Les Paul recently celebrated his 87th birthday doing what he's done for the past fifty years: entertaining audiences by playing his namesake electric guitar.
Les Paul, the father of the electric guitar and multitrack recording, dressed in a thick, oatmeal-colored ribbed turtleneck sweater (and it's in the high-70s and humid on this June 3rd day), navy blue trousers and black loafers, and wearing wire rimmed aviator-style glasses, is doing a sound check at 6:00 p.m., before the first of his two shows every Monday night at the Iridium Club on Broadway and 51st in Manhattan.…
Article comments
— go to most recent comments26 - Jack Rose
My grandfather (died 1961) was a studio musician and told of knowing Mr. Paul. Anyone know how to get in contact with him. I did not know my grandfather very well but would like to verify the story and if true find out what Mr. Paul remembers of him. His name was Jack Rose. He was also on "Don McNeals Breakfast Club" on radio in the 1940's.
27 - Ronny Reuter
I have enjoyed Les' style since I was a baby. I am now chasing sixty years old. He's been my favorite musician all of my life, and that won't ever change. Considering that he has arthritis in both hands, the bad right elbow, and all the other things that have plagued him, he still plays better than anyone else around. NOW, THAT'S A HERO IN MY BOOK!
28 - Walter Jenny
Les Paul has always been listed as a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. But nobody seems to know how that came about. Do any Les Paul fans know the story? Thanks.
Best wishes,
Walter Jenny
Edmond OK
29 - Walter Jenny
Les Paul has always been listed as a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. But nobody seems to know how that came about. Do any Les Paul fans know the story? Excellent site. Thanks.
Best wishes,
Walter Jenny
Edmond OK
30 - Conrad Hayden
Just wanted to know if Les has an e-mail address or an agency that handles his mail/email? I would love the opportunity to say thank you to this truly remarkable man.
Conrad Hayden
31 - Elke
Hi, I have a question to anyone how is reading this. I am from Germany and my father is a great fan (I think the biggest fan you´ve ever seen) of Les Paul. In Germany it is very difficult to find anything about Les.
CAn anybody help me to find out his autogramm adress? Please help me.
ELke
32 - Willy Van den Berghe
First of all , my English isn't a 100% but "Here We Go"
I can say that I got all of LES' (and Mary's ) Capitol recordings starting with "Until I Hold You Again " b/w "You Can't Expect Kisses From Me " Capitol 623 from May '49 up until Febr.58 with "Small Island" b/w "More and More Each Day" and everything in between. It took me 48 years to find the last missing Capitol record "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" Capitol 3302 recorded Dec '51 When I was living in Belgium I started the Belgian "Les and Mary Fan Club"and had the good fortune to correspond with Les and Mary . Unfortunately I never had the chance to meet them in person . The closest I've ever been to them was 48 Km away when they landed unexpectedly in Brussels on their way to Paris .On that occasion Les wrote me Jan.2 , 1956 "We are sorry we didn't get to see you while we were in Europe but our visit to Belgium wasn't in our original plans and it wasn't until the last minute when we decided to go there.As it was , it was just a quick visit and then we had to run on to Paris . Let's hope for better luck next time. Les
Better luck next time never came .Now I'm living in Australia (for the last 4 years but I'm still the same Les Paul fan I was 54 years ago . I know some of You claim to be Les Paul fans (and I'm sure You are , but tell me "how many of you can say they have Les and Mary's photo sitting on their mantelpiece for the last 50 odd years ?? The walls in my "study" are decorated with Les' and Mary's photo's and letters . I also have all their Columbia recordings . It took me years before i got all of them because after their split from Capitol only 4 Columbia singles and 2 albums where released in Belgium late '59 early 60's
I'm still trying to find some of Les' 1940's recordings Maybe someone who's reading this can help me out ?
I hope this email comes through because I had some trouble with it the last week .See Testing Willy on comment 34-37
Willy
33 - GEORGE
WHAT WAS THE NAME OF LES'S Paul's restaurant on pearl river NY.
or did he just play is a restaurant in PEARL rIVER ny.
Thanx
34 - Ron
When I was growing up my Dad owned a radio station in Harrisburg, PA, WCMB.
Each summer they had a WCMB "Day" at Hershey Park and Les Paul and Mary Ford often played for it. One year I sat in on the orchestra, Red McCarthy's Orchestra, playing trumpet. I watched as Les demonstrated to the audience how the voiceovers were put together. He had Mary sing a part to a song, then waited, did something with his guitar, then had her sing again, with the original playing, kept repeating this until he had the number of voices and the sound he wanted. I had no clue, at the time, how remarkable this was.
