Friday, July 18, 2008 - 16:30
AFP News Briefs ListJames Brown, the Godfather of 'Sold!'
Fans and collectors spent more than 800,000 dollars on belongings of soul legend James Brown -- including a medical bracelet that fetched 32,500 dollars -- that Christie's put on the auction block.
More than 300 personal items earned 857,688 dollars -- among them the medical bracelet which warned that Brown was diabetic and allergic to penicillin. Auctioneers who thought it might fetch 200-300 dollars had a pleasant surprise.
US CBS television bandleader Paul Shaffer was on the scene like a spending machine. He bought Brown's blue satin cape, embroidered with "Thy Name Is Godfather of Soul," for 35,000 dollars.
The Augusta Chronicle has reported that Brown's Grammy Award for "Living in America" was withdrawn from the auction without explanation.
And an autographed "Dancin' Shoutin' James Brown doll" that performs "I Feel Good" and was kept in Brown's living room was sold off for 750 dollars.
Images
Stage costumes worn by James Brown on display at Christie's in New York on July 11. Fans and collectors spent more than 800,000 dollars on belongings of the US soul legend -- including a medical bracelet that fetched 32,500 dollars -- that Christie's put on the auction block.
© 2007 AFP Timothy A. Clary
