Homes of Famous Musicians
With the 58th Grammy Awards right around the corner, social media platforms and radio airwaves are abuzz with rumors of which top artists will be named this year’s big winners. Featuring nominees as diverse as Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj, the Foo Fighters, Florence and the Machine, Bruno Mars, Dr. Dre, and James Taylor, the Grammy Awards show is sure to be compelling. Below, we offer a timely celebration of six luxury residences that are compelling in their own right, especially as the former homes of other famous music industry personalities.
The House I Live In Mountain Center, CaliforniaDesigned for none other than Ol’ Blue Eyes by architect Ross Patton, this 1970 California desert ranch home was built in the same year in which Sinatra retired and left his final Hollywood concert with the words, “Excuse me while I disappear,” …though he did come out of retirement three years later. The secluded property has been perfectly maintained by the only owners it’s had since the Chairman of the Board himself; even his American and Italian flags still fly proudly over the large, naturally landscaped pool. Also featuring eight bedrooms, twelve full bathrooms, and a tennis court, this storied residence was built to serve as both a secret hideaway and a fantastic venue for entertaining.
Falling in Love Again Beverly Hills, CaliforniaOnce the home of Hollywood legend Marlene Dietrich and later the temperamental Spanish conductor and concert pianist José Iturbi, this Spanish Restoration- style Beverly Hills estate sits on one acre of lushly landscaped land in the heart of Los Angeles. The house itself was decorated by renowned designer Elsie De Wolfe, who is often referred to as the inventor of interior decoration. Much of De Wolfe’s work remains in the form of Hollywood Regency- era elements like a marble bathroom with its own balcony, hand-painted Art Deco wallpapers, a mirrored dining room, and custom banisters, gates, and balcony railings. Thanks to its masterful preservation and unique details, this opulent, elegant home still reflects the sophistication of its famous former residents.
All Right Now London, EnglandThe only available 18th-century home remaining in this part of London, Percy Lodge has been restored to its former country house glory by architect Robert Atkinson, who saved it from its scheduled demolition. Built in the 1740s, the main residence boasts a wisteria-festooned entrance plus a reception hall, media room, and playroom as well as drawing and dining rooms and seven bedrooms. Once owned by famed photographer Julia Margaret Cameron (Virginia Woolf’s great aunt), it was later the home of rock drummer Simon Kirke and his family, including his daughter, actor Jemima Kirke. The estate includes a coach house with a two-bedroom, two-bathroom stable flat as well as staff quarters. With its gated driveway, walled garden, and accommodations for horses—the coach house includes four loose boxes plus a pony stall and tack room—Percy Lodge provides a rare opportunity to live in the English countryside and easily access all that London has to offer.
Les Plus Beaux Jours Côte d’Azur, FranceVilla Grasse was once owned by French composer and harpist Germaine Tailleferre, who wrote everything from film scores to classical concertos and ballets and also collaborated with writers Paul Valéry and Paul Claudel. The five-bedroom residence is also the former home of American painter Mary Cassatt, whose guests often included Degas and Renoir. A grand terrace, which is enhanced by a pool as well as olive trees and flowering plants, provides stunning views of the Côte d’Azur and the Mediterranean Sea beyond. The outdoor kitchen allows residents to take full advantage of the area’s sublime weather and the dramatic estate’s beautiful landscaping.
Take it Easy Santa Fe, New MexicoThis gorgeous adobe home, which has a detached studio used by former owner Glenn Frey of The Eagles during the 1980s, also features an outdoor sleeping bed, 1920s bread oven, custom lighting, slate floors, masterful plaster construction, cherry woodwork, a spectacular stone fireplace, and large modern kitchen. While such details are truly exquisite, this property’s views—which take in landmarks ranging from Mount Taylor to the Ski Santa Fe resort and the Galisteo Basin Preserve—rank among its finest features. From such a stunning vantage point, it’s easy to see why New Mexico is so beloved by artists of all types.
Blue Velvet Sarasota, FloridaWith an illustrious list of previous residents, including legendary singer Bobby Vinton, every detail of this magnificent waterfront home has been designed to celebrate the best of Florida living. One full wall of the dining room presents floor-to-ceiling water views, and the lighting above the dining table, which can seat up to 18 guests, can be personalized. The screened porch offers 77 feet of relaxing water frontage, and each of the main property’s four second-floor bedrooms enjoys dramatic view of the water, as do the theater room and the kitchen’s breakfast area. The separate four-bedroom guest home is equally impressive, and the resort-like courtyard between the two buildings contains a pool, spa, sauna, cabana, and bar. While deep-water dockage accommodates boaters and yacht owners, the main residence boasts an 800-bottle wine cellar for entertaining as well as a walk-in safe for extra security.
