First Ever Winner in the Ernie Ball Play Crossroads Competition Announced, Takes the Stage Saturday, July 28 in Chicago

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA (July 23, 2007) - This year, Ernie Ball partnered with the 2007 Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival to offer one talented musician the opportunity to play the Festival stage alongside some of today's most respected artists - and, after countless fans votes and prestigious judge feedback, the results are in!

Just 16 years old, the winner of Ernie Ball's first ever Play Crossroads Competition is Tyler Dow Bryant from Honey Grove, TX. Bryant will take the Ernie Ball Guitar Center Village Stage alongside the likes of Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Buddy Guy, John Mayer, BB King, Sheryl Crow, Derek Trucks and more at the 2007 Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival Saturday, July 28 at Toyota Park in Bridgeview IL. Other prizes include one Music Man guitar and one Music Man bass of his choice, a one-year string sponsorship, and an all-expenses-paid trip to/from the Festival.

Bryant has been playing the guitar since age 11, when he walked into a Texas music store and heard a man named Roosevelt Twitty playing some old Lightning Hopkins songs. "I was mesmerized," said Bryant. "While I was in the store, I fell in love with a red guitar. My dad said we couldn't afford it, so I asked him to sell the dirt bike I got for Christmas. I made good friends with Mr. Twitty, who taught me about blues."

Bryant now says his music is something of a cross between blues, funk, rock and gospel, and he's excited to demonstrate his unique style at the Crossroads Guitar Festival.

"This is probably the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me. I was planning on going even if I didn't get to play, but it is an honor to play this festival with so many of my heroes. This is the coolest opportunity ever!"

    Earlier this summer, artists interested in signing up for the Play Crossroads Competition were able to upload their best MP3s to the official competition website, www.playcrossroads.com, for a shot at playing the 2007 Crossroads Guitar Festival. Throughout the sign-up period, fans voted for their favorite bands online at www.playcrossroads.com, after which a panel of judges reviewed the top 100 bands by way of fan votes, ultimately choosing this year's one talented winner. Musicianship, the ability to draw a crowd and originality all played a role in the judges' selection criteria.

    "We've seen a tremendous amount of talent in the years that we've been promoting unsigned musicians," said Brian Ball of the Ernie Ball Company, "It takes a lot to be wowed, but Tyler blew the judges away."

Profits from the Eric Clapton Guitar Festival will benefit The Crossroads Centre in Antigua, a treatment and education facility founded by Clapton for chemically dependent persons. Founded in 1997, Crossroads Centre, Antigua was created to provide treatment and education to chemically dependent persons, those with other compulsive addictive behaviors, their families and significant others. Treatment is provided through residential care, family and aftercare programs. The pathway to recovery is founded on the movement toward a change in lifestyle. Crossroads Centre, Antigua also operates a 16 bed halfway-house called The Bevon House (exclusively for local Antiguan residents) and facilitates a school-based education series, Breaking the Cycle, in all local schools.

Ernie Ball was the first to offer rock strings with the creation of Slinkys, and further revolutionized the market by offering guitarists Custom-Gauge single strings. The Ernie Ball Company also produces Music Man guitars and basses, volume pedals, and other accessories. The company's strings and accessories are available in more than 6,000 music stores throughout the U.S. The company also exports to 82 countries. For more information, contact the Ernie Ball company at (800) 543-2255, or visit their website at www.ernieball.com.

These products are Ernie Ball trademarks registered in the USA and many foreign countries:

ERNIE BALL®     CUSTOM GAUGE®     SLINKY®     EARTHWOOD®
MUSICMAN®
STINGRAY®     SILHOUETTE®     AXIS®
STERLING®     4+2®     3+1®

Trademark ownership is indicated by the symbol ®, however, for the sake of brevity it is omitted during the story.

Contact:
Derek Brooks
Ernie Ball, Inc.
(800) 543-2255

Media Contact:
Keith Negrin
MORSEKODE
(952) 853-9555