Yamaha Artist Nathan East to Be Inducted Into NAMM TEC Awards Hall of Fame

The NAMM Foundation has announced that Nathan East, one of the most recorded bass players in the history of music, will be inducted into the NAMM Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Awards Hall of Fame. The NAMM Foundation is a non-profit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) and its 9,200 members from around the world. Inductees are chosen by the TEC Awards nominating panel.

East, who is one of the co-founding members of the contemporary jazz quartet Fourplay, has performed on more than 2,000 records for artists including Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, George Harrison, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Daft Punk, Stevie Wonder, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Beyoncé, Barbra Streisand, Lionel Richie, Justin Timberlake, Bob Dylan, Whitney Houston, Babyface, Celine Dion, Al Jarreau, Aretha Franklin, Bob James, David Foster, Rod Stewart, Herbie Hancock and many others.

East will be inducted Jan. 24, 2015 during the 30th Annual NAMM TEC Awards show in Anaheim, Calif. Revered audio engineer, mixer and producer Ed Cherney, who has worked with Bonnie Raitt, The Rolling Stones, Sting and Eric Clapton, will also be inducted by the NAMM Foundation, which works to advance active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs.

"This is quite an unexpected honor," East said. "I am blessed every day to do what I love and make music for a living, so this kind of special acknowledgement really makes me want to work that much harder. I am humbled and grateful to the NAMM Foundation, NAMM and all of its members."

East, whose self-titled debut solo album on Yamaha Entertainment Group debuted at No.1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums chart and features the No. 1 jazz single and video "Daft Funk," has been a mentor to many musicians for many years through his participation in various bass guitar clinics, master classes, instructional DVDs and his online school at http://www.NathanEastBass.com.

"Yamaha is very proud of Nathan East," said Chris Gero, founder and vice president, Yamaha Entertainment Group. "It's been an honor to have Nathan as a part of our Yamaha family for more than 30 years and a privilege to have him as one of the recording artists of Yamaha Entertainment Group. It is rewarding to watch the rest of the world learn more about the amazing talent of Nathan East."

The NAMM TEC Awards Hall of Fame was created in 1988 to recognize those individuals, living or deceased, whose careers have best exemplified the spirit of creative and technical excellence in professional recording and sound. More than three dozen music producers, engineers, musicians, audio technology pioneers, inventors, mentors and entrepreneurs have been inducted into the NAMM TEC Awards Hall of Fame. East joins a prestigious group of fellow inductees including Quincy Jones, George Lucas, Arif Mardin, Ray Dolby, George Martin, Phil Ramone, T Bone Burnett, Les Paul, George Massenburg, Bob Moog, Bill Putnam, Phil Spector, Deane Jensen, Willi Studer, Geoff Emerick, Ed Greene, Rose Mann Cherney, Roy Halee, Bob Liftin, Sam Phillips, Bruce Swedien and Frank Zappa.

Nathan East, released March 25, 2014 and co-produced by Gero and East, features collaborations with Eric Clapton ("Can't Find My Way Home"), Stevie Wonder ("Overjoyed"), Michael McDonald ("Moondance"), Sara Bareilles ("I Can Let Go Now"), Ray Parker Jr. ("Daft Funk"), Bob James and Chuck Loeb of Fourplay, David Paich of Toto, Michael Thompson, Tom Scott, Jeff Babko and more. The album, No. 1 at SmoothJazz.com for an unprecedented 34 weeks, features three songs co-written by East ("Daft Funk," "101 Eastbound," "Madiba") and a mix of instrumental and vocal compositions and imaginative rearrangements of standards - Stevie Wonder's "Sir Duke," the Paul McCartney and John Lennon classic "Yesterday" (accompanied on piano by East's 13-year-old son Noah East), Pat Metheny's "Letter From Home" and "America the Beautiful."

Written by East and his brother Marcel East, the second single "101 Eastbound," is an infectious and funky new take on a song originally released more than two decades ago by the world-renowned jazz quartet Fourplay, on their self-titled Platinum selling debut album. (East is a founding member). The hit song features East on vocals and on his signature Yamaha BBNE-2 five-string bass finessing lilting chords to warm bossa nova rhythms.

As East's music has gathered momentum the past six months, critics have lavished praise:

"A striking debut. Blinding brilliance." - Bass Player

"The most anticipated debut solo album." - JazzTimes

"The recording itself is a marvel." - Sounds of Timeless Jazz

"Bonafide Jazz personified." - The Smooth Jazz Ride

"Substance over flash." - Premier Guitar

"Eclectic album. Engaging musical avenues. An absolutely unparalleled performance." - Music Connection

"The world will never grow tired of brilliance. Holding his reign at No. 1, Nathan East shines bright like a diamond with his debut solo album." - SmoothJazz.com

Born in Philadelphia and raised in San Diego, East picked up the bass in high school and went on the road with Barry White at the age of 16. He took a break from touring with White to complete his education, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from the University of California, San Diego.

East has played on thousands of songs recorded by a wide variety of artists such as Anita Baker, Peter Gabriel, Natalie Cole, Elton John, Neil Diamond, Brian Ferry, Richard Marx, Randy Newman, Eurythmics, Bee Gees, Andrea Bocelli, Mariah Carey, Josh Groban, Mary J. Blige, Kenny Rogers, The Pointer Sisters, Patti LaBelle, Wayne Shorter, Jennifer Hudson, Cher, B.B. King, George Benson, Donna Summer, Seal, Bonnie Raitt, Diana Ross, JJ Cale, Isley Brothers, Joe Cocker, Johnny Mathis, James Ingram, The Four Tops and many more.

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About Yamaha Entertainment Group
Yamaha Entertainment Group of America is a boutique, one-stop shop, record label developed to be the champion of the musician with the backing power of the largest music manufacturer in the world. Yamaha Entertainment Group is also branding, promotion, concert production, content development, product placement, tour support, piano logistics and artist relations, all rolled into one. Home to more than 3,600 talented artists, Yamaha Entertainment Group is responsible for the development and advancement of the Yamaha brand name through numerous artist related activities worldwide.
Visit http://www.YamahaEntertainmentGroup.com and http://www.Yamaha.com/Artists

About Yamaha Corporation of America
Yamaha Corporation of America (YCA) is one of the largest subsidiaries of Yamaha Corporation, Japan and offers a full line of award-winning musical instruments, sound reinforcement and home entertainment products to the U.S. market. Products include: Yamaha acoustic, digital and hybrid pianos, portable keyboards, guitars, acoustic and electronic drums, band and orchestral instruments, marching percussion products, synthesizers, professional digital and analog audio equipment, Steinberg recording products and Nexo commercial audio products, as well as AV receivers, amplifiers, Blu-ray/CD players, iPod docking systems, home-theater-in-a-box systems and its exclusive line of Digital Sound Projectors. YCA markets innovative, finely crafted technology and entertainment products and musical instruments targeted to the hobbyist, education, worship, professional music, installation and consumer markets. Visit http://www.USA.Yamaha.com

For more information on Nathan East, please contact
Yamaha Entertainment Group
Athena Patterson
apatterson(at)yamaha(dot)com
714.228.3317 - 615.599.0800 x 3317 - 615.414.7637 CELL

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