JOHN LENNON'S ICONIC 'IMAGINE' PIANO TO BE PHOTOGRAFED

03/04/2007


MEMPHIS, Tennessee, April 3 /PRNewswire/ --

- Musician George Michael Wants Image to Commemorate Peace;
Second Stop of Tour of Historic Sites in the U.S.


The following was released today by Goss Gallery:


WHAT: The famous piano on which John Lennon composed "Imagine" in 1971
is being sent to Memphis by superstar musician George Michael and will
be photographed at the historic site of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's
assassination.

"Our deepest wish is to imagine a world of peace, a world without
violence. We believe this is a message that resonates with the remarkable
vision of Dr. King and his dreams for mankind," said George Michael. "The
selection of this site evokes a deep sense of emotion for everyone. Capturing
the image of this special piano on which a song of peace was composed is part
of the heart beat of this project."


Michael and his partner, Kenny Goss, owner of Goss Gallery in Dallas,
plan to have the piano photographed at significant locations in the United
States and across the world where horrific acts of violence have taken place
in order to spread the message of peace. A video documentary and a published
volume of these iconic images are under development with plans to donate
proceeds to charity.


The Memphis site, which is also the National Civil Rights Museum, is the
second location in this project and the photo will be taken at 6:01 pm (CDT),
Wednesday, April 4, to commemorate Dr. King's legacy.


On Wednesday, the National Civil Rights Museum will host its annual
commemorative candlelight vigil on the eve of the 39th anniversary of Dr.
King's death. The program will feature excerpts from memorable Dr. King
moments as well as song.


WHERE: The National Civil Rights Museum
( http://www.civilrightsmuseum.org)
Memphis, TN

WHEN: Wednesday, April 4
2:00pm until 7:30pm Piano delivered and uncrated, moved to
photo site at National Civil Rights Museum
6:01pm (approx.) Photo taken

WHO: Caroline True, creative director, Imagine Piano Peace Project
Mike Maple, photographer

BACKGROUND:
George Michael bought the piano on which John Lennon composed "Imagine",
considered the most expensive piece of pop memorabilia, at an auction in
October 2000 reportedly for GBP1.45m (US$2.1 million). The piano is
considered priceless. However, some experts have put its value at US$8
million to US$12 million.

The song, Imagine, was first released in 1971 and was already John
Lennon's most famous post-Beatles song, but it took on a whole new life
of its 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's death in December 1980, the song gave him a posthumous
No. 1.

Lennon bought the piano in December 1970, had it delivered to studios at
his home in Tittenhurst Park in Berkshire, composed and recorded
"Imagine" on it. The piano is a simple upright style instrument, not
the white piano which graced the cover of the album. In 1992, it was
bought by a private British collector who put it up for auction in
October 2000.

Goss Gallery: Founded by Dallas native Kenny Goss, Goss Gallery
(http://www.gossgallery.com ) is located at 2500 Cedar Springs Road at
Fairmont in Uptown Dallas. Headed by curator/director and
Internationally recognized art advisor Filippo Tattoni-Marcozzi, it is a
contemporary art gallery featuring a rotating group of international
young as well as established artists and was specifically created to
reflect the feel and program of the leading galleries of London, Paris
and New York, with regularly scheduled exhibitions of 20th and 21st
century contemporary painting and photography.

Images of the piano available upon request.


Web site: http://www.gossgallery.com
http://www.civilrightsmuseum.org