Bun B and Other Houston Celebs Auctioning Off Items for a Good Cause

Ever wanted to shred on a ZZ Top guitar? Now’s your chance. The longhaired rock crew’s frontman Billy Gibbons, as well as rapper Bun B and RodeoHouston staple Willie Nelson, is among the celebrities who have donated personal items to raise money for music industry workers struggling to stay afloat during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The items, as well as many others, are being sold off on September 9 as of MusiCares Charity Relief Auction, a charity auction organized by the Recording Academy’s charitable foundation, MusicCares, and Los Angeles auction house Julien’s Auctions.

Houston’s unofficial mayor has donated his autographed 1986 Astros All-Star Game baseball cap and an orange Astros jersey that reads “Bun B 19.” The lot also includes a photograph of him with the jersey. Meanwhile, Gibbons is auctioning off a Gibson Midtown Standard that bears both his autograph and a caricatured self portrait. In addition to the guitar, the winning bidder also gets three of Gibsons’ previously used guitar straps and signature picks, as well as a hardshell case. Last, but certainly not least, is a Willie Nelson-autographed Taylor Academy 12e-N acoustic guitar, accompanied by a photo of the country music legend signing the guitar and a Taylor Guitars gig bag.

This isn’t the first time MusiCares, which, according to the organization’s website, “provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need,” has connected with the Bayou City. In 2017 the nonprofit set up a relief fund to support members of the music community devastated by Hurricane Harvey. And just like then, the need right now is great; according to industry coalition WeMakeEvents, 77 percent of people in the live-events industry have lost their income after 95 percent of live events were cancelled due to Covid-19.  

The coronavirus charity auction is taking place both in person in L.A. and online (advance online bidding is already open), so start placing your bids cause these items will disappear before you can croon “she’s gone, gone, gone.”

Online bidding runs thru Sept 9. More info at juliensauctions.com.