Baileys(R) Original Irish Cream 'Gets Together' With John Legend for National Concert Tour

Baileys(R) Original Irish Cream 'Gets Together' With John Legend for National Concert Tour

Baileys and Legend to Kick Off 25-City Tour This October

NEW YORK, Oct. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Baileys Original Irish Cream, the #1 selling liqueur in the world, today announced its role as the official sponsor of the Baileys Get Together with John Legend Tour. Beginning in October, the tour coincides with the release of the three-time GRAMMY(R) Award-winning artist's much-anticipated second album, Once Again. The 25-city tour kicks off on the East Coast on October 27.

"My music is really about establishing a special sense of connection between people -- and Baileys helps create that perfect atmosphere to 'get together'," said John Legend, who earned three GRAMMY Awards (Best New Artist, Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, Best R&B Album) for his highly-acclaimed 2004 debut album, Get Lifted.

"Baileys supports John Legend, a true luminary in the world of R&B and a songwriter of remarkable depth and talent," said Alefiyah Merchant, Baileys brand manager for Diageo. "We believe John's music -- sophisticated and smooth -- is in perfect harmony with our brand and synonymous with the Baileys experience."

Before each concert tour stop (where legal), consumers ages 21 and older can enjoy the Baileys "Get Together" experience firsthand, with pre-concert on-premise events featuring sampling of Baileys signature cocktails and the opportunity for fans to enter a raffle to win free John Legend concert tickets. Beginning Thursday, September 21, consumers can also enter online during the tour at http://www.baileyslegend.com/ for the Baileys Get Together(TM) sweepstakes, with the chance to win a private John Legend performance for the winner and 20 friends in their hometown.

In honor of this collaboration, Baileys sought to capture the essence of the artist and his music through a signature cocktail bearing his name - the Baileys Legend Martini. Consumers can visit http://www.baileyslegend.com/ to find the recipes for the martini and other signature cocktails featuring Baileys. The tour will additionally be supported through radio, out-of-home, and print advertising.

"While consumers do enjoy Baileys during get togethers with friends, it's important they always do so responsibly," said Merchant.

The Get Together with John Legend tour will make stops in the following cities through December 2006: Atlantic City (October 27); Philadelphia (October 28); New York (October 30); Baltimore (October 31); Boston (November 4); Washington, D.C. (November 5); Cleveland (November 6); Detroit (November 8); Chicago (November 9); Minneapolis (November 10); Boulder (November 13); Salt Lake City (November 14); L.A. (November 16); Santa Barbara (November 17); San Francisco (November 18); San Diego (November 20); Anaheim (November 21); Phoenix (November 22); Dallas (November 24); Houston (November 25).

Dates and venues for Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Norfolk will be confirmed later this fall.

About Baileys

Baileys Original Irish cream liqueur was launched in Ireland in 1974. It is now available in 180 markets worldwide and is the #1 selling liqueur in the world. Baileys Original Irish cream liqueur is currently ranked 6th among all distilled spirits sold worldwide. Owned by Diageo, Baileys contents are a blend of Irish whiskey, fresh double cream and other fine ingredients. For more information on Baileys Original Irish Cream, please visit us at http://www.baileys.com/.

About Diageo

The Baileys brand is proudly owned by Diageo, the world's leading premium drinks business. With its global vision, and local marketing focus, Diageo brings to consumers an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across the spirits, wine and beer categories including Smirnoff, Guinness, Crown Royal, Johnnie Walker, Baileys, J&B, Jose Cuervo, Captain Morgan and Tanqueray, and Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines. Diageo is a global company, trading in more than 200 countries around the world and is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands and performance, visit us at http://www.diageo.com/.

About John Legend

Legend's debut album, "Get Lifted," has sold more than three million copies worldwide and has also been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. John Legend's 2004 debut album, "Get Lifted," earned him eight 2005 Grammy nominations and three wins, including Best New Artist. In 2003, Legend became the first artist signed to Kanye West's Kon Man Entertainment (later renamed Getting Out Our Dreams), and a deal with Columbia Records followed in May 2004.

Even more so than he did on "Get Lifted," John went boldly in his own creative direction on "Once Again," opting to write not from a marketing standpoint, but from his heart and soul and personal experience. "Once Again" will be released from G.O.O.D./Sony Urban Music/Columbia Records on October 24.

Get Together Responsibly

Contact: Elkie Griffin
Elkie@alantaylor.com
212-714-1280

Kelly Hodrick
Kelly.Hodrick@diageo.com
646-223-2197

Yvette Noel-Schure
yvette.noel-schure@sonybmg.com
212-833-4483

Source: Baileys

CONTACT: Elkie Griffin of Alan Taylor Communications, +1-212-714-1280,
Elkie@alantaylor.com; or Kelly Hodrick of Diageo,
+1-646-223-2197, Kelly.Hodrick@diageo.com, both for Baileys; or Yvette
Noel-Schure, +1-212-833-4483, yvette.noel-schure@sonybmg.com

Web site: http://www.baileyslegend.com/
http://www.baileys.com/

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