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Jerry Gladstone & Christopher Morales Took More Than My Money

Seth Garceau (right) and friends going to a Bob Dylan concert
with Seth's father, Rick Garceau, in Des Moines, Iowa in 2004.

By Rick Garceau

When I was growing up, I loved listening to music. My passion was so strong that I knew it was something I wanted to share with my children, Seth and Tess.

Although the popular music of the time had changed between our generations, I still wanted the kids to appreciate classic rock in the way that I did. I started by introducing songs from bands such as The Grateful Dead, The Beatles, and Bob Dylan. In the morning, while I prepared breakfast I would blast music from these bands that the kids thought was “outdated.” While they would eat, I would sing along with the music and they would laugh and make jokes about how terrible my singing was. Even though the jokes were at my expense, I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my mornings. Seth and Tess eventually learned the words better than I did, and that’s when I knew that music was something that would keep us together.

As the kids got older and started spending more time with their friends, our family still had the music to keep us in touch. My son and his friends were all Bob Dylan fans, just as I was, so it was a great surprise that they kept me in mind when they had an extra ticket to one of his shows. I was touched that out of all the people they could have asked to go, they chose me. The only problem was that I was building a house on Madeline Island in Lake Superior, and the concert was 11 hours away in Des Moines. However, I wasn’t going to let the distance keep from missing out on this great opportunity to enjoy Dylan with Seth and his friends.

I left early in the morning and drove nine hours to my hometown to pick up the boys and proceed to the concert. After three more hours of driving, we were finally there. The concert was phenomenal, as we all expected. But what I will remember most are the smiles of excitement on the boys’ faces during the entire show. At that moment, I forgot about the long drive ahead of me and just let the good times roll.

Shortly after the concert, Seth, a member of the Iowa National Guard, volunteered to join his battalion to fight the war in Iraq. After a mere 30 days of being there, Seth was killed by a roadside bomb that struck his Humvee. During the years to follow, I experienced many different emotions, but a large part of what I was feeling was emptiness. When you lose a child you not only lose them, but you also lose a huge part of yourself.

It took me awhile to adjust, but I found that through listening to music, I could start getting that part of myself back. Music has a way of conveying emotions that you sometimes can’t explain on your own. Music gave me a voice of my own and by listening to music that Seth and I both loved, I found a way to keep him alive in my heart. I eventually got back on my feet and started feeling more and more like myself. But something was still missing.

Although Seth was always with me in my heart, I wanted a way to celebrate his life and our love for music in a way that everyone could see. I devoted the next few years to remodeling my living room into a room built completely for Seth. In this room, I started by displaying military emblems, such as his purple heart and the items that he was carrying at the time of his death.

I didn’t want the entire room to be about Seth’s military endeavors, though, so I thought carefully about other ways I could memorialize his life. That's when I found Jerry Gladstone's autograph company, American Royal Arts. I ended up purchasing an autographed Grateful Dead guitar and an autographed Dylan and the Dead poster to remind me of the cherished hours Seth and I used to spend together, talking, laughing, and listening to these famous artists.

These tokens of the bond with my son meant the world to me. So I was devastated to discover that the autographs on the guitar and the poster, like all the classic rock memorabilia sold to me by Jerry Gladstone, were forgeries authenticated by Christopher Morales.

Now, the memorabilia that once brought back pleasant memories of my son elicits feelings of heartbreak and disgust.

By betraying me and thousands of others like me, these criminals have not only stolen our money. They have robbed us of much more than that.

Tags: Jerry gladstone, american royal arts, christopher Morales, dylan, fake, forgeries, grateful dead

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on January 29, 2012 at 7:01pm

Here is American Royal Arts' Fall 2009 catalog as flash. It's 40 megs and you'll need to download it to view, so don't try to put it on your phone.

American Royal Arts' Fall 2009 Catalog

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Permalink Reply by Barry S on January 29, 2012 at 7:05pm

Yeah I saved a couple of ARA magazines. That guitar that Gary bought reminded me of some they were selling.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Allen Baker on January 29, 2012 at 11:42pm

Having collected autographs since 1965 – and even promoted numerous rock shows over the years – I have seen it all when it comes to autographs. All except most of the dealers who sell signed rock items who NEVER seem to turn up at venues, never have backstage or “Meet & Greet” passes, contracts, or even photographs. I cover many of the venues here on the east coast and always see the same faces, over and over again. Over 40 shows in 2011 alone! I get all my rock ‘n’ roll autographs in-person and can tell you who signs what, when and where, but more importantly can prove it. When buying ask questions. For example, “Where and when did Elton John sign this and how did you get through his security to get it?” Last year I showed a Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame member an autograph advertisement and he verified to me that he did not, nor did he ever, sign the items in the ad. Think about that. Yet this firm continues to sell items. If anyone needs information I would be more than happy to assist you. Thank you, Mark Allen Baker

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on January 29, 2012 at 11:59pm

Hi Mark,

Please tell the rest of the story, either here or in a new discussion.

Thanks,
Steve

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Permalink Reply by Sidney Fields on January 30, 2012 at 1:22am

Mark...we'd love to hear your experiences.

And are you the same person who has written so much about boxing...including work for IBHOF & the book about the fight scene in Upstate NY?

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Permalink Reply by sling on February 6, 2012 at 11:48am

How do you get thru his security ?

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Permalink Reply by Rick Garceau on January 30, 2012 at 2:28am

Thank you Mark, I am very interested in hearing more. It sounds like you have some important stories to tell , and would be valuable for anybody who might be thinking about purchasing signed items.

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Permalink Reply by Rick Garceau on January 30, 2012 at 2:49am

Mark, I will be writing more about the rest of the forged items I purchased from Jerry Gladstone, and will also upload photos. I would really appreciate your input on these items as well. Thank you!

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Permalink Reply by Seleznev Dmitri on January 30, 2012 at 2:55am

Bustards! Cheer up, Father! Take a legal action: all you need just a little bit of money and extra time and you can start from the small claims court (up to $ 10,000). You will surprised, how these scumbags afraid of it. Expose them: write and tell your story everywhere: this magazine, google, yahoo, friends, etc. Start over: find a trusted, relible dealer (ACAF-AFTAL-UACC REGISTERED) and restore your collection. Most of us, new collectors, went through the same disappoitment and got plenty of garbage, get educated, read materials in this magazine, also I would recommend www.isitreal.com and www.Autografica.com . You might will need a third party opinion, you can get help from Markus Brandes Autogrraphs and Autografica, many others. They willl also gladly cosult you how to proceed in order to nail these lowlifes.

I'm a father myself, I have a daughter. Worst thing that can happen to you its a loosing a child. This pain will never go away. You have to learn how to live with it.

Please feel free to write me anytime you want.

My deepest condolences and respect. Dmitri, US merchant seaman.

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Permalink Reply by Rick Garceau on January 30, 2012 at 3:17am

Thank you Seleznev,, that means a lot to me ,and I hope to talk to you soon. The comments from you and all others about my story has given me the motivation to do more to expose these dealers for what they really are.