Offered here is an amazing lot of 2 signed pieces from the group that pioneered hip-hop and brought the genre into the mainstream!
Included is a fully operable Profile/Technics Turntable along with a Vinyl record album by RUN-D.M.C. titled "Hard Times" signed by Jam Master Jay (2), Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, and Joseph "Rev" Run Simmons. Jam Master Jay signed both the Vinyl album and also the turntable itself. Both the turntable and vinyl have been authenticated by JSA with a letter of authenticity. Also included is a letter of provenance from the owner who detailed the "How & Why" they ended up with this one of a kind memorable set!
The Letter of Provenance reads:
It was a Misty Missouri evening in 1997...
I drove north to Kansas City from Springfield, MO - grabbed a hidden key and
entered my friend Ryan Vaughan's house around midnight. Much to his mother's surprise and disappointment. My friend Kasey and I grabbed the T1200's and off we drove - back south to Drury University. This was a 5 hour round trip.
The subsequent weekend these turntables were great hosts to my house party of thirsty college goers.
My friend, Dr. Kevin Journagen and I had discussed earlier in the year who we should contract to play our homecoming concert. Previous years were full of very average bands and the students were yearning for a real performance. Kevin showed me a list of potential acts and the choice was obvious to me! RunDMC!!
The timing was perfect for 1980's nostalgia for college students, and the group had been on a public decline in recent years. We signed a contract, and anxiously awaited our homecoming party at a Marriott hotel in downtown Springfield.
Upon the night of RumDMC's arrival, we picked them up from the small airport in an 18 passenger van. From what I remember, Darryl had just been featured in URB magazine and he was showing me the goods in the backseat. We gave RunDMC a road tour through the Drury Campus and the Lambda Chi fraternity had a VERY large white sheet displaying colorful words of "Run's House" - Mr. Simmons got a pretty big kick out of it.
The night of our big Party, RunDMC was contracted to play for 90 minutes. The crowd of 500-600 students went wild. Banger after Banger you could feel the energy on the stage. I know they played for more than two hours - you could tell they were having fun performing. My highlight was a few pop-n-lock moves on stage : )
After the show I got to speak with their manager Eric, and the members all came over to say thanks, and express how this was the most hype crowd they have played for in a very long time.
Ryan's turntables were required on the scene by contract, in the unfortunate event there was a malfunction with Jam Master Jay's machinery.
After the show, Ryan and I acted like High School girls. Filled with excitement, we grabbed a turntable and some record slipmats and cased out their hotel room. Ryan knocked on the door - a Very Large bodyguard stared us down. Ryan asked if it was OK to get a few signatures. The bodyguard took our items and returned with Jam Master Jay's signature on this very turntable!
This item is truly a piece of Hip Hop History. We hope that the winner of this auction goes to a true collector, and that you enjoy it as much as we have over the past 27 years.
It is my oath that I was 100% sober at this show. I wanted to remember as much of this event as possible.
It is still one of the top 5 performances/shows of my life and will live in my memory for eternity.
Long Live Jam Master Jay!!
Sincerely,
Dr. Bryan D. Gibbs
Run-D.M.C is. widely regarded as one of the most significant acts in the history of hip-hop culture and music. The group played a crucial role in bringing hip-hop into mainstream music. Their style, which included rock influences, set them apart from earlier hip-hop acts and they were one of the first hip-hop groups to have a gold album, a platinum album, and a multi-platinum album as well as the first hip-hop group and a major corporation, highlighting the commercial potential of hip-hop culture. In 2009, Run-D.M.C. was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, underscoring their influence and legacy in the music industry.
As the DJ for Run-D.M.C., Jam Master Jay was instrumental in shaping the sound and style of the group. His scratching, mixing, and beat juggling techniques set a new standard for DJs in the hip-hop genre. His influence extended beyond his technical skills; he was also known for his charisma and stage presence.
Jam Master Jay was tragically murdered on October 30, 2002, in his recording studio in Queens. His death was a significant loss to the music community, and his legacy continues to be celebrated.