Mar 18, 2026 10:00 EST
Stage & Screen Featuring The Estate of Charles Strouse & Barbara Siman
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The multi-platinum sales award for Jay-Z's "Hard Knock Life" album
The Estate of Charles Strouse & Barbara Siman
JAY-Z and CHARLES STROUSE
A platinum cassette and CD "presented to Charles Strouse to commemorate RIAA certified multi-platinum sales of more than 4,000,000 copies of the Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam Recordings, Inc. cassette and CD "Vol. 2...Hard Knock Life." Cassette and CD mounted in a frame with holographic sales award and reproductions of the original album cover, the frame 17 x 12 1/2 inches. Minor wear to the frame. The reproduced album covers inside the frame are beginning to curl and lift.
A souvenir of one of hip-hop's most beloved pop culture crossovers. In interviews, Jay-Z recalled hearing a DJ play an instrumental version of "It's the Hard Knock Life" from Annie while on tour in the late 1990s, which inspired him to record the track. "'It immediately brought me back to my childhood and that feeling,' he says. 'I knew right then and there that I had to make that record, and people would relate to the struggle and the aspiration in it, as well.'"
Sold for $640
Estimated at $1,000 - $1,500
Includes Buyer's Premium
The Estate of Charles Strouse & Barbara Siman
JAY-Z and CHARLES STROUSE
A platinum cassette and CD "presented to Charles Strouse to commemorate RIAA certified multi-platinum sales of more than 4,000,000 copies of the Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam Recordings, Inc. cassette and CD "Vol. 2...Hard Knock Life." Cassette and CD mounted in a frame with holographic sales award and reproductions of the original album cover, the frame 17 x 12 1/2 inches. Minor wear to the frame. The reproduced album covers inside the frame are beginning to curl and lift.
A souvenir of one of hip-hop's most beloved pop culture crossovers. In interviews, Jay-Z recalled hearing a DJ play an instrumental version of "It's the Hard Knock Life" from Annie while on tour in the late 1990s, which inspired him to record the track. "'It immediately brought me back to my childhood and that feeling,' he says. 'I knew right then and there that I had to make that record, and people would relate to the struggle and the aspiration in it, as well.'"
Auction: Stage & Screen Featuring The Estate of Charles Strouse & Barbara Siman, Mar 18, 2026
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Auction of the Estate of Composer Charles Strouse & Choreographer Barbara Siman on March 18, 2026
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Memorabilia, Artwork, Furniture, Decorations, Books and More from Their Manhattan Apartment
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Featured Section of the March 18 Stage & Screen Auction
NEW YORK, NY -- Fans and collectors from across the nation and beyond gathered in Doyle's saleroom and online for the auction the Estate of the legendary Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award-winning composer Charles Strouse and his wife choreographer Barbara Siman. Showcased were memorabilia, artwork, furniture, decorations, books and more from the couple's Manhattan apartment. The landmark sale was a featured section of the Stage & Screen auction on March 18, 2026.
Over his 50-year career Charles Strouse wrote the music for such iconic musical theater hits as Bye Bye Birdie, Applause and Annie, as well as the theme song for the classic sitcom All in the Family ("Those Were the Days"). Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin's partnership on Annie produced one of Broadway's most successful scores ever. "Tomorrow" and other songs from the production have since become enduring American musical standards admired by generations. Read More
Highlighting the sale was Charles Strouse's antique Steinway Model A Grand Piano that achieved $11,520, surpassing its $7,000-10,000 estimate. Manufactured in 1897, the piano was acquired by Strouse in the late 1960s and used throughout the composition Applause (1970), Annie (1977), and other celebrated works.
Among the memorabilia offerings that realized strong results were signed sheet music for the iconic song “Tomorrow” from Annie that sold for $1,280, many times its $300-400 estimate, and signed sheet music for “Those Were the Days,” the opening theme from the television series All in the Family, estimated at $300-500, which achieved $1,216. Also drawing interest at the sale was Charles Strouse’s director’s chair, printed on the front with “Charles Strouse” and on the back with “Annie,” which more than doubled its $300-500 estimate, selling for $1,152.
Stage & Screen
Property from the Estate of Charles Stouse & Barbara Siman was offered as a featured section of the Stage & Screen auction celebrating Theater, Hollywood, Music and Dance. Read More
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