Woodstock Man Wins $10K Apple Prize

WOODSTOCK, Ga. (MyFOX ATLANTA) - The Apple iTunes store sold its 10 billionth song this week and it dished out a hefty prize to the song's buyer. The lucky winner is a 71-year-old grandfather from Woodstock, who never even knew there was a contest to win.

Lou Sulcer loves country music and loves making mixed CD's for family and friends.

Sulcer was making a CD this week and one of the songs he purchased from Apple's iTunes turned to out to be a major milestone for Apple, Inc.

Sulcer said the moment he previewed a Johnny Cash song on iTunes, he knew he needed to add it to his country music collection.

"Man, as soon as it started, I just clicked it over and that was it. Just happenstance," recalled Sulcer.

The Johnny Cash song, "Just Happens That Way" was the song that Sulcer bought.

What the Woodstock man didn't know at the time was that his selection was the 10 billionth song downloaded from iTunes. That purchase made Sulcer the winner of a $10,000 Apple credit.

"He said, 'This is Steve Jobs of Apple.' I said, 'Right, yeah.' He said, 'You just won $10,000 in gift certificates,'" said Sulcer.

The personal call from Apple, Inc's CEO put Sulcer in an unexpected spotlight. The 71-year-old doesn't get out much because of his health. Sulcer said his computer and music have helped him cope with discomfort from heart problems, artificial hip sockets and lupus.

"It just makes me feel better," said Sulcer.

Sulcer has put 900 songs on his iPod, a birthday gift from his children, since October.

Thursday was a busy day for the Woodstock man who gave several interviews, including one to Rolling Stone magazine.

Sulcer said Thursday that he hadn't yet gone to Apple's website to see what he could buy. It just might be that Sulcer's three children and nine grandchildren will be winners as well.