I met him and Mary on more than one occasion. What a memory....playing on stage with Les Paul and Mary Ford. I loved reading your bio of Les and I still listen to their music on my casette player.
35 - John Ray
Does anyone know where I can obtain a video or DVD with live performances of Les Paul and Mary Ford? I know they did quite a few TV appearances. Somewhere there must be copies available. Thanks, John
36 - Annette Smith
I have been a Les Paul fan since the 50's. In my high school year book under my picture, my most prized possession is listed as my Les Paul/Mary Ford records (I still have them). I was at the Iridium the Monday night before Les' 87th birthday. I got to tell that to Russ, who wanted to know if I would part with those records! But I'm not ready to do that). I managed to get Les' autograph, and now that is a prized possession too! He is truly one of the great ones, and his music has added more to my life than I can ever say!
Thanks. Annette
37 - Dane
I've got a 61 Les Paul that my dad gave me when I was 16...I'm 58 now and am still tryin to learn how to play 1/100th as good as Les.....He is a national treasure....
38 - Lois
I have the Guitar Monsters Album with Les Paul and Chet Atkins. Did they record any others. It is one of favorites and if there is another one, I would like a copy. Thanks
39 - bob
with regards to georges comment,on les' restaruant,,,frankly,,i dont think he has ever owned one,,,however,i have worked for les in the late eighties,,early 90's and know of two restarants he might have played,,one being ht mc dougals in mahwah n.j.and the other being,,the seven seas rest in oradell nj,,he being a celebrity and his private life being preciuos,,i cant devulge more..however,he is still a close freind and a very real,kind,and warmhuman being,,,with great love of his freinds and family,. he is truly a gas to hang out with,,
40 - Richard Gunn
I saw Les' set at the Iridium during a weeks holiday in NY a couple of weeks ago. He is still great and I guessed that he was in his 70s, I would never have guessed that he was 89! Amazing, so glad to have had the opportunity to see and hear a legend play.
41 - beverly
Thank u very much this was realy nice but i was wondering can u send me some more info on him before it hits friday i have a report to do on him can u send it to manma@yahoo.com and i will write back.
THANK YOU
42 - Jack Wise
Just looking for anything on video of Les Paul and Chet Atkins. Anthology, Recording sessions, out takes, ecc...
Preferably on DVD Or VHS.
43 - Hans Busch
HELP!!!! From anyone outthere in the music world. I had in my possession in the late 50th a 45 single by Les Paul with "Delicado" on side A & "Amorada" on side B. Nothing compares to it, not even Chat Atkins version. I would love to hear it again. Does anyone know of its existance? I have checked archives & other sources without success. Someone must know it existed. Hoping for a reply. Thanks in advance Hans B.
44 - Hans Busch
To Willy Van den Berghe re: comment #39,
I just read your comment and based on it, I would think, you would be able to answer my quest in search of...... see comment #51 Nov. 4. 2004. Even if you cannot help, please reply. Its nice to know, someone acknowledes once existance. Good luck in your quest to meet Paul.
Regards; Hans B.
45 - Ken B
Love reading all this stuff. So great to see so many of Les' fans here. I grew up with Les & Mary on the radio and TV. They were my mother's favorite artists and she had the show on every day. I seem to remember that it was on twice a day for like 15 minutes each broadcast. Maybe I'm wrong but I remember it being on more than once each day. For the past 12 years I've lived in Seoul, Korea working for the US Army under contract. Before that I lived for a few years in So. Cal., but I'm originally from NY and lived in NJ for 10 years. Prior to moving out to Cali, my wife (now ex) and I went to Fat Tuesday's to hear Les play and as expected, it was a great show. We sat right up front and Les played every request. Of course they were all the favorites anyway, so he'd probably have played them no matter what. But he was a great musician, a great gentleman, and a great showman, and the small crowd loved him for it. Afterward, he generously signed autographs. I bought a tee-shirt with his picture on it (holding his famous guitar) which he gladly signed. We chatted a bit and I told him how much my mother (deceased) loved him and Mary. He smiled at the mention of Mary. I asked around at the bar and found a thick black marking pen and he used that to sign the shirt. He asked my name and signed it to me personally with a greeting; "Howdy Ken! Les Paul". The waitress let us use the back of her tray so the shirt lay flat and the signature came out good. Damn, it was spot on like the signature on the headstock of an LP Standard! (duh, why am I so surprised??!!) I still have the shirt, I'll never give it up either. A few years ago, I found an out of print Japanese copy of the Chester and Lester CD in a Tokyo record store, and I play it often. Sorry to bore you all with my rambling story, but stumbling on this site and reading everybodies comments - I was reminded of how much I long to hear Les play live again. Hope he lives forever! His music and legend sure will! Les is MORE!
