J-Hope of BTS, Taylor Swift, Elton John—some of the biggest names in the music industry are offering an array of instruments, personal items, and memorabilia to be auctioned for charity on Feb. 5 in Los Angeles, just ahead of the 65th annual Grammy Awards telecast.
Julien’s Auctions, which is handling the sale, did not disclose the number of lots and estimated total value. Many of the items will be sold to the public for the first time, and all proceeds from the sale will benefit MusiCares, the auction house said.
“Not only does this great auction give fans a chance to own amazing pieces of music history, but it also helps MusiCares continue to provide a variety of services for musicians, stagehands, managers, touring crews, make-up artists, and more,” Laura Segura, executive director of MusiCares, said in a news release.
MusiCares was founded by the Recording Academy in 1989 to support the health and welfare of the music community.
One of the highlights is Swift’s 2020 Epiphone DR-100EB acoustic guitar, with a presale estimate between US$5,000 and US$10,000. Swift, 33, is an 11-time Grammy Award-winning artist and the only female to win Album of the Year three times. The 2020 guitar features custom graphics from the album artwork and is signed by Swift with a small heart drawn on the side, according to Julien’s Auctions.
A pair of white Nike Air Max sneakers owned, worn, and signed by Eminem will be offered alongside a photo to be signed to the winning bidder by the rapper. The lot has a presale estimate between US$2,000 and US$3,000.
Another highlight is an ensemble worn by J-Hope of South Korean boy band BTS. The ensemble includes a black utility-style jumpsuit, a buckle belt, a black cotton T-shirt, and a black ribbed bunny ear beanie. J-Hope, a rapper and singer-songwriter, wore the outfit in the concept photos for his hit Jack In The Box, released in July 2022. The lot is expected to sell for between US$2,000 and US$4,000.
Other one-of-a-kind items include a 2021 Gibson Hummingbird acoustic guitar donated by Gibson and signed by the 2022 MusiCares Person of the Year, Joni Mitchell, with a low estimate of US$2,000; Mitchell’s original oil painting of Jimi Hendrix, with a low estimate of US$10,000; and a pair of black and gold-tone sequin-embellished Christian Louboutin ankle boots owned and worn by Elton John, with a low estimate of US$4,000.
Select items will be on public exhibition at Julien’s Los Angeles galleries from Feb. 1-3.
Credit: marketwatch.com