Paul McCartney Restoring Historic Motown Piano

Paul McCartney is helping preserve a piece of Motown.  "The Detroit News" says the former Beatle is having the label's historic 1877 Steinway grand piano restored.

Motown Historical Museum CEO Audley Smith Jr. says the process actually began over the summer.  Smith explains that when the rock superstar visited the museum in July, he was "disappointed" to learn that the 134-year-old instrument "didn't play."  A day later McCartney contacted the museum to tell them he would make plans to restore the piano, but admitted it would take some time to make the arrangements.

The process is now under way.  The piano left Detroit Monday on its way to the New York headquarters of Steinway & Sons.  Steinway & Sons' Ron Losby says in a statement that the company is "honored to restore the historic Steinway piano that was used by such legends as Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder -- and to do so in the very same New York factory where it was originally built in 1877."  And the Motown Historical Museum doesn't have to worry about the cost -- the bill is going to McCartney.