LOS ANGELES, CA.- Michael Jacksons personal RIAA gold record award for his epic album Thriller will be auctioned by
Nate D. Sanders Auctions on August 25. Interested bidders may participate in the auction online.
Jackson was awarded the gold record two months after the albums release in November 1982. Thriller ultimately attained RIAA diamond status for selling 10 million copies.
Released on November 30, 1982, Thriller featured the hits, Wanna Be Startin' Somethin,'' ''Thriller,'' ''Beat It'' and ''Billie Jean.'' Music historians believe the album paved the path for other 1980s black artists including Prince and Whitney Houston among others. Michael Jacksons Thriller is credited with launching the era of modern pop music.
At its peak, Thriller sold one million copies per week worldwide. It went on to win a record eight Grammies in 1984 including Album of the Year. Jackson also won eight American Music Awards for the work.
The RIAA gold record is displayed in a 17 x 21 frame which includes the gold album and tape, RIAA plaque reading, ''Presented to / Michael Jackson / to Commemorate the Sale of More Than / 500,000 Copies of the / Epic Records / Album and Cassette / 'Thriller.
Bidding for the RIAA gold record begins at $25,000.
Also going under the hammer is Michael Jackson's RIAA gold album award for Eat It, the parody of Jacksons song Beat It, which was performed by comedic musician Weird Al Yankovic on his 1984 album Humble Pie. Bidding begins at $5,000.