New York— Christie’s is honored to present The Nile Rodgers Collection, a live auction on Thursday, December 16, 2021 in New York City from the legendary and multiple GRAMMY-winning composer, producer, arranger and guitarist. The items being auctioned have meaningful and important stories that are steeped in the soundtrack of people’s lives, with the music they created while defining an iconic era and sound.  Nile’s work with the CHIC Organization and his renowned productions for artists such as David Bowie, Diana Ross and Madonna have sold over 500 million albums and 75 million singles worldwide, while his trendsetting collaborations with Daft Punk, Avicii, Keith Urban, Disclosure, Sam Smith and Lady Gaga reflect the vanguard of contemporary music.

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. The auction is comprised of more than 160 lots of vintage and storied guitars, iconic fashions, unique synthesizers, production equipment and rare cars from Rodgers’ private collection.  A large portion of the items being auctioned have personal stories from the artist that represent his seminal music influences and contributions over the decades. 

Nile Rodgers comments:  "I say with complete humility, these instruments have been the soundtrack of our lives, from the 70s till now. They've played on records, films and video games worth over a billion dollars. I'm auctioning them off so they can benefit the We Are Family Foundation and ultimately give people as much joy as they've given me.”

Nancy Hunt, President and co-founder of the We are Family Foundation comments: "Twenty years ago, Nile re-recorded his song "We Are Family" with hundreds of voices to jumpstart the healing process after 9/11. What began as an effort by artists and everyday citizens to use the universal language of music to heal, with a song that had become a global anthem, became the We Are Family Foundation (WAFF). Combining Nile's legacy as a musician and as a young activist in the 1960s, WAFF believes our young people across the globe have the answers to solve some of the world's biggest problems. It is a full-circle moment for the proceeds of the historic Nile Rodgers Collection to continue funding and supporting the work of young people around the world who are making a positive impact on humanity - "We Are Family"."

Among the highlights in the auction are a rare Porsche 911 Slantnose Turbo Targa (Flachbau), one of only nine made, estimated at $150,000-200,000; a 1956 Fender Stratocaster Solid-Body Electric Guitar with gold-plated hardware estimated at $30,000-40,000; a 1954 Fender Telecaster Solid-Body Electric Guitar estimated at $15,000-25,000; and a custom shop artist’s prototype of the eponymous Nile Rodgers Fender Stratocaster “Hitmaker”, estimated at $4,500-6,500. Other highlights include an original Wurlitzer Bubbler Jukebox, model No. 1015, circa 1946, estimated at $4,000-6,000; a road case stamped “Nile Rodgers Productions Inc.” estimated at $500-800; and a Rupert Neve & Company designed sound console formerly part of CBS’s New York Studio 52 which hosted The Ed Sullivan Show whose facility later became  the iconic Studio 54 in New York City, estimated at $50,000-$100,000.

ABOUT NILE RODGERS:

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.

ABOUT WE ARE FAMILY FOUNDATION:

We Are Family Foundation (WAFF) is a not-for-profit organization co-founded by legendary musician Nile Rodgers and is dedicated to the visions of a global family by creating programs that promote cultural diversity while nurturing and mentoring the vision, talents and ideas of young people who are positively changing the world. Find more information about WAFF, its programs and global community at wearefamilyfoundation.org and @wearefamilyfdtn.