Sold For $9,746
*Includes Buyers Premium
Gorgeous stage-used Henri Selmer Mark VI tenor ‘hot air balloon’ saxophone from the personal collection of Alto Reed, the longtime saxophonist for Bob Seger’s Silver Bullet Band, whose work on classic songs like ‘Turn the Page’ and ‘Old Time Rock & Roll’ helped define the sound of American heartland rock. The gold-lacquered sax, stamped with the serial number “160680” (indicating a 1969 date), was used extensively on tour by Reed, most famously from inside a hot air balloon that floated over the stage and stunned the audience at the 1977 Michigan Jam, which was held at the Martin Dragway on July 2, 1977. Reed played an elevated rendition of ‘Let It Rock,’ as well as the iconic intro to ‘Turn the Page.’ Reed, on occasion, would also wow the audience by playing two saxes at once: an alto and this tenor. The instrument plays easily, ‘like butter,’ and is in fine, well-used condition, with scuffs and scratches. Accompanied by a carrying case, which includes an extra Oleg neck.
Per Seger: ‘Alto has been a part of our musical family, on and off stage, for nearly 50 years. I first started playing with Alto in 1971. He was amazing. He could play just about anything…he was funky, could scat, and play tenor sax and alto sax at the same time. We worked with Alto often, and when we booked our first headline arena gigs at Cobo Hall, we asked him to be a part of those shows. No doubt his iconic performance on ‘Turn The Page’ helped lift us to another level.’
Saxophonist Alto Reed became a defining part of Bob Seger’s sound when he first joined him on the 1973 album Back in ’72. What followed was a 42-year run touring with the Silver Bullet Band, where Reed’s saxophone grew into a second voice within the music. His playing wasn’t ornamental; it carried emotion and meaning, most famously on 'Turn the Page,' where his restrained, mournful tone captured a sense of loneliness and resilience. That sound helped shape an era of American rock, quietly bridging Seger’s storytelling lyrics with melodic depth. Beyond his long partnership with Seger, Reed performed with a wide range of artists across rock and blues, including Foghat, Grand Funk Railroad, Little Feat, Otis Rush, George Thorogood, Robin Gibb, and many others.
Following Reed’s death in 2020, Seger said the following about his late friend: ‘I loved him like a brother. I may have been the leader, but he was our rock star. He was the audience favorite, hands down. He was bold and worldly. I learned so much from the guy. And he was a great ambassador to the fans. He took time for everybody, any picture, anywhere. I can’t say enough good things about him.’
From the collection of Alto Reed, accompanied by a letter of provenance from Victoria Reed.
