'It's like finding the Holy Grail' - Harborough multi-millionaire spends £100,000 on the world’s most valuable Motown record

Overjoyed Market Harborough multi-millionaire Lee Jeffries has splashed out over £100,000 for the world’s most valuable Motown record.

Thrilled Lee, 38, said he has found the “Holy Grail” after sealing the mind-blowing world-record deal for seven inch northern soul 45 ‘Do I Love You’ by Frank Wilson.

The turbo-charged entrepreneur has also forked out a stunning six-figure sum for a gleaming Ferrari supercar and married his sweetheart Lisa, 34 – all in the last two weeks.

Elated Lee told the Harborough Mail: “I’m over the moon.

“I’ve already had some life – even at just 38.

“But this must be the most incredible fortnight I’ve ever had even by my crazy standards!”

The high-powered dad-of-two added: “I’m ecstatic at the moment, I’m feeling sky high.

“Buying the iconic Motown record and the Ferrari 488 was just jawdropping.

“And then to cap it all off by marrying Lisa on a day we’ll never forget really did put the icing on the cake.”

Lee, who lives on the outskirts of Market Harborough, snapped up Frank Wilson’s classic single ‘Do I Love You’ after the sale was brokered by Melton Mowbray rare vinyl dealer John Manship.

The track was originally rejected for release by legendary label Motown in the 1960s.

“Only two copies were ever pressed.

“One has a heat warp and doesn’t play,” said Lee, a record label owner and drinks business baron.

“So now I’ve got the only playable copy of this classic record.

“I’ve already played it a few times – and I love it.

“Getting my hands on this northern soul gem is like hitting the winning goal in the 1966 World Cup Final for England.

“It really is like finding the fabled Holy Grail.”

The unique 45 went for just under £26,000 when it was last sold in 2009.

“I never even met the owner, he wanted to remain anonymous and stay out of the limelight.

“John set up the deal and I had to shell out cash running into six figures to seal it,” said football-mad Lee, who has a daughter Coco, five, and baby son Jaxx.

“But it’s a fantastic one-off investment and it will be worth every penny and more.

“Buying this little beauty has made headlines in the music business right round the world.

“And I’ve already been offered well over £100,000 for it by no end of collectors and investors.”

Lee said it was worth plundering his bank account alone to see his 62-year-old dad Steve jumping for joy.

“My dad loves his northern soul and he started selling the records himself way back in 1979 – he’s a real superfan.

“You could say that northern soul is in my blood, I grew up with it in our house.

“So the look on dad’s face was just incredible when I showed him ‘Do I Love You’.

“It was very emotional and both my dad and my mum Christina, 61, are very proud of me,” he said.

“I’ve worked very hard to be able to afford to buy something as extraordinarily special as this record and pulled myself up by my bootstraps.”

Lee, who’s DJ’d all over the world as he’s fireballed his way through 38 years of life, is now hoping to play the inimitable Frank Wilson pearl to northern soul devotees.

“I have already been offered lots of DJing gigs – and I may well do some shows to play it.

“This record is part of the entire northern soul community.

“It’s much bigger than me,” said the Sonic Wax Records boss who has piled up a 100,000-disc collection.

“I have bought this 45 for everyone who has ever danced and sang along to northern soul.

“I have become its custodian looking after it if you like.

“I just love vinyl to bits – I’m addicted to vinyl.

“I’m always looking for new treasure out there.

“I may well sell ‘Do I Love You’ in the years to come.

“But I’ll never sell it to someone who’s going to hide it away in a cupboard.

“They’ll have to love northern soul as much as I do and they’ll have to share it with fans like me everywhere.”

Lee is also racing ahead with big plans on the business front after his London and Leicester-based drinks bottling company was recently valued at £10 million.

“I’m just about to open up two new recording studios, called Lockdown Records, near the railway station in Market Harborough.

“We’ll be using a lot of local artists as well as session musicians from around the world to make exciting new records,” he said.

“We will create a few jobs there and we’re also generating 20 new jobs at our bottling business – which has boomed throughout the lockdown.

“We are expanding by opening up two new production units and ploughing in another £1 million.”

Lee again raided his well-stocked piggybank to pocket his dream 210mph Ferrari 488 supercar in July.

And he topped off a breath-taking few days by marrying his beloved fiancée Lisa at Market Harborough Registration Office on Tuesday August 4.

“It was a beautiful day and we are both just ecstatic and delighted to have got married.

“We’re not going on honeymoon just yet – I’m chilling out today, mopping up the floor and kicking the ball about in our garden,” said Lee.

“I’ll be taking a few days off but I’ll be back at work on Monday as usual knocking out 16-hour days.

“I vowed to become a multi-millionaire by the time I hit 40 and I’ve got there.

“But I’m still a normal lad, down to earth and the same fella I was when I lived in a humble two up two down council house as a kid.

“You’ve got to surround yourself with the best people you can – whether it’s at work or in your private life with your loved ones.

“And if you do that, if you have a relentless will to succeed, the determination to grab life by the scruff of the neck and come out on top – then you can’t go wrong.”