600 Shreveport Students Get Ready to Rock!

Little Kids Rock Teams up with Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and Shreveport Native, James Burton to Deliver Free Instruments and Training to 23 Caddo Parish Schools on April 25th

April 20, 2006 – Shreveport, LA - Legendary rocker, James Burton and his new foundation are funding a Little Kids Rock (LKR) program to provide free instruments and instruction for public school students in Shreveport. Today, LKR announced the dates for a teacher workshop for the 23 Shreveport-area schools that have become part of the LKR program. Teachers who complete the April 26-27 training workshop will begin leading classes in August 2006 when school returns for the fall session. Students who participate in the music program will receive free guitars and cases.

Caddo Parish teachers will receive their guitars Tuesday, April 25th. On that same day James Burton and Little Kids Rock founder David Wish will hold a press conference at the Municipal Auditorium in the Ballroom upstairs from 3:30-5:00 pm to discuss the partnership.

“Mr. Burton helped to transform the face of popular music,” said Little Kids Rock Founder, Dave Wish. “Now, through the generosity of the James Burton Foundation, he is helping to transform music education as well. Mr. Burton is committed to keeping music in our schools and we are honored to have his support.”

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, James Burton is famous for his work with Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson, Jerry Lee Lewis, John Denver and Emmylou Harris, among others. Peavey Guitars has also donated an electric guitar for each participating teacher.

Additional support of the Shreveport chapter of LKR comes from the Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation as well as Jimmy Buffett’s Singing For Change Foundation.

Participating Shreveport schools include: Alexander Learning Center, Arthur Circle Elementary, Bethune Middle, Blanchard Elementary, Claiborne Elementary Magnet, Cherokee Park Elementary, Creswell Elementary, Eden Gardens Elementary Magnet, E.B. Williams Stoner Hill Elementary, Green Oaks High, Herndon Middle Magnet, Hillsdale Elementary, Judson Elementary Magnet, Linwood Middle, Mooretown Professional Development Elementary, North Highlands Elementary, Oil City Elementary, Queensborough Elementary, Ridgewood Middle, Sunset Acres Elementary, Summerfield Elementary, Werner Park Elementary, and Youree Drive Middle.

Little Kids Rock teaches kids how to play pop, rock, funk, blues, rap and hip-hop music. LKR students not only perform, but they also compose and record their own music. They have released four full-length CDs as well as music videos featuring student-written originals. To date, the Little Kids Rock program has served more than 7,000 students in California, New York, New Jersey and Tennessee. Other supporters of the program include Paul Simon, B.B. King and Bonnie Raitt.

About The James Burton Foundation
The James Burton Foundation is dedicated to providing musical scholarships and instruments to children as well as young adults. Through his humble beginnings, he learned that a quality professional instrument is very important. It’s been James’ dream to give back to the musical community by helping the young musicians realize their potential. For more information visit: www.jamesburtonmusic.com.

About Little Kids Rock
Little Kids Rock believes that music is a critical component of first-rate education. Many elementary schools have been stripped of their music programs. These cuts have had a disproportionately large impact on children from low-income backgrounds. Little Kids Rock restores music to its rightful place in the academic lives of kids in our public schools by providing a rich music education program including instrument instruction, free instruments and trained mentors. Founded by an elementary school teacher in 1996, Little Kids Rock is now serving thousands of students in CA, NY, NJ and TN. More information can be found at: www.littlekidsrock.org

Note to Media: Interviews with spokespeople and b-roll available upon request.

Media Contact:
Allison Neves, PR Director
Little Kids Rock
415-948-1200
allison@littlekidsrock.org