Elton John and Bernie Taupin's Historic Songwriting Piano.... Music Memorabilia: Instruments

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Lot: 16263
Auction: 605

Elton John and Bernie Taupin's Historic Songwriting Piano....

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Sold for:	$164,500.00 (includes BP ) Bid Source: Live: Phone
Ended:	Apr 16, 2004

Printable Version of Prices Realized for this Auction

Buyer's Premium:

17.5% of the successful bid (minimum $6.00 per lot)

Description

Elton John and Bernie Taupin's Historic Songwriting Piano. There are few instruments that can come close to the musical significance and amazing songwriting history yielded from the keys of this piano. Direct from its current and rightful home in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, we are proud to present Sir Elton John and Bernie Taupin's world famous songwriting piano. Used by the iconic songwriting duo to compose over a hundred songs, this white 1910-era A-Day Birdcage upright served as the primary vehicle that John and Taupin used to compose Elton's first five albums, including "Empty Sky"(1969), "Elton John" (1970), "Tumbleweed Connection" (1970), "Mad Man Across The Water" (1971) and "Friends: The Soundtrack" (1971). Possessing a resume that far exceeds the depth and involvement of most songwriting instruments of its caliber, a mere brief listing of songs that have been created on this very piano includes: "Your Song"(Elton's signature song), Border Song", "Burn Down The Mission", "Mad Man Across The Water", "Take It To The Pilot", "Lady Samantha", "Skyline Pidgeon", "Sixty Years On", "Friends", "Come Down In Time", "I've Been Loving You", "Rock N' Roll Madonna", "Bad Side of The Moon", "Levon" and the timeless classic "Tiny Dancer", just to name a few. In addition to its extensive songwriting credits, this piano also served as a prominent performance centerpiece that can be seen in the documentary, "Elton John and Bernie Taupin Two Rooms," played by John as he is composing and performing "Tiny Dancer". Additionally, John is also pictured with the piano on the back cover of the American version of "Empty Sky". Finally in the To Be Continued Box Set, released in 1990, in the story booklet when interviewed for this project, Bernie describes the upright piano as their "Brill Building"and mentions what was written on the piano as stated above. Typically, accomplished musicians will retain their pianos throughout their career due to the intimacy and involvement that the piano shares in the songwriting process. However, as perhaps the greatest act of appreciation that can be bestowed by a musician, this piano began a storied journey that would eventually lead it into the shrine for music's most treasured artifacts. In 1972, filmmaker Bryan Forbes embarked on creating the film, "Elton John And Bernie Taupin Say Goodbye to Norma Jean and Other Things", a documentary that chronicled the life of a young Elton John and Bernie Taupin at the infancy of their now legendary careers, a project that would take Forbes over a full year to complete. During the filming of the documentary, Forbes formed a close friendship with John and Taupin which led him to do other work with them, including photography on the "Don't Shoot Me" and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" LPs. Elton, along with Bernie Taupin, gave the piano to Forbes and his family on May 31, 1972 -- a gift to symbolize the duo's deepest appreciation for Forbes' dedication to the incredible undertaking involved in creating the documentary. Before delivering the piano to the Forbes family, John and Taupin dedicated the piece by inscribing on the inside lift: "To Bryan and Nanette, Sarah and Emma with love Elton John May 31,1972 original piano, lots of success with it" with Taupin also writing, "Within this piano lays the ghost of a hundred songs, take care of them, they love you. God Bless from the one who writes the words, Bernie Taupin." Around 20 years later, Elton caught up with the piano again -- still in the hands of Mr. Forbes -- while visiting the Forbes family, and followed up his initial inscription with an update on the face of the piano: "May 1991 - 19 years later - 3 children - 1 hysterectomy - 25 lawsuits - 1 Marriage - 751 cats and Countless Boyfriends is Free - Send you both my Love, Elton John." [NOTE: The plastic overlays which protect the historic inscriptions are not permanently attached and are easily removable.] Shortly after John completed the second inscription, the piano was given by Forbes to an English auction house, and after being sold at auction the piano was acquired by Mr. Tom Fontaine in 1995. Receiving a most appropriate recognition in 2002, the piano was transported to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland where it still remains as a centerpiece to the museum's Elton John exhibit. The next destination of this piece will now be left up to the winning bidder of this auction. As the curator of this remarkable piece of music history, the winning bidder will have the option of either taking possession of the piano or leaving it at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on loan, which would include a plaque of dedication to the new owner with the piano if they choose to leave it on display. An unprecedented opportunity to acquire a truly world-class and historically significant piano, this particular instrument is surely one of the most important offered in any venue in the world at any time. From The Tom Fontaine Music Memorabilia Collection.

Auction Name:	*2004 April Music Memorabilia #605*
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