Top 10 Music Auction Sales
Top 10 Music Auction Sales at Nate D. Sanders Auctions
Nate D. Sanders has had the honor of auctioning memorabilia from countless music legends. Some of these items date back to the 1960s folk and counterculture era to dance-pop from the 1980s and more. Have a look at our top 10 music auction sales:
10) Richard Wright’s RIAA Award for Pink Floyd’s ”Dark Side of the Moon”
Pink Floyd’s 1973 release, “Dark Side of the Moon”, was the best-selling album of the 1970s and brought the band worldwide fame. Some of the album’s singles include “Us and Them” and “Money”, which has been widely covered by other musical acts. We sold an RIAA award for “Dark Side of the Moon” that was personally owned by Pink Floyd founding member Richard Wright for $25,000.
9) Madonna’s American Music Award For Favorite Female Pop/Rock Artist of 1987
Madonna, often referred to as the Queen of Pop, was thrust into stardom after the release of “Like a Virgin” in 1984. Today it remains her top single along alongside other hits like “Crazy for You” and “Take a Bow”. We sold an American Music Award presented to Madonna in 1987 following the release of her “True Blue” album for $25,428.
8) David Crosby Owned Gibson ES-335 Guitar
Folk music pioneer David Crosby has been inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his work in The Byrds as well as his work in Crosby, Stills & Nash. Some of his writing contributions include the legendary songs “Lady Friend” by The Byrds, “Long Time Gone” by Crosby, Stills & Nash and “Laughing” from his solo career. We sold one of Crosby’s personal guitars from his days in “The Byrds” for $25,428.
7) Prince Worn Lace Glove From ”Purple Rain” Tour
Prince, also referred to as His Royal Badness, is considered by many as the one of the best music artists of his generation. He was the recipient of seven Grammy Awards as well as an Academy Award and Golden Globe. We sold a white lace glove with an intricate rhinestone chain embellishment from a 1984 concert during his “Purple Rain” tour for $26,121.
6) Eddie Van Halen’s Stage Played & Signed Guitar
Dutch-American musician Eddie Van Halen was the guitarist and main songwriter of the rock band Van Halen and is regarded as one of the greatest guitarists in rock history. Some accolades of the band include an American Music Award, a Grammy, and four MTV Video Music Awards. We sold a personally designed guitar played by Eddie Van Halen at a live show in 2008 for $65,082.
5) George Harrison’s Sitar From 1965
Beatles guitarist George Harrison is remembered for embracing Indian culture and for the inclusion of Indian instruments in his songwriting that began around 1965. Master sitarist Ravi Shankar helped Harrison develop his sitar skills which appear in hits including “Norwegian Wood”, “Love to You” and “Within You Without You”. We sold Harrison’s personal sitar from 1965 for $66,993.
4) Drum Kit Used to Record The Beatles’ ”Love Me Do” Single
Another exciting piece of rock and roll history that we featured is an original Ludwig drum kit that was played on the Beatles first album “Please Please Me”. The kit was played by Andy White, who temporarily filled in for Ringo Starr on drums for the recording session of “Love Me Do” and “P.S. I Love You” in 1962 and we realized $67,500 at auction.
3) John Lennon Personally Owned Reed Organ
John Lennon was one of the most vocal musicians who advocated for peace, human rights and political issues. He’s remembered for his timeless compositions during his solo career and as part of the Lennon–McCartney duo as well as his relationship with artist Yoko Ono that many still blame for the disbandment of The Beatles. We auctioned a beautiful walnut wood organ owned and played by the legendary John Lennon for $74,535.
2) Bob Dylan Signed & Handwritten Lyrics to ”Like a Rolling Stone”
Bob Dylan, recipient of countless awards including ten Grammys, an Oscar and the Nobel Prize in Literature, has been a relevant music figure for over five decades. He’s released 40 albums, over 100 singles and remains a reluctant voice of the 1960s counterculture. “Like a Rolling Stone”, from 1965’s “Highway 61 Revisited”, is one of Dylan’s most recognizable and covered songs. We realized $90,000 for handwritten and signed lyrics of this iconic song.
1) Michael Jackson’s Crystal-Encrusted Glove
“The King of Pop”, Michael Jackson, is considered one of the greatest entertainers of all time. He’s amassed countless awards, including 26 American Music Awards, 40 Billboard Music Awards and 13 Grammys. We sold his personal glove worn to the 1984 American Music Awards where he took home eight awards that included “Favorite Pop/ Rock Male Artist”, “Favorite Pop/ Rock Album” and “Favorite Pop/ Rock Song” for $199,069.
Honorable Mentions -Top 10 Music Auction Sales
Gene Simmons Stage Played Bass from 2019 KISS Tour
The rock band Kiss is remembered for their theatrical performances complete with flashy costumes and makeup. During the band’s 40 year career, they released some of the most iconic hits including “Rock and Roll All Nite”, “Detroit Rock City” and “Beth” along with 20 studio albums. We sold a Gene Simmons stage played guitar from the band’s End of the Road Tour for $23,100.
Jon Bon Jovi Stage Played & Signed Guitar
Bon Jovi has remained active and relevant for four decades. Since their inception in 1983 they’ve sold over 120 million records, released 16 studio albums and played over 2,700 concerts across the globe. We sold one of Jon Bon Jovi’s stage-played acoustic-electric guitars from a 2011 show for $21,250.
Thank you for checking out our top 10 music auction sales. Feel free to contact us if you have interest in consigning your music memorabilia.