At: Guitar Center

Many music fans found it hard to believe that Alicia Keys was only 20 years old when she released her debut album, Songs In A Minor, in 2001. Her sophisticated blend of R&B, hip-hop, jazz and classical flavors was a sharp contrast to the prefab dance pop performed by most other female singers near her age, and her sultry, bluesy vocals seemed to come from the same deep emotional well that inspired legends like Nina Simone, Dinah Washington, Billie Holliday and Lena Horne. While her sound was certainly contemporary, her approach reminded listeners of classic recording artists who were more concerned with making art than making cash.

“I tend to be a bit of a vintage fanatic,” admits Keys. “That’s the music that I love and the kind of energy that I like. There’s something about the Sixties and Seventies that’s always spoken to me since I was little. I always felt like I was born in the wrong decade. I was supposed to be alive when Nina Simone was alive. I was supposed to get that whole vibe of Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield. There’s just something about the honesty, craftsmanship and integrity that existed during that time. There was a genuine passion that I share with those artists and that time. People did what they did because they loved what they did, not because they got paid exorbitant amounts of money or got massive amounts of recognition.” Like many of the artists who inspired her, Alicia is a consummate performer who writes and arranges most of her own music and an accomplished musician who plays several instruments, including piano, guitar, bass and cello. She started taking classical piano lessons when she was just seven, and she was educated at New York City’s Professional Performing Arts School, where she graduated as class valedictorian. The music industry quickly recognized her talent and potential, particularly Clive Davis, the former president and founder of Arista Records, who helped develop the careers of Whitney Houston, Sarah McLachlan, Bruce Springsteen and Patti Smith. When Davis left Arista and formed J Records, he brought along Alicia, who he had signed while he was still with Arista.

Experience the complete exclusive interview with Alicia Keys as it appears in our September hi-tech guide – READ or WATCH.

Learn more about her new virtual instrument software “Alicia’s Keys” from Native Instruments HERE.

Right on the heels of their latest full length, The Suburbs, The Arcade FIre has released an incredibly innovative and interactive film online.
 Dubbed, “The Wilderness Downtown,” it’s basically a music video that uses your input to make it completely personal and touching. I won’t tell you why or how, (you’ll have to check it out yourself) but it really hit home and has stirred up all kinds of emotions I haven’t thought about in decades. Almost to the point of tears.

The video is incredible, As well as it’s ability to reach an audience in a whole new and gripping way. Check it out here.

Guitar Center, the world’s largest musical instrument retailer in partnership with Collective Media and DIRECTV, the world’s most popular video service, today announced the debut of Guitar Center Sessions, a new television special featuring exclusive performances and intimate conversations with revered musicians. Hosted by Jason Bentley, KCRW’s Music Director and host of Morning Becomes Eclectic, Guitar Center Sessions’ first episode features the iconic Peter Gabriel, fresh off of the release of his critically-acclaimed new album “Scratch My Back” and sold-out world tour.  The show premieres August 21 on DIRECTV’s The 101 Network (channel 101) at 9PM ET/PT in 2D hi-definition and is currently airing in 3D on DIRECTV’s new 3D channel, n3D powered by Panasonic (channel 103). A sneak preview of the show can be seen at www.guitarcenter.com/sessions.

To celebrate the launch, Guitar Center and Peter Gabriel are offering a free download of Gabriel’s “Here Comes the Flood,” a rare and special take on the classic hit as performed on the forthcoming show. The download is available at www.guitarcenter.com/sessions.

Continuing its commitment to inspiring musicians, Guitar Center Sessions is filmed in front of a live audience, primarily consisting of music students, giving them a rare peak inside the minds of today’s most influential artists. Each episode is filmed at the world famous Guitar Center Hollywood Vintage Room, providing an ideal environment for unveiling the inspiring stories, techniques and characteristics that define each of the episodes’ artists. Home viewers and attendees alike will hear first-hand accounts from each artist about their personal and musical journeys and the influences that molded them into the icons they have become.

The 22nd annual nationwide search for the top undiscovered drummer is back. Starting today, drummers can sign-up at any of the 214 Guitar Center stores across the country for the chance to compete for thousands of dollars in prizes and the title of Guitar Center’s 2010 Drum-Off Champion. All store, district and regional finalists will win impressive prize packages including instruments, drum equipment and accessories, and various gift cards. The grand prize package, valued at over $43,000, includes $25,000 cash, a custom drum kit with a complete set of cymbals, a Roland TD-20SX electronic kit, $500 Converse Gift Card, Monster Energy Drink endorsement deal, feature in Modern Drummer Magazine, VIP experience at NAMM 2011, plus drum, sticks, cymbals, and drumhead endorsement deals.

Guitar Center’s Drum-Off has jump-started the careers of many drummers over its twenty two years, including Cora Coleman-Dunham and Tony Royster Jr, two Guitar Center Drum-Off champions who have gone on to become acclaimed professional drummers (Prince and Jay-Z respectively). In years past, a number of the world’s best drummers have contributed their talent and support to Guitar Center’s Drum-Off initiative, including: Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Matt Sorum (Guns ‘N Roses, Velvet Revolver), Questlove (The Roots), Travis Barker (Blink-182), Tommy Lee (Motley Crüe), Thomas Lang, Josh Freese (Nine Inch Nails, A Perfect Circle), José Pasillas (Incubus), Billy Cobham, Niko McBrain (Iron Maiden), Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction), Danny Carey (Tool), Brann Dailor (Mastodon) and Jason Bonham.

Competition spots fill up fast, don’t miss it – sign up now! Click HERE for more info.

Most lists of 100 things to do before you die involve travel to exotic locations and participating in some sort of extreme sport, but if you are a musician your bucket list should also include attending a KISS concert.

For the last 35 years KISS has staged a spectacle unlike any other in the rock and roll business—one that keeps getting bigger and better every time they go out on the road on tour. This year’s tour, called “The Hottest Show on Earth,” is a two-hour extravaganza filled with enough fireworks and pyrotechnics “to bring down low-flying aircraft,” promises KISS rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley.

“When we go on stage, we want people in the audience to go, ‘This is what a rock concert is supposed to be!” says Stanley. “Our show started out by us wanting to get up on stage and show people how it was supposed to be done. We wanted to be the band that we always wanted to see but never saw. We still go out there every night and try to be the ideal band.”

Read the exclusive interview as appears in our August Anniversary Buyer’s Guide HERE.