Singer-songwriter Marshall McLean wins Gibson New Musician Award
10/10/2006


At the 3rd Annual HATCHfest—held this past weekend in the heart of the Rocky Mountains in Bozeman, Montana—Marshall McLean took home the Gibson New Musician Award and a beautiful new Songwriter Deluxe Cutaway. The 21-year-old Spokane, Washington, guitarist was chosen after a four-month online search through various websites, including MySpace, Gibson.com, and Hatchfest.com.

With competitions in music, as well as film, fine art, photography, writing, dance, fashion, and architecture, HATCHfest brings together students, selected from hundreds of schools and colleges around the world, and seasoned professionals, who become their mentors. It is a festival like no other, hatching creative talent within the arts. Gibson, a major sponsor of HATCHfest, awards the Gibson New Musician with a new flat-top acoustic, handcrafted in the Montana factory.


Marshall McLean and J.D. Souther


"Gibson is proud to sponsor the New Musician Award at this year's HATCHfest," said Henry Juszkiewicz, the company's Chairman and CEO. "HATCHfest signifies the spirit of the true musician, and, like Gibson Guitar, recognizes the individual achievements of those performers who continue to give music a voice throughout the world."

In a ceremony at Bozeman's historic Ellen Theater, McLean received his award and guitar from J.D. Souther, the gifted songwriter who penned such Eagles hits as "Best of My Love," "Heartache Tonight," "Victim of Love," and "New Kid in Town." Souther also gave a songwriting master class to selected HATCHfest attendees.

"In my opinion, to embrace art is to embrace humanity," says Souther. "I'm proud to be a part of Gibson's effort to acknowledge and encourage the pursuit of art." His new album—and first solo recording in years—is slated for a fall release.