The Fairlight CMI was the world first digital sampler and featured other radical advances for the time, including a light pen interface and menu-driven GUI.  One of the CMI most significant software features was the so-called "Page R,which was the world first real time graphical music sequence editor, widely copied on other software synths ever since.  The instrument was featured extensively in the futuristic videos of those who used it dominating the 80 music scene and, being the first device to cross the computer/instrument divide, was the subject of passionate debate within the artist community Phil Collins, a CMI detractor, went so far as to advertise o Fairlight Usedin the liner notes of his 1985 album o Jacket Required!nbsp; A Fairlight CMI can be seen in the Devo film e Are Devoand in Jan Hammer's music video for the Miami Vice theme song.  It also makes an appearance being operated by Nick Rhodes in Duran Duran's video for "The Reflex".

The CMI hit the height of its popular frenzy among the artist community when it was featured in a now-legendary performance by Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Thomas Dolby and Howard Jones at the 1985 Grammy Awards.  Ironically, the Grammy Album Of The Year in 1985 was o Jacket Required.nbsp;

Watch the Fairlight in action at the 1985 Grammy Awards!

 Other Great Auction Items:

A HOBIE SURFBOARD DESIGNED BY RENOWNED

ARTIST RAYMOND PETTIBON

A cult figure among underground music devotees for his early work associated with the Los Angeles punk rock scene, Pettibon has acquired an international reputation as one of the foremost contemporary American artists. His work has been seen at the Pompidou Center in Paris, Macba in Barcelona and the Whitney in New York. Take home this personally designed first edition surfboard hand shaped by Midget at HOBIE on one of the last remaining Clark Foam Blanks.
 

A FOLIO of FINE ART PRINTS from the "Artists Support www.witness.org" project in a special cover autographed by ANGELINA JOLIE, TIM ROBBINS and PETER GABRIEL

"Artists Support www.witness.org" is an on-going series of fine art prints by internationally renowned visual artists and photographers. Each print is a collaboration between two artists born in different countries. Participating artists include: Shirin Neshat, Izhar Patkin, Sebastiao Salgado, William Wegman, Kiki Smith, Cai Guo-Qiang, Augusto Marban, Dayanita Singh, and Alfredo Jaar.

AUTOGRAPHED GRAHAM NASH PHOTO

OF JOHNNY CASH AND JONI MITCHELL

Own a photo rarely seen in public from the collection of rock legend and photographer Graham Nash (member of the UK's most successful 60's bands, The Hollies and founder of the US super group Crosby, Stills & Nash).  This black and white photo shot in 1969 of Johnny Cash and Joni Mitchell was taken and autographed by Nash himself.

100% of the proceeds will benefit WITNESS.  WITNESS, co-founded by musician and activist Peter Gabriel, uses the power of video to open the eyes of the world to human rights abuses. By partnering with local organizations around the globe, WITNESS empowers human rights defenders to use video to shine a light on those most affected by human rights violations, and to transform personal stories of abuse into powerful tools of justice. Over the past decade, WITNESS has partnered with groups in more than 60 countries, bringing often unseen images, untold stories and seldom heard voices to the attention of key decision makers, the media, and the general public -- catalyzing grassroots activism, political engagement, and lasting change.  For more information, visit: www.witness.org