Pete Townshend, Eric Clapton Donate Guitars For Blues Benefit Auction

Legendary British rock guitarists Pete Townshend of The Who and Eric Clapton are donating  guitars to be auctioned off during the Music Maker Relief Foundation's Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, which heads out January 22-29th.

Townshend is donating a signed Gibson SG guitar, while besides donating a guitar Clapton also made a charitable gift of 5,000 British pounds to the foundation as an incentive to blues fans to contribute to the silent auction.

Fans can make a bid on the guitar even if they are not on the cruise. To make a bid, send an e-mail to Denise Duffy at denise@musicmaker.org or call (919) 643-2456. Bidding starts at a minimum of $4,000, said Tim Duffy, president of Music Maker.

All proceeds from the auction will benefit Music Maker programs, which include grants and other assistance to blues musicians, and also musicians who play various forms of traditional American music.

Musicians receiving help from the organization must play music rooted in a Southern tradition, be 55 years or older and have an annual income less than $18,000.