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January 14, 2009

With five Grammy nominations tucked in his back pocket, Robert Plant took a pen to a guitar, and now that instrument and his signature — among numerous autographs — are available through an auction being conducted by the Americana Music Association.

Named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II on New Year’s Eve, Robert signed the Gibson acoustic guitar last fall during the Americana Honors & Awards show at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Also applying their names were Joan Baez, John Hiatt, Jim Lauderdale, Levon Helm, Kieran Kane, Tift Merritt, Joe Ely, Sam Bush, Larry Campbell and Buddy Miller. Available at www.americanamusicauction.com, the guitar had registered a high bid on Tuesday of $430.

The auction is raising money for the Americana organization, a non-profit entity that promotes roots music. Other items will also be up for grabs, including:

• Tickets to the Feb. 23 taping of "Austin City Limits" 35th anniversary show with Willie Nelson and Asleep At The Wheel.

• Tickets to Levon Helm's Ramble Concert in Woodstock, N.Y.

• Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt concert tickets in a city of the highest bidder’s choosing.

• A personal songwriting mentoring session with Jim Lauderdale, author of George Jones' "King of Broken Hearts" (recently recorded by Lee Ann Womack), the Dixie Chicks' "Hole In My Head" and Mark Chesnutt’s "Gonna Get A Life," at Jim’s Nashville studio.

• An autographed Jason & The Scorchers 20-Year Birthday Celebration Hatch show print.

• Autographed Hatch show prints from the 2005, 2006 and 2008 Americana Honors & Awards shows. Among the acts who’ve signed one or more of those posters: Robert Earl Keen, John Prine, Marty Stuart, Billy Bob Thornton, Kathy Mattea, Charlie Daniels, Jerry Douglas, James McMurtry and Judy Collins.