RIAA Platinum Award for Maxwell album Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite. The album was released on Mar. 20, 1996 and was certified Platinum by the RIAA on Mar. 25, 1997 for one million copies sold.

Maxwell's debut album, on which he sang and played all the instruments, featured the singles "Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)" and "Sumthin' Sumthin'". These tracks drove the album to #39 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. It also performed well in many other world music markets. By 2001 it was certified 2x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA.

Item Highlights:

• RIAA Platinum award
• In VG to Excellent condition
• First presentation award from 1997
• Presentation to music industry executive
• All original with manufacturers sticker
  
• Letter of provenance included
• Known as a "RIAA bar hologram" award with serial number, they were made from 1998 to present
• Award measures 21" x 25.5"
• Great collectors item for any Maxwell fan

Detailed Item Description: This RIAA Platinum award is a first presentation award that would have been manufactured in 1997 making this award 25 years old. The award is presented to Jerry Blair, a record executive who held roles at CBS, Chrysalis, and Columbia Records.

Blair played a key role in the success of artists including Maxwell, Billy Joel, Aerosmith, Tony Bennett, Mariah Carey,Wyclef Jean, Ricky Martin, George Michael, Will Smith and many others. The award is accompanied by a letter of provenance from Blair's son, who later took possession of his father's awards and memorabilia (see image of letter, son's name is redacted on image, buyer will receive unredacted copy).

This award is all original but has been rebacked. The award is in VG condition with only minor wear on the frame (which includes a small crack on the rear outer edge of one frame rail--cannot be seen when award is viewed from front) and a few very minor mars on the plexiglass.

Notes on the condition of all vintage RIAA awards like this one: Please do not buy this item if you want a brand new piece of memorabilia. These are historical artifacts from the year they were produced. As a result they may show signs of wear. Frankly, if you see a 20 to 50-year-old award purported to be in 100% perfect condition, it might be too good to be true. After all, an antique should have "good' wear. If not, you might want to question the piece.

As to where they came from, they could have been displayed in record label offices, recording studios, artist manager's offices, radio stations, private collector's homes and yes, of course, possibly the artist's or songwriter's home. Typically, we don't know all the places they may have been over the years other than what we've stated in the description.