Guitar Center Singer-Songwriter winner Josh Doyle to Debut New Single "Solarstorms" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Aug. 23, 2012

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., Aug. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Guitar Center invites music fans nationwide to tune in to ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Aug. 23, 2012 at Midnight/11 p.m. central, where Josh Doyle will debut his new single "Solarstorms." As the first ever winner of Guitar Center's Singer-Songwriter, Doyle was chosen from more than 17,000 hopefuls in the 2011 search, earning him studio time with Grammy award-winning producer John Shanks to record his debut album, coming this fall. The result is Doyle's soulful self-titled debut album set to be released on Oct. 23, 2012, including the standout single "Solarstorms. "

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120813/LA55530)

"This competition has truly changed everything for me," says Josh Doyle. "A year ago I would have never imagined working with one of the best producers in the world. Everything John and Guitar Center did for me was for the good of the music, I'm very proud of how everything turned out and can't wait to share it with the world."

After being hand-picked by Shanks from more than 17,000 submissions in the inaugural Guitar Center's Singer-Songwriter competition, Josh Doyle was granted the once in a lifetime opportunity to record a three-song EP with Grammy Award-winning producer John Shanks. Overwhelmed by Josh Doyle's talent, Shanks decided to extend the process and record a full-length album complete with an all-star band including Leland Sklar (James Taylor) on bass, Matt Chamberlain (Tori Amos) on drums and Dean Parks on guitar. The singer-songwriter has also teamed up with CTK Management and Neil Warnock of The Agency Group, gearing up for this next chapter in his career.

"The depth of Josh's music and lyrics immediately sold me," says Danny Nozell of CTK Management. "John Shanks really chose an exceptional talent. If it weren't for Guitar Center creating such an awesome opportunity for unsigned artists, I may have never met Josh. I couldn't be more excited for what the future has in store for him."

To go behind the scenes of Josh Doyle recording "Solarstorms" with John Shanks visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IPyb7P_qcs

As Josh Doyle prepares to release his debut album, Guitar Center and John Shanks gear up to launch the second season of Singer-Songwriter this October. The extent of response from the first year's submission process revealed the vast pool of musicians out there that are looking for a way to have their talent discovered. This October, the hunt for the nation's best singer-songwriters returns. For more information on Guitar Center's Singer-Songwriter, visit: http://guitarcenter.com/songwriter  

As the world's largest retailer of musical instruments, Guitar Center is dedicated to supporting the global music community and providing musicians with opportunities to get their music heard. Guitar Center's commitment to unsigned artists runs deep with a full calendar year of diverse programs aimed to enable musicians by providing the opportunity and exposure they need to be successful. No other retailer is developing platforms for their customer like Guitar Center.

Guitar Center's musicianship programs include the award winning music television series Guitar Center Sessions, the weekly radio show Connections Made By Guitar Center, and the acclaimed podcast series At: Guitar Center with Nic Harcourt as well as various competition based programs such as Guitar Center Presents Your Next Record, Guitar Center Singer-Songwriter, Master Satriani, Guitar Center On-Stage and Guitar Center's Battle of the Blues. More information on Guitar Center can be found by visiting the Company's Web site at www.guitarcenter.com.

About Josh Doyle
Before Josh Doyle was even old enough to drive, the UK native was compelled to pen songs from the age of 13. While attending Chichester University, he founded rock outfit The Dumdums. The group's debut album for MCA Records, It Goes Without Saying, spawned four UK Top 30 hits, earning them a supporting spot on tour with Robbie Williams before the band split up in the midst of creating their sophomore album. Doyle then relocated to Nashville and began crafting and independently releasing the EPs The End of Fear, Values and Virtues and Middletown, and Songs From The Nuclear War Vol. 1 & 2. In 2012, Doyle won Guitar Center's Singer-Songwriter competition, beating out 17,000 competitors and receiving a three-song EP by Grammy Award-winning producer John Shanks. Now partnered with CTK Management and Neil Warnock of The Agency Group, the Shanks-produced EP Josh Doyle is set to be released Oct. 23, 2012 and will feature the single "Solarstorms. "

www.joshdoyle.com 
www.facebook.com/joshdoylemusic 
www.twitter.com/joshdoyle

About John Shanks
John Shanks is one of the hottest and most influential producers working today. On top of that, he is a hit songwriter and accomplished guitar player. John has produced and/or written 43 #1 singles, 67 #1 albums and sold over 60 million records to date in the genres of Rock, Pop and Country music.  In 2005, he won the Grammy for Producer of the Year. To people in the industry, his work is considered the gold standard. "John's records have become the sound of Top Forty Radio," Clive Davis told Rolling Stone. "He's the father of that guitar-driven kind of pop sound."

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 230 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