NEW YORK, NY.- Christie’s auction of The Nile Rodgers Collection achieved a total of $1,640,500, over the course of 6.5 hours of competitive bidding from collectors participating from 16 countries via phone, online and in person. The sale was 100% sold by lot, 193% hammer sold above low estimate and 76% of lots sold above high estimate.
Nile Rodgers commented, “I’m overwhelmed by the success of the auction of the Nile Rodgers Collection today at Christie’s to benefit The We Are Family Foundation. I’m having to say goodbye to a lot of old friends. These musical instruments have been not only amongst my very favorites but there’s a real emotional attachment for me personally. That tinge of sadness however is completely usurped by the euphoria of not only knowing that they are going to new homes and will have the opportunity to bring joy to now hundreds of people but equally importantly the We Are Family Foundation will now be able to deploy an additional $1.64 million to amplify the incredible ideas of the young people that we believe can be the future leaders of the world. Ideas that will transform the world and impact everything from social justice to climate change. I would like to say thank you to everyone involved and wish everyone a joyful holiday season.”
The top lot of the auction was a rare Porsche 911 Slantnose Turbo Targa (Flachbau), one of only nine made, which sold for $200,000. Leading the instruments in the auction from the legendary and multiple GRAMMY-winning composer, producer, arranger and guitarist was a 1957 Fender Stratocaster Solid-Body Electric Guitar with gold-plated hardware which sold for $150,000, (estimated at $30,000-40,000) and a 1954 Fender Telecaster Solid-Body Electric Guitar which realized $93,750 (estimated at $12,000-18,000). Many works exceeded their pre-sale estimates including lot 1, a custom shop artist’s prototype of the eponymous Nile Rodgers Fender Stratocaster “Hitmaker”, estimated at $4,500-6,500, which achieved $47,500. Other highlights include an original Wurlitzer Bubbler Jukebox, model No. 1015, circa 1946, which sold for $35,000 (estimate: $4,000-6,000) and a road case stamped “Nile Rodgers Productions Inc.” which sold for $2,250 (estimated at $500-800).
Nathalie Ferneau co-head of the sale comments, “The energetic bidding and 100% sell-through rate over the course of 6 and a half hours is a testament to the incredible legacy of Nile Rodger’s career, which has produced hits across every music genre in the last 40 years.”
Samantha Minshull, co-head of the sale remarks, “An astounding 76% of lots sold above their high-estimates, as witnessed by lot 1, Nile Rodger’s Fender Stratocaster “Hitmaker” prototype which sold for $47,500 above its estimate of $4,500-6,500.”
All net auction proceeds will benefit We Are Family Foundation, a non-profit organization co-founded by Rodgers and Foundation President, Nancy Hunt, that promotes cultural diversity while nurturing and mentoring the vision, talents, and ideas of young people who are positively changing the world.
Among music legends, Nile Rodgers is truly exceptional. He amplifies his legacy as a multiple GRAMMY-winning composer, producer, arranger and guitarist by constantly traversing new musical terrain and successfully expanding the boundaries of popular music. As the co-founder of CHIC and the Chairman of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Rodgers pioneered a musical language that generated chart-topping hits like “Le Freak,” (the biggest selling single in the history of Atlantic Records) and sparked the advent of hip-hop with “Good Times”. Nile transcends all styles of music across every generation with a body of work that’s garnered him inductions into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Currently, Nile serves as the first-ever Chief Creative Advisor for the incomparable Abbey Road Studios, hosts the critically acclaimed Apple Music 1’s “Deep Hidden Meaning Radio with Nile Rodgers” and is the co-founder and Chairman of the We Are Family Foundation.
