…The occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.

In 1994, when I was a young apprentice auctioneer, I was given the opportunity to work the Iconic Conway Twitty The Legend auction held in Hendersonville, Tennessee. I was only there because I was apprenticing with the Auctioneer hired to call the bids for the auction. He knew it would be an eye-opening experience, and asked me if I would like to work the auction in the office area, helping the staff. I knew it was going to be a pretty big deal, and of course I said, “Of course.”

If you had told me that 24 years later I’d be selling some of those items a second time around, I probably would have raised an eyebrow and tilted my head to the side. You know the pose, as if to say “Yeah, right.” You know how they say that everything comes around full circle?  Well, in the auction world, it has for me.

I remember the auction well. It was my first high-profile auction, and I couldn’t believe the sheer number of people in attendance. It was a well choreographed event, and it seemed as though there were no details left unattended. The men working the ground, otherwise known as groundsmen, were dressed in tuxedos and white gloves. The auction took place under a huge white tent and every seat was taken. When you looked at the license plates in the parking lot, it seemed as though every tag was from out of state. And the media – well they were all there in full force. I was so impressed, and I knew it would probably be quite some time before I worked another auction like that one.

Fast forward 24 years. I received a call from a woman who told me she was looking for an auctioneer to sell her important collection of music memorabilia. She said she lived in South Carolina, but felt is was important to sell her collection in Nashville. I asked what kind of collection she had and she said, “Well, I attended the Conway Twitty Estate auction in 1994 and purchased several items. I’m older and my health concerns me. I’d really like to see these items sell to someone who would enjoy them as much as I have all these years.” She told me she had been doing some research online and just happened to come across my website and thought she would give me a call. Did you just raise both eyebrows? I did too. Isn’t this a strange coincidence?  I choose to use the word serendipitous.

This person had never met me, much less know anything about me. She certainly didn’t know I had worked that very memorable auction in 1994. Somehow, though, she just happened to find me! The more she told me, I was quite sure our paths had crossed at the auction. Every time she bought something the auctioneer would say, “Sold to the lady with the spotted dog.” You see, she and her husband brought their Dalmatian, Dotty, to the auction. They would occasionally take a stroll with their Dotty around the auction area.

Some of the items purchased at that auction which are selling in the current online auction include Conway Twitty’s 1934 Martin 0-17 six-string guitar, an oil painting of the musical manuscript “Hello Darlin” signed by William Moyer, who gave it to Conway Twitty as a Birthday gift, along with a number of other music memorabilia items and stage clothes.

Each auction item includes the original C.O.A. along with a description of the item and purchase date, and is signed by Hugh Carden and Don Garis, Co-Executors of the estate. Each C.O.A. is also signed by Conway’s wife, Dee Henry Jenkins. Copies of the receipt for each of these items are also included.

All items will be sold to the highest bidder, regardless of price, so make plans to view this catalog at BaldiniAuction.com. Second chances to bid on these kinds of collector’s items don’t happen often! If you were or are a Conway Twitty fan, don’t miss this opportunity to bid.