WOMEN WHO ROCK AND GIBSON GIVES
ANNOUNCE OCTOBER CONCERT SERIES
 
RITA WILSON
HEADLINES CONCERT SERIES BENEFITING MAGEE-WOMENS RESEARCH INSTITUTE AND FOUNDATION FOR
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
 
VIRTUAL SERIES WILL FEATURE PERFORMANCES AND INTERVIEWS WITH:
RITA WILSON, ORIANTHI, EMILY WOLFE AND CELISSE
LIVESTREAMING EVERY WEDNESDAY IN OCTOBER AT
5:00p CT/3:00p PT, ON GIBSON TV
NASHVILLE, TN (October 7, 2020) To raise awareness for vital Breast cancer research this month, Women Who Rock and Gibson Gives--the charitable arm of Gibson guitars--have teamed up for a new virtual concert series happening every Wednesday night in October at 5:00pm CT/3:00pm PT/6:00pm ET live, on Gibson TV HERE, all performances will be archived. Accomplished singer-songwriter RITA WILSON will headline the virtual concert series which will be shot on location at both the Gibson Showroom in Los Angeles, CA and Austin, TX. All donations generated from the Women Who Rock and Gibson Gives series in October will benefit Magee-Womens Research Institute (MWRI)--the nation's largest research institute dedicated solely to women's health research--and will be fully-matched by UPMC and UPMC Health Plan up to $25,000. To donate and for more information, visit: http://mageewomens.org/strikeachord.

Women Who Rock connects women through the power of music and helps to educate, support and fund women-centric health research and music endeavors. The annual Women Who Rock Benefit Concert features the best women in music, with a 100% female fronted line up. RITA WILSON was originally scheduled as the concert’s guest-star this past May. The concert was canceled due to the international COVID 19 pandemic, severely impacting fundraising efforts for the life-saving women’s health research at the MWRI.

“As both a breast cancer survivor and a singer/songwriter, this concert series felt like the perfect opportunity to raise awareness for the importance of women’s cancer research through the power of music,” says RITA WILSON. “I’m excited to perform alongside such a diverse and strong group of female artists and partner with Women Who Rock and The Magee-Womens Research Institute to hopefully make an impact in the continued fight against breast cancer.”
 
“We’re so grateful for Gibson and the incredible lineup of female musicians who are supporting us this October to help us raise funds and awareness for understudied women's health research and for shining a spotlight on women in music,” says Melinda Colaizzi, Founder of Women Who Rock. “Both women in music and women’s health research are underrepresented and we’re lucky to have Gibson Gives on our side in this crusade to ‘Rock the Future of Women’s Health’ and to use the power of music to make a difference impacting lives around the world.”
 
“Gibson Gives is honored to partner with Women Who Rock, our esteemed female artists and Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation to amplify women’s health research through the healing power of music,” says Elizabeth Heidt, Head of Global Entertainment Relations at Gibson. “Our mission at Gibson is to empower and enable creators around the world, to put the power of music into the hands that need it most and bring a positive impact our communities. This is only the beginning of our work with Women Who Rock for women around the world, we look forward to a long and fruitful partnership.”
 
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Women’s health overall is understudied. While most health research has sidestepped sex differences, MWRI is the nation’s largest research institute dedicated solely to women’s health research and reproductive biology. In addition, MWRI currently offers 192 studies enrolling 162,000 women in clinical trials all over the world. Researchers at MWRI are working on chemotherapy resistance for the most common form of breast cancer, finding a more effective treatment for triple negative breast cancer, and running more than 20 clinical trials to develop new, personalized treatments for women.
 
Dr. Lisa Rohan is leading her team of researchers at MWRI to develop a nasal spray that could protect users from the COVID-19 infection. This spray may be a game changer for frontline workers and immune-compromised individuals. From therapies that could halt the recurrence of ovarian and breast cancers to improving our understanding of and treatment options for COVID-19. MWRI works to solve real-world problems women face every day. Donations this month will fund MWRI’s ongoing critical research. Watch the latest video from MWRI: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fsIhn7Z9dY.

Tune-in to watch the Women Who Rock and Gibson Gives October Concert Series every Wednesday night in October starting at 5:00pm CT and airing on Gibson TV (HERE) and Gibson Facebook Live (HERE).

Celisse, Wednesday, October 7 at 7:00P CT on Gibson TV (HERE)
Celisse performing with her Gibson SG.
 
