Gibson Guitar to fight probe of its wood imports (Reuters)

CHICAGO (Reuters) – Gibson Guitar's chief executive said on Thursday he would fight a federal investigation of the legendary guitar maker's wood imports after agents raided the company for the second time in two years.

Federal agents entered Gibson's facilities in Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee, on Wednesday, seizing wood imported from India, and workers were sent home.

In an affidavit, authorities indicated they are weighing charges against the company or its executives for illegally importing wood under a U.S. law barring importation of endangered plants and woods. The company has sued to recover its property.

"Gibson has complied with foreign laws and believes it is innocent of any wrong doing," Chief Executive Officer Henry Juszkiewicz said in a statement. "We will fight aggressively to prove our innocence."

Juszkiewicz said the company, which began more than a century ago and makes some of the world's most prized guitars, has worked with environmental groups such as the Rainforest Alliance to ensure its wood imports are from sustainable sources.

"(The government) has suggested that the use of wood from India that is not finished by Indian workers is illegal, not because of U.S. law, but because it is the Justice Department's interpretation of a law in India," Juszkiewicz said.

If the same wood from the same tree was finished by Indian workers, the material would be legal, he said.

In an affidavit, agent John Rayfield of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said U.S. Customs agents in June detained a shipment of sawn ebony logs from India.

The paperwork accompanying the shipment identified it fraudulently as Indian ebony fingerboards for guitars and it did not say it was going to Gibson, the affidavit said.

In July, agents observed Indian ebony and rosewood delivered to a storage facility for Gibson, according to the affidavit, which asked permission to seize Gibson's business computers.

Gibson plants also were raided in 2009, when agents confiscated ebony imported from Madagascar.

(Reporting by Andrew Stern; Editing by Bill Trott)

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Richard Gere to sell guitar collection at auction (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Richard Gere may be best known for his acting career but he is also an accomplished musician who has amassed an extensive guitar collection that will be sold at auction in October, Christie's said on Wednesday.

The star of "Pretty Woman," "An Officer and a Gentleman" and "Chicago," has spent the last 20 years accumulating the collection.

It includes brands such as C.F. Martin, Gibson and Fender and instruments once owned by blues guitarist Albert King, Jamaican reggae musician Peter Tosh and acclaimed American guitar maker James D'Aquisto.

"What transpired over a lifetime is an almost encyclopedic representation of American guitar making," said Kerry Keane, the head of Christie's musical instruments department.

"This is an exciting opportunity for collectors and fans alike to take advantage of Mr. Gere's unrecognized talent for creating a cohesive collection."

The auction in New York on October 11 will contain 110 lots worth approximately $1 million. A 1958 solid-body Gibson Flying V electric guitar once owned by King is expected to sell for up to $90,000.

Another top item is a 1931 C.F. Martin D-28, one of the most coveted Martin designs, which has an estimate of $50,000 to $70,000.

Gere's collection resulted from a lifelong love of music that began with the trumpet before he taught himself the guitar and piano.

"They have been my true friends through the best and worst of times. I never planned to put together a collection. I just bought ones that I liked, the ones that sounded good and played well," Gere said in a statement.

"Some are very special. Although it's more than a little painful to let them go, each one has been played, loved and appreciated - and will be again."

Gere said proceeds of the auction will go to support humanitarian causes around the world.

(Writing by Paula Rogo; edited by Patricia Reaney)

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$5,000 guitar stolen in Memphis from Clinton band (AP)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A guitar valued at $5,000 has been stolen from the tour bus of George Clinton and his P-Funk band.

Shelby County Sheriff spokesman Chip Washington said Monday that the guitar was taken Saturday while the group was in town performing at Shelby Farms.

He said the instrument, brand name XOX Audio Tools, was designed for a member of Clinton's band.

Washington said the theft is under investigation, and it's not clear if the bus was broken into.

