After the action got underway at the 2008 MusiCares Person of the Year
Gala during Grammy Week, one lucky bidder was able climb behind the
wheel of a one-of-a-kind Cadillac to drive down the "Freeway of Love"
as stylishly as the "Queen of Soul" herself. Leo Bunin of California
won final bid on a special pink Cadillac CTS - the 2008 Motor Trend Car
of the Year - hand-signed by Aretha Franklin, and awarded in a live
auction in Los Angeles on February 8, 2008. The car was definitely the
talk of the night, and at $51,500 was one of the top five items sold at
the auction which set a record for MusiCares fundraising - $4.5 million.
Aretha Franklin signed the headrest with a paint pen in a color that
matched the car's custom paint job which was primarily pink, but in
certain lights appeared gold to capture the spirit of the 50th Annual
Grammy Awards. Franklin, a 17-time Grammy-winning recording artist and
Detroit native, was honored at the 18th annual MusiCares Person of the
Year dinner and concert. Proceeds from the annual Grammy Week gala
provide essential support for MusiCares, which ensures that music
people have a place to turn in times of financial, medical, and
personal need.
"Cadillac
is tickled pink to provide a unique auction item celebrating Detroit
native Aretha Franklin at this year's MusiCares gala," said George
Doss, regional divisional marketing manager for Cadillac in GM's
Western Region. "Cadillac is proud to return for the fourth consecutive
year as a major sponsor of this prestigious Grammy Week event."
The
"pink" hue was chosen in the spirit of Franklin's memorable lyrics
"Goin' ridin' on the freeway of love in my pink Cadillac" from her hit
song "Freeway of Love" that earned her a Grammy Award in the "Best
R&B Vocal Performance - Female" category at the 28th Annual Grammy
Awards in 1985. The custom CTS was hand-signed by Franklin. The
multiple award-winning 2008 CTS offers a remarkable combination of
luxury, technology, and performance in a sedan aimed at creating the
desire and head-turning quotient normally reserved for sports cars.
The 50th Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 10, 2008, at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
By Brandy Schaffels
Contributing Editor