Custom Gibson Guitar with Clifford Antone's signature to be auctioned off for charity

Gibson Guitar is once again the presenting sponsor of Help Clifford Help Kids, providing a one-of-a-kind Gibson BB King Lucille guitar customized with Clifford's autograph on the pickguard. With Susan Antone's blessing, American Youthworks is offering the guitar for auction on eBay on October 20, 2009 to a worldwide audience, with all proceeds benefitting Help Clifford Help Kids. Renowned music photographer Gary Miller photographed Susan with the gorgeous guitar on Antone's historic stage (see attached photos). Susan says: "What my brother did to help keep the blues alive is pretty well known by music fans worldwide. I think it is fitting to have worldwide fans of the blues bid on this amazing Gibson guitar that was Clifford's favorite model.

Clifford Antone founded legendary Austin blues club, Antone's Nightclub, in 1975 at the early age of 25. He was revered for his unwavering support of not just blues music, but blues musicians. Antone dedicated his life to this passion and happily shared it with every blues legend, sideman and struggling new-comer that walked through his door; he provided every resource he had to help these musicians survive the music scene. Clifford opened his heart and his stage to blues greats like Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Jimmy Reed, John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, James Cotton, Albert Collins, Koko Taylor, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Fats Domino, Pinetop Perkins, and Hubert Sumlin just to name a few. The Fabulous Thunderbirds, featuring Jimmie Vaughan and harmonica player Kim Wilson, became the first house band at the club and Clifford is credited as being an early mentor to Jimmie's little brother Stevie Ray as well.

Antone was quoted by the Austin American-Statesman as saying, "When I finally heard the Chicago blues, man, it was like I finally discovered what had been in my mind my whole life." Today his sister Susan keeps the club thriving in the heart of Austin's music scene, true to the traditions and beliefs her brother started almost 35 years ago. Clifford passed away in 2006 followed by a wake of sorrow from a city that recognized his significant role in making the moniker "Live Music Capitol of the World" ring true as a representation of Austin. Just this year, Clifford Antone was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in Memphis, Tennessee.

Though thousands of great Gibson guitars have graced the Antone's stage over the decades, very few if any have had the potential significance of accomplishing so much to further the dreams and legacy left behind by the great Clifford Antone.

"It's such an honor to have Gibson Guitar's support with this one-of-a -kind chance to continue Clifford's dream of helping children," Susan says. "I can't think of a better tribute to my brother than to combine his love of Gibson guitars, music and kids by putting this wonderful guitar into the hands of a fan of Clifford and the blues."

The eBay auction for this guitar will end October 30, 2009.

To bid on this item, go to http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Help-Clifford-Help-Kids.

To learn more about Help Clifford Help Kids, go to http://www.hchk.americanyouthworks.org/

This is a Press Release

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