James Brown auction draws big crowds and surprising bids

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By Dustin Blanchard dblanchard@nbcaugusta.com

NBC Augusta was the only station to travel to New York as James Brown's personal belongings hit the auction block. Hundreds of people showed up and the auction brought in more than $857,000 on Thursday.

The Godfather of Soul can definitely still draw a crowd, Christie's had to bring in extra chairs for the auction and even then it was standing room only.

In the crowd there were some familiar faces and a lot of James Brown fans.

"The next thing I know I jumped on the Apollo stage and me and James Brown started to dance," said Branda Harper. She says she was always first in line whenever James Brown came to New York. The auction was no exception, but she wasn't there to buy anything.

"I'm of the working class, so if it meets my pocket, I'm pretty sure it wouldn’t," she laughed. "Hopefully I can get a comb or something," she said.

"As a friend he was good to me, he gave me a lot of business, I got a lot of mementos from him," said Julius Freeman. He says those mementos are invaluable, but he still can't believe how much some things went for.

"I couldn't believe some of the prices...it was unreal the prices," he said.

One surprise item, Brown's medical bracelet. Christie's valued it at $200 to $300. It was Paul Shaffer's desire, before he got outbid. The final price: $32,500.

"Some things I think maybe family members should have, rather than members of the public," the musician said. "I figured this stuff was going to go. So I better be here."

No collection of James Brown memorabilia would be complete without the Godfather of Soul's hair care products, Brown kept them in his home as well as plenty of hairspray.

The hair care products went for $6.000. It might seem outrageous, but they were James Brown's.

"He is soul brother number one, in addition to being the Godfather of Soul," said Shaffer. "He invented contemporary dance music as far as I'm concerned."

It seems like nobody can resist getting one of James Brown's things.

"He had already given me his autograph before, so if I didn't get anything I knew I had that," said Harper -- with one of James Brown's posters in hand. " I'm very happy, I'm very excited."

The auction raised $857,688: Just call it soul power.

Everything was sold expect a GRAMMY award, which was pulled from the auction at the request of his estate.

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