Jim Lindenberg likes what he is seeing but still needs more help.
Lindenberg, who lives in Lake Country, has made a push to have people make donations for the Les Paul auction that begins today and goes through Saturday in Beverly Hills, Calif., and online at www.juliensauctions.com.
As of Friday morning, Lindenberg said $30,500 has been raised and he just received a commitment for a $50,000 challenge gift, meaning if $19,500 is donated by Saturday, the project will receive the challenge gift.
This would then reach Lindenberg's goal of $100,000.
Lindenberg wants to bring the auction items, which includes equipment, memorabilia and personal items from the musician/inventor's life to the Waukesha County Museum.
"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that we can't let slip by - the chance to save priceless Les Paul inventions and memorabilia for permanent display at the Waukesha County Museum in Les' hometown in Wisconsin," said Lindenberg, president/owner of Lindy Enterprises and the Milwaukee Wave.
The auction has four sessions (two Friday and two Saturday at noon and 4 p.m. CST).
This collection was made available for public viewing at the Beverly Hills sales rooms of Julien's Auctions from May 29 until the start the auction, which requires prior registration. Bidding can be done online and for more information on the auction see www.juliensauctions.com.
The auction was this week because Paul, a Waukesha native who was also buried here after he died in 2009 at the Prairie Home Cemetery, would have turned 97 on Saturday.
All the proceeds from the auction go to the New York City-based Les Paul Foundation, a charity that encourages young people to pursue their curiosity and innovation about music, sound and engineering.
But Lindenberg wants some of these items, which includes rare guitars, recording gear and the grand piano from Paul's home recording studio, to permanently reside in Waukesha.
To make a donation to the fund, follow this link: https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/MakeDonation.aspx?ORGID2=396056461&vlrStratCode=NcWVMxf1RHZZ5QAsZsSrNGyd7pItFJ1Rpu5YT9EGzCJ5XpZ06nj7T2ZwO3dsb0Ak.