CELISSE is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist performer and solo artist in her own right. Her deep and varied career has seen her on stage at Saturday Night Live with LIZZO, HERE, she’s also performed with MELISSA ETHERIDGE, KESHA, JOSS STONE, PHISH-TREY ANASTASIO, MACY GRAY, MARIAH CAREY and more. The NYC-based artist been an integral cast member and performer on Broadway’s Wicked to Bridget Everett’s Rock Bottom and the recent revival of Godspell at Circle. On TV, CELISSE has appeared on PBS’s "The Electric Company," "30 Rock," "Rescue Me," "The Big C," "White Collar," and more. CELISSE joined Jon Baptiste for his NPR Tiny Desk concert HERE and released her new single “Freedom” which raised funds for “The Movement 4 Black Lives” and “Campaign Zero” this past June, HERE.
 
Emily Wolfe, Wednesday, October 14 at 5:00P CT on Gibson TV (HERE)
Emily Wolfe and her Epiphone Sheraton.
 
Hailing from Austin, TX, musician, and singer-songwriter EMILY WOLFE has spent the last several years making a name for herself as an electrifying, blues-driven live rock solo artist. In 2019, WOLFE released her self-titled, debut album which NPR described as, “Stormy, seductive blues-rock thunder, with riffs for miles.” Elsewhere, the Wall Street Journal hailed the album “...a sparkling rocker with a propulsive groove and atmospheric guitars.” For her debut, she teamed up with Ben Tanner from the Alabama Shakes to co-produce. “The good thing about Emily is that she knows the sound when it’s there,” explains Ben Tanner. “The songs were fully formed in her head by the time she got the studio.” As a result, WOLFE effortlessly harnesses the raw power of her live performances in collaboration with Ben’s in-studio experimentation--crafting an album that marries the roots of rock with the soaring choruses of modern pop. EMILY is currently working on the follow-up to her 2019 self-titled debut.

Orianthi, Wednesday, October 21 at 5:00P CT on Gibson TV (HERE)
Orianthi and her Gibson Hummingbird.
 
Born in Australia, platinum-selling recording artist and world class guitarist, ORIANTHI was inspired to learn guitar at a young age after discovering her father’s vinyl collection. She rose to international fame at age 24 after the release of her hit single, “According to You” and a high-energy performance backing Carrie Underwood at the 2009 GRAMMY® Awards. Although she had already been invited to jam with the likes of Carlos Santana and Steve Vai, mainstream audiences had not previously heard of this captivating guitar prodigy. Her recognition increased even further when Michael Jackson called with an offer to be his guitarist for his dates at the O2 Arena, London. Although the concert series was not to be, the release of the behind-the-scenes documentary Michael Jackson’s This Is It showcased ORIANTHI’s masterful playing as well as, her creativity and collaboration. ORIANTHI continues to play for rock royalty and pop stars while maintaining a successful solo career. Her many accolades include being named one of the “Greatest Female Electric Guitarists” by ELLE, “Breakthrough Guitarist of the Year” by Guitar International, as well as one of Gibson Guitars’ “Top 10 Female Guitar Players of All Time.” This year, Gibson has partnered with her on the development of a first-ever acoustic guitar for her first Signature artist series, to be released soon. ORIANTHI will release new studio album in seven years O on November 6 via Frontiers Music Srl. Pre-order O on CD/LP/Digital and stream the new single “Sinner's Hymn” here: https://orcd.co/orianthi.

Rita Wilson, Wednesday, October 28 at 5:00P CT on Gibson TV (HERE)
Rita Wilson.

