D’Angelico Guitars Announces Major Relationship with Leading Guitarist and Baseball Great Bernie Williams

D’Angelico Guitars announces its first major artist relationship, a comprehensive agreement with leading guitarist and New York Yankee legend Bernie Williams, who will appear at a special D’Angelico launch event at the NAMM Show, Hall D/Booth 2882 on Thursday, January 24th, 2013 at 1 PM.

At the launch event D’Angelico will present Williams with a Limited Edition USA Masterbuilt 1942 D’Angelico Excel Reissue. Williams will perform for and meet with select D’Angelico dealers, guitar media, and fans.

The relationship brings D’Angelico into the portfolio of world class instruments played by Latin Grammy nominee Williams, who will be featured in showcase D’Angelico advertisements and promotional programs in leading guitar and guitar lifestyle magazines. Williams will also make select D’Angelico dealer appearances. The relationship will feature a youth music education component, in support of Williams’s significant commitments in that area. A signature Bernie Williams D’Angelico guitar model is planned for launch during Fall, 2013.

“I’m thrilled to announce this relationship,” said D’Angelico CEO Brenden Cohen. “Bernie Williams represents the qualities, both artistically and personally, that we strive to embody as a brand. Our association with Bernie will help us to build on the significant success we’ve enjoyed so far.”

“I’m delighted to be working with D’Angelico and impressed with all that the D’Angelico team has done to take this legendary brand forward,” said Bernie Williams. “I recently played the raw wood prototype of the USA Masterbuilt 1942 Excel and I was extremely impressed with the craftsmanship and tone. I’m looking forward to playing the finished guitar at NAMM, and to a great relationship.”

D’Angelico Chairman John Ferolito, Jr. cited the strategic fit between the D’Angelico brand and Williams. “While the contemporary jazz and Latin-influenced music that Bernie is primarily known for are beautifully simpatico with D’Angelico’s classic archtop models, Bernie’s repertoire also includes plenty of rock and blues. Our relationship with Bernie will help us as we expand the line to include solid body guitars with a rock and blues sensibility.”

Steve Pisani, D’Angelico President of Sales, said “Bernie is highly respected and liked by guitar players for his musical achievements, both during and after his baseball career. His unique persona and his diverse musical taste and playing style have wide appeal among a large number of guitar players.”

Steve Fortunato, Founder and CEO of Fortch Unlimited, Inc., the sports and entertainment company that represents Bernie Williams, said “We’re impressed with the D’Angelico management team’s desire for a multi-faceted, long term relationship because that’s Bernie’s nature, too. We’re looking forward to being part of the continued success of this highly esteemed brand.”

About Bernie Williams
With classical guitar training and roots in Latin music and jazz, New York Yankee legend Bernie Williams has emerged as a leading guitarist across a wide range of musical styles, having collaborated with artists including the Allman Brothers, Basia, David Benoit, Ruben Blades, Dave Koz, David Sancious, Jon Secada and Bruce Springsteen.

Williams’s first album, The Journey Within (GRP, 2003) reached #3 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz chart. His second album, Moving Forward, (Reform, 2009), reached #2, produced two Billboard #1 singles (“Ritmo de Otoño” “and “Go For It”), and was nominated for “Best Instrumental Album” at the Latin Grammy Awards.

While not playing music, Williams wrote about it: Rhythms of the Game: The Link Between Musical and Athletic Performance (Hal Leonard Books, 2011) earned significant critical praise. Williams is deeply committed to music education, including programs like the NAMM Foundation, Americans for the Arts Action Fund, Support Music and Little Kids Rock. To learn more visit Bernie Williams’s official website at www.bernie51.com, find him on Facebook at Bernie Williams Official and on Twitter @bw51official.

About D’Angelico Guitars
D’Angelico offers a full line of handcrafted reissues of classic D’Angelico archtop, semi-hollow and solid body guitars. At NAMM 2013 the brand will introduce four new models within its best-selling Standard series, including a bass and lefty models. It will also debut its USA Masterbuilt series, featuring an authentic reissue of the legendary 1942 D’Angelico Excel built for D’Angelico by acclaimed luthier Gene Baker and his team at Premier Builders Guild.

Founded in 1932 by lutherie legend John D’Angelico, the brand was embraced by leading artists including Chet Atkins and Johnny Mercer, and later by artists including Pete Townshend. The D’Angelico brand was recently acquired by John Ferolito, Sr., a highly successful entrepreneur (co-founder of Arizona Iced Tea and additional successful businesses) and an avid guitar collector. Ferolito recruited an expert management team and installed a leading edge manufacturing, warehousing and distribution infrastructure. During early 2012 D’Angelico began limited marketing of a line of authentic D’Angelico reissues. The models were enthusiastically received, and D’Angelico re-emerged as one of the fastest-growing guitar brands in the industry. To learn more visit www.dangelicoguitars.com

Bernie Williams, D’Angelico artist and baseball great, and Steve Pisani, D’Angelico
President of Sales. Williams is holding a prototype of the 1942 D’Angelico Excel USA
Masterbuilt Reissue that will be introduced at a special launch event at NAMM 2013.
The relationship includes a signature Bernie Williams model that will launch in Fall,
2013 and D’Angelico commitment to youth music education efforts that Williams
supports.