National Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame Unveiled Palm Springs, Ca. Selected for Museum Site Business Editors/Entertainment WritersPALM SPRINGS, Calif. Jan. 31, 2000
Internationally renowned Resort City, Palm Springs, CA has been designated as the chosen city for a monumental historical landmark, "The National Big Band andJazz Hall of Fame." The founding fathers traversed the country from New Orleans, Chicago, Las Vegas, and Hollywood in search of its future destination and has announced its unveiling will be in the very heart of downtown Palm Springs. Peter Behman of Realty Executives handled the real estate transaction.Sponsored by Taurus Venture Capital Fund LLC, the 16,000 square foot museum will house the Hall of Fame and include exhibits, a ballroom, a studio designed for live radio broadcasts and a gift shop offering various souvenirs and CD's representative of this music genre. Unlike other museums, this structure will host various celebrations with its unique broadcast studio and ballroom dance þoor. With close to 300 radio stations in the United States that program Big Band and Jazz, the studio will be available for conducting broadcasts from the museum itself. In addition, the museum will house "The Make Believe Ballroom" for dancing and live performances. The National Big Band andJazz Hall of Fame was formed to preserve the history of "America's Music." Before the passage of time dims it beyond recall, it will inherently promote the awareness and appreciation to present and future generations. The aim of the Hall of Fame is to continue the music legacy for present and future generations through various artist exhibits and musical artifacts reþective of this musical genre and its evolution according to Horace Heidt Jr., President of the Hall of Fame. In addition, the Hall of Fame plans to establish and bestow awards and scholarships to children and young adults, as well as conduct seminars, educate and involve those interested in learning and even pursuing a musical career. "Palm Springs is so appropriate for a Museum of this caliber," added Heidt. "Not only will we have artifacts and memorabilia from almost all of the Big Band and Jazz great from across the country, but we are talking with national institutions about displaying some of their exhibits." Construction on the museum will begin as soon as plans are approved by the City of Palm Springs, with an expected opening date of October 2, 2000. The grand opening will feature a live performance with a name band to be determined. One of the first exhibits will feature "The Golden Age of Jazz," to be displayed for six months beginning in March 2001. In addition to the museum renovation, the Big Band andJazz Hall of Fame is planning a number of fundraising activities, including a celebrity golf tournament to coincide with the grand opening, and is seeking sponsorships to support the museum. With Palm Springs being one of the most recognized cities in the world, the many top musicians located here forever link it to the world of Big Band and Jazz. Frank Sinatra, who could have lived anywhere in the world, chose Palm Springs as his residence. William Beck, Chief Operations Officer of the Hall of Fame projects 100,000 visitors to the Museum the first year. The Museum is expected to boost tourism income for the city of Palm Springs by $20,000,000 annually.
"Plans are to induct into the National Big Band andJazz Hall of Fame some of the nation's top musicians, band leaders, arrangers and others connected with big band and jazz music, whether living or deceased, to honor and commemorate their works and contributions," said Heidt. "We also plan to honor this art form by bringing together big band and jazz musicians in concerts and special events which demonstrate the many forms of big band and jazz music." The Hall of Fame Board of Directors and Advisory Board of Directors shall organize the annual nomination, election and induction of new members into the Hall of Fame. The annual induction is scheduled to be taped for a National two-hour television special this Fall. The Hall of Fame Board of Directors
Executive Director, Buck Stapleton; President, Horace Heidt Jr.; Director, Samy Salem; Chairman of the Board, Herb Gronauer; Chief Operations Officer, William Beck; Executive Vice President, Don Mustaccio; Vice President, Jim Fitzgerald; Vice President, Don Mupo; Vice President, Eugene Martin; Secretary/Treasurer, Robert Lombardo; Vice Presidents Investor Relations, Andrew Seim and Alexander Brosda; Chief Executive Officer, Robert Alexander.The Advisory Board of DirectorsPeter Nero, Allen Bregman, Jerry Vale, Joe Graydon, Eugene Martin, Stumpy Brown, Tom Morgan, Conte Candoli, Les Brown Sr., Herb Jeffries, Scott Ellsworth, Al Lohman, Larry Collins, Beryl Davis, Peter Marshall, Danny Belloc, Teddy Phillips, David Schaner, Dick Redmond, Pat Rizzo, Bill Marx, Steve Madaio, James Yadgir, Page Cavanaugh, Pete Candoli and Dr. Herb Wong.About The National Big Band andJazz Hall of FameThe National Big Band andJazz Hall of Fame is developing interactive web sites at HYPERLINK "http://www.jazzhalloffame.com"www.jazzhalloffame.com and HYPERLINK "http://www.jazzhoo.com"www.jazzhoo.com that will include a wealth of interesting information for Big Band andJazz aficionados including artist and performance information, membership opportunities, a gift shop and history of the genre and its legends, and a catalog featuring over 500 music collections CD's and cassettes will be available from artists such as: Glenn Miller, Woody Herman, Doris Day, Duke Ellington, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Guy Lombardo, Les Brown, Harry James, Rosemary Clooney, Charlie Barnet, Peggy Lee, Stan Kenton, Patti Page, Jimmy Dorsey, and Ray Anthony.The National Big Band andJazz Hall of Fame is produced by Hall of Fame Partners, Inc., a division of Multi Media Industries Corporation (OTC BB:MMICE)Forward looking statements and comments in this press release are made pursuant to safe harbor provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements relating to, among other things, the prospects for the companies to complete the transaction and enhance operating results, are necessary subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which are significant in scope and nature. These risks may be further discussed in periodic reports and registration statements to be filed by the company from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the future.
CONTACT: Clemens Communications
Chris Clemens, 760/360-8656
HYPERLINK "mailto:ClemensPR@earthlink.net"ClemensPR@earthlink.net or
Buck Stapleton, 760/320-3128
Jack Maher, longtime publisher of music's Down Beat magazine, dead at 78
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHICAGO &emdash; Jack Maher, who served more than three decades as publisher of respected jazz magazine Down Beat and its parent company, Maher Publications, has died. He was 78.
Maher died Friday at Good Samaritan Hospital in suburban Downers Grove. The cause of death was not specified.
"Jack Maher was a cheerleader, a taskmaster, a visionary, a curmudgeon when he wanted to be, and your grandfather when he wanted to be," said longtime Down Beat staffer Frank Alkyer, whom Maher appointed last year as his successor as publisher.
Maher was credited with transforming Down Beat into a leading forum on jazz, with a roster of writers who included Leonard Feather, Nat Hentoff, Dan Morgenstern, Ralph Gleason and Ira Gitler.
The magazine was founded in 1934 to chronicle the comings and goings of touring swing bands.
A previous owner forfeited the magazine to his printer, Maher's father, John Maher.
After his father died in 1968, Jack Maher put up his own money to acquire Down Beat, outbidding Playboy founder and jazz aficionado Hugh Hefner.
Maher immediately changed a number of his father's policies, including one which had frowned on putting pictures of black musicians on Down Beat's cover.
"The cover is the vehicle used to get potential readers into the magazine," Maher said in 1994. "Down Beat has always championed jazz, which has meant championing African-American musicians."
Maher is survived by his wife, Pat, a sister and
six children.
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