Musical instruments with a lot of history in them, and a lot of gigs in their memory, are going up for sale.

Dennis Emerson, 82, well known around Gloucester and the Middle Peninsula, said he has decided it is time to give up the performing life. He has included his instruments and stage equipment in an auction to be held Saturday at 6933 Richmond Road, Williamsburg, by Express Auction Specialists, starting at 10 a.m.

The auction will include two Martin guitars and a Dobro original Hound Dog guitar, as well as an Englehardt bass fiddle, violin and Kentucky mandolin. They are other instruments are shown on the expressauction.com site.

Emerson, who lives in Pinetta, has been playing guitar since he was 15 years old, and has headed bands including the Honeywind Bluegrass Boys and the Blue River Band. He started off playing alongside his brother, the late John Emerson.

Musical performances supplemented his income as a firefighter and provided a creative outlet for this musical...