11/17/2014
Grammy Winner and Music Legend, Jim Peterik Honors Local Charity Group, Veterans R&R
Chicago, Illinois – November 11, 2014 –When he’s not playing or recording with The Ides of March, his band of 50 years, or traveling to promote his newly released autobiography, Jim Peterik is a great example of a guy working to give back to others through his gift of music. On this Veterans Day, Jim presented a very special Kurt Wilson guitar to Veteran’s R&R, an Illinois area Veteran’s charity that is run by veteran’s, who are assisting other veterans and their families that are afflicted with post wartime challenges. Jim arranged to collect a number of autographs on the guitar from some of his friends in the music business and it will be auctioned off to raise money to benefit the veteran’s group.
Jim acquired a guitar from Kurt Wilson Guitars, USA, and brought it on a recent trip to Memphis where he performed at a tribute show for his late friend and lead singer of the band Survivor, Jimi Jamison. “The show in Memphis was an epic performance by some of the biggest names in classic rock,” said Peterik, “Between sets during the show, all of the evening’s performers took a few moments to autograph the guitar for Veteran’s R & R and we all know it will raise a lot of money to help them.” With autographs from Peterik, Loverboy’s Mike Reno, Kelly Keagy from Night Ranger and Rickey Medlocke from Lynyrd Skynyrd, to name just a few, this collectible guitar will be on raffled to support the charity. Tickets are being printed and will be available soon. The Veteran’s R&R web site will have details and a complete list of all of the signatures.
Jim found out about Veteran’s R&R while working on his webcast, The Song is the Vehicle, an online show that chronicles his life in rock and roll. He commented, “We can’t forget that our freedom comes at a price. We are fortunate that we have the bravest and brightest men and women in our armed forces, and we cannot forget about them and their service after they return home.” Mike Salisbury, from Veteran’s R&R said, “This guitar will help us to raise awareness for our group as well as much needed funds to help our cause. We really appreciate the generosity from Kurt Wilson Guitars, USA and this is all made possible by having Jim Peterik step up and deliver a truly one-of-a-kind guitar with all these great autographs.”
Jim Peterik is enjoying a fifty-year career as a performer and songwriter. His first hit song, Vehicle, is a song he wrote in his teens and performed with The Ides of March, a band he still plays with to this day. Among many hit songs, Jim also wrote and performed, Eye of the Tiger with his band Survivor for the soundtrack to the movie, Rocky 3. The song earned him a Grammy Award and remains popular to this day. Jim was born in Berwyn and is a life-long resident of the Chicago area, and by coincidence, Veteran’s Day also happens to be his birthday.
Kurt Wilson Guitars, USA are fine handcrafted guitars made one at a time using only premium hand selected woods and old school techniques. Kurt builds original and custom designs as well as classic styles with modern enhancements for the player.
