Merchandise Partnership to Benefit the Animal Welfare Institute and the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance

WHO: "The Family Nelson & Willie", including Willie Nelson, Paula Nelson Band (Willie's daughter), Raelyn Nelson Band (Willie's granddaughter) Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real, featuring Willie Nelson (Willie's son), Insects Vs Robots (Micah Nelson, Willie's son), Folk Uke (Amy Nelson, Willie's daughter), Lechuza (Martha Jewell Fowler, Willie's granddaughter) plus Toad The Wet Sprocket, Robert Randolph and Buddy Valastro, "The Cake Boss"

WHAT: Birthday event to feature four generations of the Nelson Family sharing the same stage for the first time ever. Event will also kick off the Hard Rock International "Artist Spotlight" Willie Nelson merchandise program, benefiting the Biodiesel Alliance and the Animal Welfare Institute.

Hard Rock's Willie Nelson "Artist Spotlight" t-shirt, pin and bandanna will be available online at www.hardrock.com and at Hard Rock Cafe, Hotel and Casino locations in the following cities: New York, New Orleans, Maui, San Antonio, Nashville and Houston.

Carlo's Bakery, setting of the hit TLC show Cake Boss will be making a special birthday cake for the country legend and presenting it to him at the June 6th celebration.

WHERE: HARD ROCK CAFE NEW YORK, TIMES SQUARE

WHEN: JUNE 6, 2013
6pm- VIP Reception & Red Carpet Beginning
7pm- Event Begins

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 125 VIP tickets will be available for $80, and 200 will be made available for $40 through ticketweb.com. VIP tickets will include access to a pre-show VIP party and allow first access to the concert venue. 100% revenue will be split between the two charities, Biodiesel Alliance and the Animal Welfare Institute.

Hard Rock's Artist Spotlight:
Since its founding in 1971, Hard Rock has been committed to a wide variety of philanthropic causes and activities around the world. Similar to the Signature Series initiative, the Artist Spotlight program features the work of noted artists and performers and contributes to global and humanitarian causes worldwide.

About the Animal Welfare Institute
Since its founding in 1951, AWI has been alleviating the suffering inflicted on animals by people. In the organization's early years, its particular emphasis was on the desperate needs of animals used for experimentation. In the decades that followed, AWI expanded the scope of its work to address many other areas of animal suffering.

For years, Willie and the Nelson family have partnered with AWI on issues such as stopping the cruel horse slaughter industry, and preserving the right of wild horses to roam free on public lands.

AWI works to end the suffering of animals in factory farms, which cruelly confine pigs, calves, chickens and other animals before their slaughter. AWI also seeks to stop the use of steel-jaw leghold traps and strangling snares on furbearing animals. AWI continues its work to protect animals in laboratories, promote non-animal testing methods and encourage use of alternatives to dissection by high school students. AWI fights for protection of threatened and endangered species; to preserve the ban on commercial whaling; and to protect all marine life against the proliferation of human-generated ocean noise, including active sonar and seismic air guns. AWI advocates for minimizing the impacts of all human actions detrimental to ecosystems, including the destruction of natural forests containing ancient trees, and pollution of the oceans destroying every kind of marine life.

About the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance (SBA)
The Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance (SBA) was founded in December 2006 by biodiesel industry pioneers Kelly and Bob King, advocates Annie and Willie Nelson and film maker Daryl Hannah. Since then, the SBA's work has included collaboration with family farmers and farm organizations such as Farm Aid, the Institute for Agriculture Trade and Policy (IATP), members of the 25 x 25 coalition, environmental organizations including the EPA and NREL, renewable energy experts, NGOs and university programs across the country. The SBA focuses on issues concerning the sustainability of the U.S. biodiesel industry. The primary mission of the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance is the completion of an independent sustainability certification program for U.S. biodiesel production, distribution and end use of biodiesel fuel. The completion of this auditable certification system is scheduled to coincide with the birthday of our founder and biggest supporter, Willie Nelson! SBA programs also educate the public on the values of community-based biodiesel systems and how local, sustainable biodiesel can help the U.S. move towards energy, economic and environmental security. Third, the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance provides tools for sustainability to biodiesel consumers and the biodiesel industry through our website and membership. By working with biodiesel consumers and the biodiesel industry, and promoting the value of sustainable community-based systems, the SBA is bringing people together to build a sustainable energy future that benefits all sectors of society. The Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance relies on the commitment and dedication of our working Board of Directors, the support of our Honorary Board of Directors and the expertise of the SBA Advisory Council to achieve the goals of the organization. These dedicated and driven individuals come from all areas of the industry and each contributes unique and valuable skills to the mission of the SBA.

About Hard Rock International
With a total of 178 venues in 56 countries, including 139 cafes, 18 hotels and 8 casinos, Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most globally recognized companies. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world's greatest collection of music memorabilia, which is displayed at its locations around the globe. Hard Rock is also known for its collectible fashion and music-related merchandise, Hard Rock Live performance venues and an award-winning website. HRI owns the global trademark for all Hard Rock brands. The company owns, operates and franchises Cafes in iconic cities including London, New York, San Francisco, Sydney and Dubai. HRI also owns, licenses and/or manages hotel/casino properties worldwide. Destinations include the companies' two most successful Hotel and Casino properties in Tampa and Hollywood, Fl., both owned and operated by HRI parent company The Seminole Tribe of Florida., as well as other exciting locations including Bali, Biloxi, Chicago, Cancun, Las Vegas, San Diego and Singapore. Upcoming new Hard Rock Cafe locations include Santiago, Nabq, San Jose and Guatemala City. New Hard Rock Hotel projects include Aruba, Riviera Maya, Abu Dhabi and Shenzhen and Haikou in China. New Hard Rock Casino projects in development include Hungary and Northfield, OH. For more information on Hard Rock International, visit www.hardrock.com.

About Carlo's Bakery
Opened in 1910, Carlo's Bakery is renowned for its delicious creations, hardworking staff, and family atmosphere. Carlo's has spearheaded the recent custom cake craze and has garnered attention from a variety of media outlets including Brides, Rachael Ray Show, Huffington Post and Good Morning America. Most recently, Carlo's has been showcased as the setting for TLC's hit shows Cake Boss and Next Great Baker.

ADDITIONAL PRODUCT INFORMATION:
Willie Nelson Artist Spotlight Mens T-Shirt: 100% cotton tee that features an image of Willie Nelson with his guitar and the words "Outlaw Legend." The top left of the shirt features the artists name and is surrounded by filigree with an 'Old West' saloon vibe. 15% of the retail price will benefit the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance and the Animal Welfare Institute. ($26)

Willie Nelson Artist Spotlight Bandana: 100% cotton and features a filigree design on a navy blue background that coordinates with the Willie Nelson Artist Spotlight T-Shirt and includes the artists name. 15% of the retail price will benefit the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance and the Animal Welfare Institute. ($10.00)

Willie Nelson Artist Spotlight Collectors Pin: is a translucent hard enamel guitar with gold base metal modeled after Willie's own and features the phrase "Outlaw Legend." 15% of the retail price will benefit the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance and the Animal Welfare Institute. ($12.00)

Willie Nelson Artist Spotlight Online Exclusive Pin: is modeled after the Willie Nelson Artist Spotlight T-Shirt and includes the artist's likeness, name, guitar and the words "Outlaw Legend". This online exclusive pin is hard enamel with translucent enamel used for the guitar and is set on gold base metal. ($14.00)