Jools Holland OBE, the UK's most popular pianist and bandleader, has announced that he is to sell the piano he has toured with for the last five to six years, with all proceeds going to the Drake Music Project, of which Jools is patron. It will be sold without reserve at Bonhams' Autumn sale of Fine Pianos at 101 New Bond Street, London.
With this instrument Jools has accompanied the 'Who's Who' of the music industry, including Tom Jones, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Muck Hucknall, Sting, Paul Weller, Noel Gallagher, Marianne Faithfull, Jamie Cullum, Ringo Starr, Vic Reeves, Beverly Knight, Barry White, and countless others.
The piano, a Yamaha GT7, is at the cutting edge of instrumental design as it combines the touch, tone and beauty of a traditional acoustic grand piano with the modern versatility and convenience of digital music technology. Built within the body of an acoustic grand, this piano is true state of the art, and is a model favoured by the majority of touring musicians as it is easily amplified and transported, yet is rare in that few are made for the open market. Jools is replacing this piano with a similar upgraded model.
The Drake Music Project www.drakemusicproject.org was established in 1988 to enable disabled children and adults who are unable to play conventional musical instruments to discover their musical abilities and explore, compose and perform their own music. Jools has been a long-standing patron of the charity and is delighted to have the opportunity to raise funds by selling the piano that has played such an important role in the music world, as he explains:
"I would like to congratulate anybody who buys this piano. You will be contributing to The Drake Music Project of which I am a patron. I have seen first hand the brilliant work they do bringing music technology to disabled musicians. This piano has been my touring piano for five years now. I have also used it on many TV shows, from the Tsunami Concert with Eric Clapton at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, to our shows at the Royal Albert Hall. Tom Jones, Paul McCartney, Solomon Burke, Jeff Beck and many others have all been accompanied by this piano, played this piano, lent on this piano, placed drinks, notes, coats, hats, private implements on this piano during its working life. I hope that you will have the opportunity to get as much pleasure from it as we all have. You are buying a musical instrument, a piece of history and a piece of furniture."