Jeff Campbell Wins EP Deal With Grammy-Winning Producer John Shanks Plus Appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and More in Second Annual Guitar Center Singer-Songwriter Artist Discovery Program

WESTLAKE, Calif., March 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Guitar Center – the world's largest retailer of music instruments and equipment – is thrilled to announce Jeff Campbell, from San Francisco, CA, as the winner of Guitar Center's Singer-Songwriter 2 artist discovery program. Guitar Center developed the Singer-Songwriter program to provide emerging independent musicians a platform to expose their music to the world. The second installment of Guitar Center's Singer-Songwriter began accepting submissions in October of 2012 coinciding with the successful first album launch and a slew of television appearances by last year's winner, Josh Doyle.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130305/LA71105)

Out of more than 12,000 submissions, ten finalists were hand-selected by Grammy award-winning producer John Shanks to perform live at the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood on Saturday, March 2nd. After a headlining performance by American folk-rock songstress Lissie, Shanks chose Campbell's soulful delivery of "Shut Your Mouth" as the winning performance. Campbell will receive a multifaceted career-boosting package including $10,000 cash, gear, a performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and the opportunity to record a four-song EP with mentor and producing legend, John Shanks.

As Guitar Center's Singer-Songwriter 2 Winner, Jeff Campbell Will Receive:

• A 4 song E.P. with Grammy Award-winning producer John Shanks
• A live performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
• The American Design Experience from Fender - winner will design his or her own electric or bass guitar
• New gear from Martin, Bose®, Korg, Zoom, Shure, D'Addario, TC-Helicon, and Converse
• $10,000 Cash
• Recording time at Converse Rubber Tracks Studio in Brooklyn, NYC.
• A feature in American Songwriter Magazine
• Worldwide digital music distribution from TuneCore

About Guitar Center's Singer-Songwriter 2 Grand Finals

Hosted by LA-based indie-darling Meiko, Guitar Center's Singer Songwriter 2 Finals took place at Hollywood's Hotel Cafe, a true homecoming for Meiko who once made ends meet as a waitress at the popular venue.  Following an opening performance by last year's winner Josh Doyle, each of the ten finalists took to the stage to perform in front of a live audience and judge John Shanks.  The intimate event closed with a performance by Lissie, whose young career already includes opening spots for the likes of Tom Petty and Lenny Kravitz.  Lissie's stellar performance gave Shanks a chance to deliberate, before ultimately naming Campbell the winner of Guitar Center Singer-Songwriter 2.

"The finalists rose to the challenge and delivered excellent performances beyond my expectations," said John Shanks. "After experiencing ten unbelievable performances, all bringing unique musical compositions to the stage, ultimately, Jeff Campbell's voice, and musical perspective won me over. After such an exciting and successful experience working with Josh last year, I'm eager to get into the studio with Jeff and record an EP."

Watch Jeff Campbell's winning performance here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mncOUm2B2Y

A Philadelphia native, Campbell moved to San Francisco in 2004 specifically for the rock scene he had heard was developing. After a few years of trying to balance music with his day job, the job was cast aside in favor of full time touring, writing and recording for a living. Campbell's onstage experiences have found him sharing the stage with members of Counting Crows, Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead and opening for Grammy-winning band Train. Early 2012 saw Campbell's self-released acoustic album, "Stop and Go". With this album, he fulfilled the promise to stay true to the songwriting style that fans have come to know but also to test some boundaries with production, approach and style.

"I'm truly humbled to be involved with and feel honored beyond words to have been chosen among so many fantastic artists by a company that understands what it's like to be a working musician and songwriter," said Jeff Campbell. "To be able to collaborate with an iconic producer that believes in me and is willing to invest his time and creative genius in my work and career is an unbelievable opportunity."

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 customers 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's Drum Off, Master Satriani, Guitar Center On-Stage and Guitar Center's Blues Masters.

Partners for Guitar Center's Singer-Songwriter include: Fender, Converse, Bose, Martin, Shure Incorporated, Korg, Zoom, TC-Helicon, American Songwriter, Filter, TuneCore, ASCAP, D'Addario and Keep A Breast.

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 224 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.

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."

SOURCE Guitar Center