Accomplished singer/songwriter RITA WILSON’s latest single is, “What I Would Say,” out now via Sing It Loud/The Orchard listen, HERE. The memorable track was co-written by Rita and GRAMMY Award-winning, platinum hitmakers Jesse Frasure (Thomas Rhett, Florida Georgia Line, Luke Bryan) and Shane McAnally (Kacey Musgraves, Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban), and was recorded in Nashville with Frasure as producer. Summer 2020 was another prolific period for RITA WILSON musically. Her slew of summer singles kicked off with, “Where’s My Country Song?” a moving tribute to women everywhere. Sounds Like Nashville said, “women all over America will feel as though they’ve found their theme song” and HuffPost added it’s a “track about women that feels particularly poignant right now."  She also released “Everybody Cries,” from the film THE OUTPOST. The stirring ballad was co-written by director Rod Lurie, WILSON and Larry Groupé; American Songwriter called her singing on the track “beautiful” and “understated.” RITA also made guest appearances on Jimmie Allen’s rousing “When This Is Over” alongside the Oak Ridge Boys & Tauren Wells, and Alex Blue’s delicate cover of the John Prine classic, “Angel From Montgomery.” RITA WILSON is celebrated for her work as an actress, film producer, and philanthropist. In March of 2019 she received a Star on the legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame in honor of her rich film career in such classics as Sleepless in Seattle and Now And Then.  With her first love being music, she has four studio albums under her belt including her most recent Halfway to Home. Over the last several years, she has toured the world over performing on such iconic stages as the Grand Ole Opry, The Sydney Opera House and Walt Disney Concert Hall as well as coveted slots at music festivals including Stagecoach and CMA Fest among others.  
About Magee-Womens Research Institute:
As the largest research institute in the U.S. devoted to women’s and infants’ health, Magee-Womens Research Institute (MWRI) is an interactive community of researchers from the University of Pittsburgh together with physician-scientists and clinicians at UPMC. With partnerships in more than 20 countries, MWRI focuses on expanding our understanding of reproductive biology and women’s health and translating discovery into diagnostics, treatment and disease prevention that promote wellness regionally, nationally, and globally. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Women’s health overall is understudied. Women are different than men and most health research has sidestepped sex differences, studying men, and applying the findings to women. Researchers at MWRI are making strides in the detection, treatment, and prevention of breast cancer. Through more than 20 clinical trials, researchers at MWRI are uncovering new prevention and personalized treatments of breast cancer and finding better ways to target breast cancer therapies that are saving lives around the world. Donations to MWRI support ongoing critical research for an enormous range of women’s health issues, from women-controlled HIV protection to therapies that could prevent the recurrence of ovarian and breast cancer, and COVID-19 prevention, they are helping to solve real-world problems and impacting women’s lives every day. For more information on MWRI, visit: https://mageewomens.org and to donate, go to: http://mageewomens.org/strikeachord.
 
About Women Who Rock®:
Women Who Rock is a crusade to champion women in music and women’s health awareness. Women Who Rock connects all women through the power of music and helps to educate, support and fund women-centric health research and music endeavors. WWR produce an annual benefit concert featuring the best women in music, with a 100% female fronted line up. Our events “Rock the Future of Women’s Health” shine a spotlight on women in music. Women Who Rock is female founded, female fronted, and female produced. For more information, visit: https://womenwhorock.info.
 
About Gibson:
Gibson Brands, the world’s most iconic guitar brand, has shaped the sounds of generations of musicians and music lovers across genres for more than 100 years. Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Nashville, TN, with a premiere acoustic facility in Bozeman, MT, Gibson Brands has a legacy of world-class craftsmanship, legendary music partnerships, and progressive product evolution that is unrivaled among musical instrument companies. The Gibson Brands portfolio includes Gibson, the number one guitar brand, as well as many of the most beloved and recognizable music brands, including Epiphone, Kramer, Steinberger, and the Gibson Pro Audio Division, KRK Systems. Gibson Brands is dedicated to quality, innovation, and sound excellence so that music lovers for generations to come will continue to experience music shaped by Gibson Brands. Learn more at Gibson.com and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Gibson TV, and Instagram.
 
About Gibson Gives: 
The Gibson Gives | Gibson Foundation is a 501(c)(3) committed to introduce, inspire, and amplify the power of music through guitars across all generations and genres. For over 126 years, Gibson has been shaping, contributing, and supporting sound through their guitars. Gibson realized early on that getting instruments into the hands of those with a desire to make music is a truly life-changing event. Gibson Gives (Gibson Foundation) has since provided thousands of guitars and related value-in-kind in excess of $30 million. In 2019, Gibson Gives committed to donating 1,000 guitars over the next 1000 days and is ahead, having donated 160 guitars in just four months. Gibson Gives played a lead role in supporting the ‘Do it for the Love’ Foundation, outfitted Gallatin High School in Bozeman, MT and Maplewood High School in Nashville, TN with multiple acoustic and electric guitars for their music departments—through Gibson Gives partner Give A Note --and played it forward donating 48 guitars and 19,000 string sets to Guitars For Vets to bring the power of music to returning U.S. military veterans with PTSD. Gibson Gives is off to a solid start in 2020 with 100% of all donations to and from Gibson Gives going towards giving the gift of music. The mission of Gibson Gives is to make music matter to more people in more ways…one guitar at a time! For more information, visit: www.gibsongives.org.
 
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