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Jimi guitar strap, Jackson glove offered by NY co. (AP)

NEW YORK – A strap from the guitar Jimi Hendrix burned on stage at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival is being offered by a New York City auctioneer alongside memorabilia from Michael Jackson and Kurt Cobain.

The online Gotta Have It! Rock & Roll Auction runs Wednesday through July 22.

Gotta Have It! Collectibles Inc. says the seller of the Hendrix guitar strap is the audience member who caught it at the three-day rock concert in Monterey, Calif.

The auction also includes a guitar smashed by Nirvana lead singer Cobain in 1993, the year before he died. There's a glove worn by Jackson at a 1997 concert in London. And there's a dress worn by Katy Perry in her video for "I Kissed a Girl."

The late King of Pop's glove is being sold by his friend and publicist Steve Manning.

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Online: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ap/ap_en_mu/storytext/us_rock_auction/42208533/SIG=115e8aa34/*http://www.gottahaverockandroll.com

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Shakira: Chavez's guitar among 6 signed in Caracas (AP)

BOGOTA, Colombia – The Colombian singer Shakira says she learned after the fact that one of six guitars she signed at a concert in Venezuela made its way to President Hugo Chavez.

Chavez had thanked Shakira for the red guitar over the weekend, suggesting he believed it was a gift.

But Shakira's press office says in a statement that during her March concert, the artist "signed 6 guitars at the request of the event's organizers." It added she learned Monday that "one of them was sent to the President's office."

Shakira's office says it hopes "acts like this contribute to continue uniting the citizens" of Colombia and Venezuela.

Information Minister Andres Izarra had said the guitar had been sent by "the people who organized her concert."

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Shakira: Chavez's guitar among 6 signed in Caracas (AP)

BOGOTA, Colombia – The Colombian singer Shakira says she learned after the fact that one of six guitars she signed at a concert in Venezuela made its way to President Hugo Chavez.

Chavez had thanked Shakira for the red guitar over the weekend, suggesting he believed it was a gift.

But Shakira's press office says in a statement that during her March concert, the artist "signed 6 guitars at the request of the event's organizers." It added she learned Monday that "one of them was sent to the President's office."

Shakira's office says it hopes "acts like this contribute to continue uniting the citizens" of Colombia and Venezuela.

Information Minister Andres Izarra had said the guitar had been sent by "the people who organized her concert."

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Shakira gives Venezuela's Chavez signed, red guitar (Reuters)

CARACAS (Reuters) – Colombian pop star Shakira has given Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez an autographed electric guitar that is painted red, the color of the leader's socialist political movement.

The Grammy award winner and songwriter sent him the instrument after visiting the South American country in March, Chavez said on Sunday and thanked her for the gift.

"I was practicing last night, looking for the plugs. It's electric, a very modern guitar and I'm not used to it," Chavez said during a phone call to a state TV station. "I was singing some songs, old ones, a Mexican one."

Known for his informal style, Chavez often belts out Latin American folk songs during political rallies and speeches.

"How am I going to practice 'Waka-Waka' with this swollen foot?" Chavez asked when an official suggested he sing Shakira's hit song for last year's World Cup. He ended the call singing a bolero, a slow Latin American song.

Chavez is currently recovering from a knee injury and canceled visits to several countries this week. He said the injury was improving.

(Reporting by Frank Jack Daniel; Editing by Eric Beech)

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Chavez thanks Shakira for red, autographed guitar (AP)

CARACAS, Venezuela – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is thanking Colombian singer Shakira for an autographed red guitar that he says the artist sent him as a gift.

Chavez says he stayed up late strumming on the electric guitar and singing songs.

He told Venezuelan state television on Sunday: "Thanks to Shakira for that."

Information Minister Andres Izarra posted a photo of the guitar on Twitter after it arrived on Saturday.

Chavez said the musician asked to see him when she performed in Caracas in March, but that her flight was late and they were unable to meet.

Chavez says he was surprised by the gift, and has been practicing on the instrument while recovering from a knee injury.

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