Numark, Alesis, and Akai Professional Salute Musical Innovation With Milestones Gala Fundraiser Hosted By Berklee College Of Music

Numark, Alesis and Akai Professional, the world's leading manufacturers of audio equipment, studio electronics and professional DJ equipment, and the driving force behind the high-tech musical revolution, will honor the trailblazers of musical innovation with Milestones, a gala event that will feature an eclectic lineup of musicians, DJs, recording engineers and music producers.

In partnership with Boston's Berklee College of Music, Numark, Alesis and Akai Professional will stage the event at the Berklee Performance Center at 7:30 PM, Friday, September 22, 2006. Highlights will include A-list musical performers and proceeds will fund the Numark, Alesis and Akai Professional scholarships for the Berklee College of Music City Music Program.

The gala honorees include some of the key innovators in musical production and performance. Most notably the evening will pay tribute to:

Musical Performance & Audio Engineering:

• Bruce Swedien, for Recording/Engineering Innovation, for his work with Michael Jackson, Dinah Washington, Mick Jagger, Muddy Waters and Nat King Cole
• Al Kooper, founder of Blood, Sweat & Tears and organist for Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, B.B. King and Jimi Hendrix, for Performance/Production Innovation
• Michael Brecker, probably the most respected and imitated jazz saxophonist of the post-Coltrane era. As of 2005, he has won 11 Grammys as both performer and composer

DJ/Turntablism

• Grand Wizard Theodore, the inventor of scratching and needle dropping, a standard in DJ technique
• GrandMixer DXT, the first to fuse hip-hop and jazz
• Jazzy Jay, the first to bring hip-hop to radio airwaves

Additional honorees will include Run-DMC founder DJ Jam Master J; Hip-hop producer Marley Marl; DJ Premier, producer of Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt; and DJ Jazzy Joyce.

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In the spirit of musical innovation, the event also will feature live performances from artists including both the founders of hip-hop itself and the breakthrough new talent of today. The performances will also include a special guest appearance by the Berklee Turntablism Ensemble.

"We are proud to present such an outstanding group of musicians at Berklee, where so many groundbreaking producers and performers launch their careers," said Gregg Stein, worldwide director of marketing for Numark, Alesis and Akai Professional. "These legends have created a platform by which musical innovation can continue to flourish. We're honored that our products are behind these artists as well as the next generation of musical innovators."

Milestones is sponsored in part by American Idol Underground, Berklee College of Music, DJ Times, Electronic Musician, EQ, Future Music, Keyboard, Music and Sound Retailer, Remix, Sam Ash Music, Scratch, Sweetwater and Testa Communications.

Numark, Alesis, and Akai Professional will donate proceeds from the Milestones event to endow scholarships that will be awarded annually to promising students hoping to pursue their studies through the Berklee City Music Program, a five-week tutorial and mentoring program that gives urban teens from Greater Boston access to music education at no cost to their them or their families. Since 1991, the Berklee City Music Program has been a life-changing experience for nearly 500 economically disadvantaged young people.

Tickets will go on sale June 15, 2006 and are available through Ticketmaster at 617-931-2000 or on the web at www.milestones2006.com.

For more information, visit their web site at www.numark.com.