Chris Tomlin, David Crowder Band Join EMI's Japan Auction

By Christian Today, Sunday, April 17, 2011

EMI Christian Music Group's Chris Tomlin, David Crowder Band, Audrey Assad and Josh Wilson are among the artists joining the label's biggest stars, including The Beatles and Katy Perry, in donating exclusive personal items and memorabilia to the EMI family's charity auction for Japan earthquake and tsunami victims.

The charity auction, which will raise funds for the Red Cross, runs from April 5 to 21.

The auction – one of the biggest in eBay's history – includes sixstepsrecords artists Chris Tomlin, who donated handwritten and autographed lyrics, and David Crowder Band, which donated an autographed Yamaha Keytar.

Other items recently added to the auction include access to a private concert rehearsal by Sting; a limited edition "Yellow Submarine" bicycle issued to mark the re-release of The Beatles' famous movie; three framed and signed prints of David Gilmour taken in Gdansk; and more than 30 albums individually signed by David Bowie.

Also included in the auction is the MacBook used by David Guetta to create the demos for his hit album "One Love;" the handwritten lyrics to "God Only Knows" from Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys; and one of the four original handmade "Zero" shirts worn by the Smashing Pumpkins' lead singer Billy Corgan for the release and tour of "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness."

All funds raised from the charity auction will go towards the Japanese Red Cross disaster relief efforts. Funds will be used for the on-going provision of immediate relief to support the affected population during their recovery. EMI Group has committed to match all funds raised from the auction up to a maximum of $1 million euros.

All the items can be viewed on eBay.