Les Paul to Light up Milwaukee

Les Paul to Light up Milwaukee

M&I 'builds' 18-story tribute to 93-year-old guitar legend

MILWAUKEE, June 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- It will be quite the celebration when M&I lights the world's largest Les Paul-style guitars in honor of Les Paul's 93rd birthday.

Inventor, musician, and entrepreneur Les Paul will "flip the switch" at Marshall & Ilsley Corporation's (M&I) corporate headquarters in downtown Milwaukee on Friday, June 20 to light two sides of its 18-story corporate headquarters in the shape of electric guitars.

This is the third year that M&I, a diversified financial services corporation headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., will light its corporate headquarters in the shape of guitars to celebrate its sponsorship of the Classic Rock Stage at Summerfest, the world's largest music festival.

This is the first year, however, that the building will feature Les Paul- style guitars. The event salutes Les Paul's birthday, his contributions to music, and the June 22 opening of "Les Paul's House of Sound" exhibit at Discovery World in downtown Milwaukee.

The "building" of the 18-story guitars begins at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 20 at 770 North Water Street, Milwaukee, with the official lighting at dusk, approximately 8:30 p.m.

In addition to Les Paul, local dignitaries and representatives from Summerfest, Discovery World, and M&I will be in attendance at the event. Attendees will assist in "building" the guitar by covering the interior-side of over 900 windows to create the familiar iconic shape.

"The 18-story guitars are M&I's tribute to Les Paul and a great way to kick off our sponsorship of the M&I Classic Rock Stage at Summerfest," said Brent Kelly, senior vice president and corporate marketing director, Marshall & Ilsley Corporation. "Les Paul has already expressed his enthusiasm about the event and we think his excitement will grow when he sees his guitar lighting up Milwaukee's skyline."

In addition to the guitar lighting event, M&I is creating a virtual birthday card for Les Paul with the help of musicians and fans nationwide. The video birthday wishes will be edited into the world's longest virtual birthday card. The card will be shared with Les Paul at the June 20 guitar event and then donated to the "Les Paul's House of Sound" exhibit at Discovery World for the public to enjoy.

A number of well-known Wisconsinites have already signed on to record their tributes, including musician Daryl Stuermer, who is performing at the M&I Classic Rock Stage during Summerfest, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, and Larry Nelson, mayor of Waukesha, Wis., the hometown of Les Paul.

Those interested in participating in the virtual birthday card can upload their tributes to http://dropbox.yousendit.com/MIBank.

Les Paul Events Taking Place in Milwaukee June 20 through 22

Les Paul is coming to Milwaukee, Wis. to help launch the new "Les Paul's House of Sound" exhibit at Discovery World. Illustrating the life of Wisconsin born music legend Les Paul, the exhibit will showcase guitars and ground breaking innovations from Paul's personal collection which have not seen by the public in over 40 years. The new exhibit has sparked city-wide events as Milwaukee welcomes home Les Paul.

   Key Events   --  June 20 - "The Early Years of the Les Paul Legacy" book signing at       Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops on Downer Avenue.   --  June 20 - Les Paul will throw out the first pitch at the Milwaukee       Brewers game.   --  June 20 - 18-story guitar lighting at M&I Bank and video birthday card       for Les Paul.   --  June 21 - "Les Paul's House of Sound" exhibit launch at Discovery       World.   --  June 21 - Benefit concert at The Pabst Theater. Music Legend Les Paul       Performs "An Evening with Les Paul and Friends."   --  June 22 - "Les Paul's House of Sound" exhibit opens to the general       public.    

Marshall & Ilsley Corporation (NYSE:MI) is a diversified financial services corporation headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., with $63.4 billion in assets. Founded in 1847, M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank is the largest Wisconsin-based bank, with 193 offices throughout the state. In addition, M&I has 51 locations throughout Arizona; 32 offices in Indianapolis and nearby communities; 31 offices along Florida's west coast and in central Florida; 15 offices in Kansas City and nearby communities; 25 offices in metropolitan Minneapolis/St. Paul, and one in Duluth, Minn.; and one office in Las Vegas, Nev. M&I's Southwest Bank subsidiary has 17 offices in the greater St. Louis area. M&I also provides trust and investment management, equipment leasing, mortgage banking, asset-based lending, financial planning, investments, and insurance services from offices throughout the country and on the Internet (http://www.mibank.com/ or http://www.micorp.com/). M&I's customer-based approach, internal growth, and strategic acquisitions have made M&I a nationally recognized leader in the financial services industry.

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Source: Marshall & Ilsley Corporation

CONTACT: Sara Schmitz of Marshall & Ilsley Corporation, +1-414-765-7831

Web site: http://www.micorp.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment