OLYMPIA, Washington, May 7 /PRNewswire/ --
- The Piano Peace Tour Continues on Its Mission
The following was released today by Goss Gallery:
WHAT: The famous piano on which John Lennon composed the song "Imagine"will be photographed at the home of Bill Clayton in Olympia, Washington. Billwas a young, vibrant 17 year old bi-sexual who was the victim of multipleassaults because of his sexual orientation that eventually led to his suicidein 1995.
"Bill committed suicide because he was convinced that he would be hatedand beaten his whole life. Our family will be dealing with the effects ofthis assault and Bill's death for the rest of our lives," said Bill's momGabi Clayton. "Telling Bill's story has been a way for us to turn the pain ofhis suicide into something that can help end the hate and ignorance, andhopefully help to save other people from what he went through."
Bill told his parents at the age of 14 that he was bi-sexual. Althoughthey embraced and supported their youngest son, some in the community didnot. First, after attending a support group meeting he was raped by an olderman who took advantage of Bill's naivety. It did not stop there. Three yearslater, Bill was attacked and beaten on his school campus along with friends,leaving him in the hospital with multiple bruises and abrasions. After thisassault, Bill sunk into a deep depression. He committed suicide on May 8,1995. His story is told on the internet athttp://www.youth-guard.org/gabi/Bills_Story.html
"Kenny Goss and George Michael understand the pressures Bill felt andfeel the utmost compassion for his family," said Caroline True, creativedirector. "They hope that by bringing the piano to Bill's home they will beable to show that hate crimes are senseless acts of violence committed solelybecause someone is different."
"Please join us and work to end the hate, until no one has to walk thestreets afraid, and no one has to live in fear of persecution or assault forany reason including race, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity,"said Alec Clayton, Bill's father. "Hate doesn't grow in a vacuum. It grows onfear, and it grows on silence. We are honored that the Piano Peace Tour haschosen to honor Bill's memory."
The song "Imagine" will be played on the piano by Gabi Clayton's closefriend, songwriter Steve Schalchlin who co-authored the Off-Broadway musicals"The Last Session" and "The Big Voice" - http://bonusroundblog.blogspot.com/.
WHERE: The home of Bill Clayton Olympia, Washington Address available by contacting the Claytons directly: Alec Clayton- alec@alecclayton.com +1-360-556-4259 Gabi Clayton- gabiclayton@earthlink.net +1-360-888-5291. WHEN: Tuesday, May 8 3:00pm until 6:00pm Piano delivered and uncrated, moved to photo site at the Clayton home. 3:00pm (approx.) Photo taken WHO: Caroline True, creative director, Imagine Piano Peace Project Photographer and camera person
Background: George Michael bought the Lennon piano at an auction inOctober 2000. Considered the most expensive piece of pop memorabilia, expertshave estimated its value at US$8 million to US$12 million. Michael and hispartner, Kenny Goss, owner of Goss Gallery in Dallas, want to furtherstrengthen the project's peaceful message, by having "Imagine" performed onthe piano at each stop. A video documentary and a published volume of theimages are under development, with plans to donate proceeds to charity.
The song, "Imagine," was first released in 1971 and was already JohnLennon's most famous post-Beatles song, but it took on a whole new life ofits own following Lennon's murder in December 1980. When first released,"Imagine" reached No. 3 in America and No. 6 in Britain but after Lennon'sdeath in December 1980, the song gave him a posthumous No. 1.
Lennon bought the piano in December 1970, had it delivered to studios athis home in Tittenhurst Park in Berkshire, composed and recorded "Imagine" onit. The piano is a simple upright style instrument, not the white piano whichgraced the cover of the album. In 1992, it was bought by a private Britishcollector who put it up for auction in October 2000.
Goss Gallery: Founded by Dallas native Kenny Goss, Goss Gallery(www.gossgallery.com ) is located at 2500 Cedar Springs Road at Fairmont inUptown Dallas. Headed by curator/director and internationally recognized artadvisor Filippo Tattoni-Marcozzi, it is a contemporary art gallery featuringa rotating group of international young as well as established artists andwas specifically created to reflect the feel and program of the leadinggalleries of London, Paris and New York, with regularly scheduled exhibitionsof 20th and 21st century contemporary painting and photography.
Creative Director, Caroline True: With a career that has spanned over twodecades and crossed the Atlantic, Caroline True is an experienced andaccomplished personality in the entertainment industry. Having workedextensively with acclaimed artists George Michael, The Rolling Stones, LennyKravitz and many others, True has served on both the creative and productionsides of the music business, demonstrating an artistic talent along withstrong business connections. Recently, she has extended her expertise intothe art world through her work with George Michael and Kenny Goss on theIMAGINE Piano Peace Project.
More information can be found at http://www.lennonpiano.com
Web site: http://www.lennonpiano.com http://www.gossgallery.com http://bonusroundblog.blogspot.com http://www.youth-guard.org/gabi/Bills_Story.html
Goss Gallery
Catharine Flagg of The Buzzell Company, +1-214-219-9191, or cf@buzzellco.com ; or Caroline True, +1-469-348-4342, or +44-7774-981111, or caroline.true@mac.com , both for Goss Gallery