Treasures for a six-string connoisseur are on offer at Christie’s forthcoming David Gilmour Guitar Collection sale in New York on June 20. The collection, 120 instruments owned by the legendary Pink Floyd singer-songwriter, includes “The Black Strat,” the iconic 1969 Fender Stratocaster that was Gilmour’s main performance and recording guitar, played on The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals, and The Wall. It is estimated to fetch $100,000-150,000. The collection also includes dozens of other vintage Fenders—Strats, Esquires, Broadcasters, and Telecasters—along with a half-dozen gorgeous C.F. Martin & Co. acoustic guitars (and a banjo!), a 1933 Dobro resonator, and a mind-boggling array of classic Gibson, Gretsch, and Rickenbacker guitars.Inspired by this sale,Luxury Defined offers a collection of homes of an extraordinary musical provenance: Consider St Ann’s Court in Surrey, England, the former estate and music studio of Roxy Music guitarist Phil Manzanera, co- producer of Gilmour’s On an Island album. Or perhaps a riverfront retreat in Georgia designed by Kerry Livgren, founding member of 1970s supergroup Kansas; or a medieval château once owned by French composer Léo Ferré; or two tropical oceanfront villas whose former guests include Elvis Presley and the Beatles. And all these magnificent homes come with plenty of space to store one’s guitars.St Ann’s Court in Surrey, EnglandSt Ann’s Court is a unique and iconic modern country estate in Surrey, formerly owned by Roxy Music’s lead guitarist and record-producer Phil Manzanera. Encompassing eight acres of spectacularly lush grounds, the property has its origins in the 18th century, but is a 1930s modernist masterpiece at its heart. Offering just under 12,000 square feet of interior space across 34 rooms, the residence comprises two contrasting buildings. The primary home is the Grade II*-listed, circular, three-story Round House, designed by renowned architect Sir Raymond McGrath—a devotee of the modernist movement’s greatest pioneer, Le Corbusier. The Coach House, once part of the estate’s original 18th-century manor home, was converted by Manzanera into a world-class music studio in the 1980s. The grounds of St Ann’s Court are a separate delight with a mixture of contemporary and traditional landscapes, featuring seven distinct gardens, woodland, and five ponds. It is also well suited for equestrian pursuits with ample room for stable blocks.
Related: Explore 10 Homes with Private Beaches Richard Harris’s Estate in Paradise Island, BahamasIrish acting legend Richard Harris’s estate, Kilkee House, is set on 2.5 sea-to-sea acres between a private beach and a deepwater harbor in Paradise Island, Bahamas. Harris hosted many colorful parties over the years, inviting a who’s who of music, stage, and screen stars, including the Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Peter O’Toole, Errol Flynn, Pierce Brosnan, and Nicolas Cage. The stately colonial-style beach house features a panelled library, living rooms, gym, and several loggias for entertaining. The poolside guest cottage has a private terrace that served as Harris’s rehearsal space. Furthering the allure is a lagoon-style pool, manicured lawn, perfect for parties or as a helicopter landing, and a boat dock with several slips and a main berth, which can accommodate a 130-foot yacht.Kerry Livgren’s Riverfront Retreat in Sandy Springs, GeorgiaRivergate, a unique waterfront estate on the Chattahoochee River, just outside Atlanta, was built in 1979 for Kerry Livgren. Founding member, primary songwriter, lead guitarist, and keyboard player of 1970s supergroup Kansas, Livgren penned the iconic American classic rock hits Carry On Wayward Son and Dust in the Wind. The modernist home features three levels of luxurious living and entertaining areas. The main level offers a lavish master suite, an open-concept living room, and gourmet kitchen. The upper floor houses two private suites, while the light-filled lower level has a bar, two bedrooms, and two bathrooms. The living spaces open to a stunning, resort-inspired pool terrace surrounded by private woods leading to a sundeck at the river’s edge.
Related: See a Show in These Well-Known Theater Cities Léo Ferré’s French Château in Lot, FranceThis magnificent domaine in Lot, France, was formerly owned by famed French singer-songwriter, musician, composer, and poet Léo Ferré, whose hits include Avec le temps, C’est extra, and Paris canaille. The centerpiece of 165-acre estate is a fully restored medieval château with several reception rooms, 17 bedrooms, and 14 bathrooms. Surrounding the home are several ancillary buildings, including a renovated farm and barn, which once served as Léo Ferré’s printing works; a guardian’s house; winemaking shed; and a dovecote. The luxurious 21st- century amenities include a pool, tennis court, fitness center, and summer kitchen. The grounds consist of meadows, woodland, and a hobby vineyard planted with merlot vines, producing approximately 4,000 bottles per year.Sullivan Estate in Oahu, HawaiiThe Sullivan Estate in Oahu, Hawaii, has been a haven for such musical royalty as the U2 lead singer, Bono; American singer-songwriter Lionel Ritchie; and the King of Rock and Roll himself, Elvis Presley. The spectacular ocean- view compound is the personal residence and spa retreat of biochemist Dr. Jurgen Klein, a world leader in high-end wellness therapies and the founder of skin-care brands Jurlique and JK7. The collection of structures overlooks 15 miles of the North Shore of Oahu from five picturesque acres. From the Pupukea plateau, the lush grounds cascade down towards the sea-level plains below, with incredible views taking in Waimea Bay and the mountain ranges of West Oahu. Walkways and pools connect the serene accommodations to the parklike grounds, which offer easy access to the surf breaks known as the seven-mile miracle.
Related: Visit 7 Hotels That Have Hosted Famous Guests Germaine Tailleferre’s Villa in Côte d’Azur, France
The idyllic five-bedroom residence on the French Riviera has a storied past. At the turn of the 20th century, Villa Grasse was owned by American Impressionist painter Mary Cassatt, whose guests often included Degas and Renoir. In the 1940s, it was purchased by Germaine Tailleferre. The renowned French harpist, composer, and sole member of the post-World War I group of French composers known as Les Six wrote everything from film scores to classical concertos and ballets. A grand terrace, enhanced by a pool as well as olive trees and flowering plants, provides stunning views of the Côte d’Azur and the Mediterranean Sea beyond. The outdoor kitchen allows residents to take full advantage of the area’s sublime weather and the dramatic estate’s beautiful landscaping.