Bluesman’s famous guitar set to go under hammer

A GUITAR owned by influential bluesman Booker White is set to fetch up to £120,000 at auction.

The 1933 National Duolian resonator guitar, named Hard Rock, was owned by and played for more than 30 years by White.

Booker, known as Bukka, met then 24-year-old English photographer Keith Perry at a blues festival in Newcastle in 1967.

In 1976 – a year before White’s death – he sent the photographer his prized guitar in return for postage and packing costs.

After its arrival in Newcastle, the guitar was played by the likes of Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits, Brian Johnson of AC/DC, and footballer David Ginola.

Bluesman BB King – who was White’s cousin – also played the guitar and dubbed it a “holy relic”.

It expected to fetch between £80,000 and £120,000 and comes with letters from White and his guitar case. The auction will take place at Gardiner Houlgate in Corsham, Wiltshire, on March 13 and 14. Hard Rock and other guitars will be available for viewing on March 11 to 13.