Dawud Aasiya-Bey Named Winner Of Guitar Center's 25th Annual Drum-Off

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Starting in August, over 5,000 drummers from across the country signed up to compete in Guitar Center's 25^th Annual Drum-Off. Five finalists were chosen out of the thousands of hopefuls to battle it out for the title of Guitar Center's Drum-Off Champion and a prize package valued at nearly $50,000 at the event last Saturday night. The winner- Dawud Aasiya-Bey, joins an esteemed group of highly talented drummers- past winners have gone on to play for the likes of Prince, Beyonce, Jay Z and more.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140121/LA50199) 

About The Winner: Dawud "D-Mile" Aasiya-Bey has had some time to hone his drumming skills. Having first picked up the sticks at just two years old, the Riverside, CA musician continuously pushes himself to improve. As a third-time competitor in Guitar Center's Drum-Off grand finals, he's never been one to give up, utilizing each turn as a finalist as an opportunity to learn and challenge himself, constantly building upon on his increasingly impressive performances. Also an accomplished keyboard and organ player, Dawud's instrument of choice is the drums, maintaining his craft as an outlet to express his emotions- no matter the genre. He credits his father, a fellow musician, for introducing him to the world of music and hopes to pass that passion along to his daughter.

Watch Aasiya-Bey's Winning Performance Here: http://youtu.be/rVcrO9tA12A

"It is impossible to describe how good it feels to be recognized for a craft I have worked at for so long," says Dawud Aasiya-Bey. "This win is proof that if you just put a little bit of time in and stay with it – something good can happen. I hope my story can inspire other musicians to stick with it and dream big. I'm thankful to Guitar Center and all of the incredible judges tonight for giving me that opportunity."

As Guitar Center's Drum-Off Grand Prize Winner Dawud Aasiya-Bey Will Receive:

• $25,000 cash
• A Roland TD-30 electronic drum kit + SPD-SX
• Write-Up in Modern Drummer Magazine
• Cover Feature in Guitar Center's Drum Buyers Guide
• Custom drum kit by DW, Tama, Pearl, Gretsch or OCDP
• Complete Set of Sabian, Zildjian, or Meinl cymbals
• Drum, Stick, Cymbal and Drum Head endorsement deals (*subject to the vendors terms)
• VIP Experience at NAMM 2014

After 25 years of celebrating the country's best drummers, Guitar Center's Drum-Off has become one of the most loved events in the drumming community. To celebrate the 25^th anniversary, the night honored Steve Ferrone, renowned drummer for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and Average White Band, with an induction into Guitar Center's Rock Walk and featured exclusive performances from a host of renowned drummers including Questlove, Chad Smith, Steve Ferrone, Ray Luzier and Chris Dave. Judges for the evening included such respected musicians as Adrian Young (No Doubt), Nisan Stewart (P Diddy, Missy Elliot), Brooks Wackerman (Tenacious D, Bad Religion), Aaron Spears (Usher), Chris Johnson (Rihanna) and more.

Guitar Center Drum-Off is presented by: DW, OCDP, PEARL, GRETSCH, TAMA, LATIN PERCUSSION, MEINL, SABIAN, ZILDJIAN, REMO, EVANS, PRO-MARK, VIC FIRTH, ROLAND, MODERN DRUMMER, CONVERSE, SHURE

About Guitar Center
Guitar Center is the world's largest retailer of guitars, amplifiers, drums, keyboards and pro-audio and recording equipment. Our retail store subsidiary presently operates 255 Guitar Center stores across the U.S. We are also the largest direct response retailer of musical instruments in the United States through our wholly owned subsidiary, Musician's Friend, Inc., and its catalog and Web site, www.musiciansfriend.com. In addition, our Music & Arts division operates more than 100 stores specializing in band instruments for sale and rental, serving teachers, band directors, college professors and students. More information on Guitar Center can be found by visiting the Company's Web site at www.guitarcenter.com.

SOURCE Guitar Center