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James Brown Auction Goes Very Well
Posted by Brian
An auction of soul legend James Brown’s belongings has raised over $850,000 - which will pay off the late singer’s outstanding tax bills. His possessions were sold to fans and celebrities alike who were eager to own a piece of music history. Brown’s former business managers, Buddy Dallas and Alford Bradley, had tried to halt the auction after learning the cash raised would go to his estate, but a judge ruled on Monday (14Jul08) that the sale could go ahead. The top lot was a black cape embroidered in metallic thread with the words James Brown, which fetched $47,500- more than double its estimate. The leader of the Late Show with David Letterman’s band, Paul Shaffer, bid $32,500 to win a medical bracelet which stated that Brown was a diabetic. Brown died of heart failure on Christmas Day in 2006 at the age of 73.
I remember some talk last year about turning Brown’s home into a Graceland-type museum. While that would definitely generate some revenue for the estate, I think it will be missing some of it’s flavor with the loss of these relics – especially the cape. (“I can’t take no mo!”