LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 17, 2009) − University of Kentucky alumnus Rudy Vaughn Brannon, who goes by the stage name Rudy Vaughn, and his band of the same name, have won the Hard Rock Cafe's Ambassadors of Rock Battle of the Bands.

The win means Rudy Vaughn will be featured on the same London concert bill for Hard Rock Calling as such legendary and popular rockers as the Dave Matthews Band, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Neil Young and The Killers.

Rudy Vaughn, an Atlanta-based band, was selected as one of five national finalists after performing in two preliminary rounds that saw more than 150 bands compete. The final five finalists were handpicked by a panel of judges that included Little Steven of the E Street Band, Darryl "DMC" McDaniels of rappers Run DMC, DJ Nick Horn, Live Nation Vice President Toby Leighton-Pope and SPIN Editor Doug Brod.

Once named a finalist, Rudy Vaughn went on to compete for overall winner honors by battling for the popular vote online on the Hard Rock Cafe Web site.

As winners of the Battle of the Bands, Rudy Vaughn will play for more than 60,000 at Hard Rock Calling presented June 26-28, in London's Hyde Park. Hard Rock will also cover the group's round-trip airfare, lodging and spending cash. 

It is the attention a competition and concert of this magnitude brings to its competitors that means the most to up-and-coming bands like Rudy Vaughn, who hope to break on the national scene.

"We want to succeed as a band, and a win like this has given us so much exposure already," notes Vaughn. "Exposure is what it takes these days to make an impact."

Rudy Vaughn is comprised of Vaughn, who supplies lead vocals and plays saxophone, guitar and piano on some songs; Emerson St. Pierre on keyboards; Nathan Cooley on drums; Shane Hulsey on electric guitar; and Dan Bauman on bass.

Vaughn graduated from UK in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in music performance with an emphasis in jazz saxophone. He came to UK School of Music because of its successful program for aspiring saxophonists and credits UK faculty for his evolution as a musician.

"Miles and Lisa Osland, along with the whole music school, were a huge part of my growth as a musician," adds Vaughn.

While at the university, he became comfortable with performing in the club scene racking up experience playing with Lexington-based band Voodoo Symphony for four years. The musician/songwriter even penned a song about his time in Lexington titled "South Limestone Street."

"South Limestone connected a lot of paths for me throughout the area, and I used the reference to South Limestone Street to sort of sum up my time at UK, knowing that I wouldn't always be in Kentucky, but part of Kentucky will always be with me," notes the musician.

Originally from the Indianapolis area, Vaughn moved to Atlanta five years ago and began performing in the area, teaching private music lessons, and working as a freelance music producer. Now as the group's star is on the rise, he is devoting his time to the band.

"This group is doing something special right now, and so I'm taking the necessary steps to make this full-time," says Vaughn. "Doing what you love for a job isn't always the easiest thing to do; sometimes it's the hardest thing in the world. But no matter what, I can know that when this life is over, I can say that I followed my heart and chased my dreams until I found them."

After the band rocks London, they will be working on a record and touring. Rudy Vaughn already has a number of shows lined up around the U.S. and a six-week tour to play parts of Europe as part of what they are calling the "Losing Gravity 2009 Tour."

Listen to music from Rudy Vaughn, visit the band's MySpace page.