and international radio DJ. He is a founding member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band and an original principal cast member of The Sopranos. Steven's current projects include starring, writing, producing, and scoring "Lilyhammer", chosen as the first original programming for Netflix, America's first digital network. He continues to host his internationally syndicated Rock and Roll radio show Little Steven's Underground Garage (www.undergroundgarage.com) (now broadcast in over 180 countries), and is touring the world with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Steven has also founded The Rock and Roll Forever Foundation (www.rockandrollforever.org) dedicated to the development, preservation, dissemination, and continuing support of Rock and Roll, past, present, and future - which is currently developing an online curriculum on the history of Rock and Roll and it's role in American culture with a pilot program set to launch in schools in 2013.

About Little Kids Rock

Little Kids Rock is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization that transforms children's lives by restoring and revitalizing music education in public schools. Little Kids Rock was founded in San Francisco in 2002 by David Wish, an elementary school teacher who had grown frustrated with the lack of music education funding at his school. Today, Little Kids Rock is one of the leading nonprofit providers of free lessons and instruments to underprivileged children in US public schools, and has served more than 200,000 students at over 1,600 schools in 25 cities nationwide. Little Kids Rock Honorary Board Members include Bonnie Raitt, Slash, Paul Simon, B.B. King, Ziggy Marley and other famous friends in the music industry. More info at: www.littlekidsrock.org

About The House of Marley

Working together for a better world, The House of Marley was created from the belief in Bob Marley's vision of "One Love," offering a range of earth-friendly, innovative audio electronics and lifestyle products that adhere to the Marley family core values: equality, unity, authenticity, sustainability and charity.  The House of Marley donates five percent (5%) of its annual profits to 1Love.org. Learn more at www.houseofmarley.com

About 1Love

The epicenter of a global movement, 1Love is dedicated to spreading Bob Marley's message of unity and peace by lifting up a new generation of "young gongs" to strike the hammer for charities, causes and ideas that can change the world.  1Love is a not-for-profit organization created by the Marley family to increase awareness and a sustainable flow of contributions to benefit 1Love supported charities that empower Youth, protect our Planet and encourage global Peace.  More info at: http://www.1Love.org.

SOURCE Little Kids Rock

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