This is only a preview. The auction will open on: 10/28/2026 1:00:00 PM
Offered Here: Journey 1988 Greatest Hits RIAA Diamond award Presented to John Koladner
Item Details: A monumental artifact of rock history, this official RIAA certified diamond award honors Journey's definitive 1988 Greatest Hits collection. This highly coveted accolade was presented directly to legendary music industry executive John Koladner during his influential tenure as a senior executive at Columbia Records. This piece represents one of the inaugural diamond award presentations, which were instituted by the RIAA on March 19, 1999, to recognize albums selling over ten million copies. The impressive trophy stands approximately 16 inches tall and features a sleek two-piece construction, consisting of a base with a footprint measuring 4 1/2 x 6 1/4 inches with an engraved presentation plaque, and a striking glass statue topped with a crystal jewel. Combining an unmatched musical legacy with elite executive provenance, this rarely seen award is a premier centerpiece for any advanced entertainment memorabilia collection.
Formed in San Francisco in 1973, Journey became one of the most commercially successful American rock bands of the late 1970s and 1980s, pairing Steve Perry's vocals with Neal Schon's guitar on albums such as Escape, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 1981. Released in 1988 as the band's classic lineup wound down, Greatest Hits gathered songs including "Don't Stop Believin'," "Open Arms," "Faithfully," "Any Way You Want It" and "Wheel in the Sky," and it became one of the best-selling albums in American history through steady sales over the following decades. The collection's endurance was renewed when "Don't Stop Believin'" reached new generations through the 2007 series finale of The Sopranos and the television show Glee, and Journey was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.
Condition: This award is in very good condition overall, showing little general sign of wear, aging, or storage. There is some minor blemishing to the base, and the presentation plaque displays several marks to the paint, but the rest of the award remains in beautiful shape with the glass structure and crystal jewel retaining their exceptional display quality.
SKU: CLL2110