How many years does it take of one’s life to build a music library, which rivals the best in the world?  Well, in my case I started collecting records at the age of 14 in 1972.  From Edison and cylinder records to popular vinyl recordings into the 1990s, this eclectic collection of approximately 100,000 records will give the new owner a musical library which affords him an overall representation of all types of recorded music.  Nearly anything and everything imaginable can be found from the biggest hits and most common records, to the rarest, most obscure, one-of-a-kinds, and total flops.  Although my primary interest was in the sounds of the 40s-80s, there are plenty of examples of earlier and later pieces.  Genres include rock’n’roll, rhythm & blues, do-wop, rock-a-billy, jazz, popular male & female vocalists, pop vocal groups, “stage, motion picture & television soundtracks,” blues, garage band, psychedelic rock, hard rock, recitation, religious, country & western, Christmas & seasonal, bluegrass, comedy, novelty, and even sound affects.  In fact, you’ll be hard pressed to think of an artist whose recordings are not represented in this collection.  As not only a collector, but also a dealer for years, many individual records were found numerous times, and in each case, the best copy was secured for my personal collection.  Most of what I have collected is in near mint condition.  The collection includes roughly 75,000 45s, 20,000 long play 33 1/3 albums, 2,000 78s, and smaller collections of 16 2/3 RPM, cylinder records, reel-to-reel tapes, cassette, 8-track, and CDs.  This collection also includes a large amount of picture sleeves, and extended plays and some real odd balls.  Click here for photographs of records.

Along with the recorded music, this includes a large collection of sheet music, concert and movie posters, handbills, autographs, and other music related memorabilia too numerous to mention.  Add to it, four jukeboxes, rare phonographs and Victrolas, radios, roller organs and other musical devices.  Click here for photos of the items mentioned above.

My collections are so massive and impressive, that I was commissioned to design and provide forty large music related displays in the year 2000 for the grand opening of “Rhythm City Casino” in Davenport, Iowa.  Nearly $1 Million worth of rarities were put behind the highest quality UV protective glass and quality framing, and displayed throughout the guest services pavilion, café, and diner for the first year of their operation.  The framing alone was in excess of $25,000.  That entire collection is also included here, and ready to be displayed in your own home, business or museum.

Click here for photos of the displays

Suffice it to say that there are many one-of-a-kind items in this group related to Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, The Beatles, and other popular artists and artists of obscurity.  Click here for photos of one of a kind items

Selling my vast accumulation of music memorabilia will obviously be like selling a good part of my life, and the passion that I’ve had for so many years.  My hope is that someone interested in filling their home, business, or music museum with the joys of music and music history will be able to study and enjoy what I have spent most of my life in pursuit of.

Your purchase includes the following items.

1. Approximately 100,000 records including small amounts of reel to reel tapes, 8-track tapes and CD's.  Included are super rarities such as a near mint first state promo butcher cover Beatles album with personal letter of authenticity from the DJ and personal friend of the Beatles.

 

2. Forty large displays worth approximately $900,000 filled with rare one-of-a-kind items such as a rare Elvis Presley 45 pressed at 33 1/3 RPM.

 

3.  One-of-a-kind hand painted concert posters from the 50's and early 60's of artists such as Conway Twitty, The Fendermen, The Astronauts, Roy Orbison, Marvin Rainwater, and Jimmy Gilmer & The Fireballs.

 

4. Early Juke Boxes, Radios, Phonographs, Roller Organs and other music accessories.

 

5. Sheet music, flyers, posters, programs, concert memorabilia, rock'n'roll movie posters including backstage autograph book of performers of "Alan Freed's Big Beat Show" sponsored by KIOA Waterloo, Iowa on 4-22-58.  Signatures include Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Larry Williams, Billie & Lilly, The Pastels, Dicky Doo & The Don'ts, Danny & The Juniors and others. 

 

6. Various music related memorabilia including Buddy Holly's high school yearbooks, early Elvis promotional items, autographs and similar items too numerous to mention.

 

This is truly a music museum just waiting to happen...thirty-five years of buying, selling and collecting.

PRICE:    $2,500,000

Please – serious inquiries only.