46 - Sammy Ash
I am trying to locate Les current attorney. Do you have a name or number for him?
Thanks
Sammy Ash
47 - (Olga) Dolly Salisbury
Heard Les Paul via WOR this a.m. driving into work. What an inspriation! I will think of Les whenever I'm down (my age 74) - And I also enjoy most his album Hawaiian Paradise. May Les enjoy many happy years remidning us all how precious life is.
48 - Chris
Its a sad fact that I have never heard a Les Paul recording. However my prized possession is an early 70s Les Paul Custom which I play in preference to my strats, sg, etc. What an inspiration this site is to anyone with an interest in the man and his achievements. He is probably the person most singly responsible for the evolution of not only the instrument but the music industry in general. I will probably never see or meet him - but then I dont need to cos like the rest on this site, he has touched me and thats good enough for me :-). Live long and prosper sir
49 - austin
les paul is great, but what about the unforgettable marcus stratocaster? let's not forget his many ingenious gifts to the world of music: the two-piece bolt-on neck is still hated in record numbers, the thin-as-a-pubic-hair ground wires are probably coming loose around the world as i write, and of course, the single coil pickup speaks volumes as to the brilliance of this man.
50 - ken honeyman
All fans of Mr. Paul i encourage to get the book[bio] "Les Paul", by Mary Shaughnessey. pub 1993... Sorry don't know what publisher... Does anyone know how much time he spent in New Jersey? the book is not too specific about that.
51 - Marina
Great informative article, I as if living in a cave have not heard who has invented multi-tracking eventhough I use it quite often, as a student of music technology at the moment, extremely helpful article! Is it fine with Ed Driscoll if I cite this article in a paper on Les Paul? Thanks!
52 - Duff Yazzie
I always liked all the stuff the Les Paul trio put out. Especially their rendition of How High the Moon
Duff
53 - Duff Yazzie
Oh yeah, I own three Pauls and I have always loved the tone that they give out, that nice kick in the amp I like to call it. One is a 1992 Standard, Heritage Cerry Sunburst, one is a 1999 Les Paul Special SL, and the last one is a Vintage Mahogany model. I do remember also while learning audio engineering that he did coin the concept of multitrack recording in the RCA studios. The man himself is brilliant.
54 - hank raymond
i went to a les paul and mary ford concert at the town casino in buffalo new york in the early 60's.i bought every record i could of them.i was in my teens then /and still love every piece of music i listen to at musicmatch jukebox.i just keyed in his name and up popped lots of his music.check it out folks/u can listen to just clips or pay $9.95 a month to find over 800,000 songs of all kinds of musicians.long live the true king!!!
55 - hank raymond
or was the late 50's/ not sure/but i am forever grateful that i went to hear both of them.i would love to go and hear les again if it was possible.thanks for this info on both of them and him now!!even if he couldnt use his right arm/i bet he could use his right foot!!
56 - Willy Van den Berghe
To Hans Bush
I wrote you a few days after you posted your message 51 but couldn't get through
Have to see how THIS works out and then 'll try to remember what I found out for you
Hope it works out
Willy
57 - Willy Van den Berghe
To Hans Bush
In reply to your message 52 .
I've never heard of a Les (and Mary) recording of those titles and I (pretend) to know them all . I even know of a few titles I never found in any list so far , but Delicado/Amorada isn't among them The only recording of both songs I know of is by Percy Faith and his orchestra with Stan Freeman playing the harpsicord solo on it. It is possible that after 50 years you have mixed-up Stan Freeman's solo with Les' cascades of notes Another possibility is that it was German guitarist Ladi Geissler . I think he recorded both tunes but I do not remember them as being on one record . I tried to find proof of that but the only thing I found out was that he is still active but couldn't find any trace of his recordings from way back then .
So , in my opinion no Les Paul recording of Delicado and Amorada .
Sorry for my (very)
bad English
Regards
Willy
58 - Willy Van den Berghe
Dear Hans B.
Maybe it was Al Caiola . He recorded Delicado as well but (I think) not with Amorada on the other side.
On the other hand Danish guitarist Jorgen Ingmann recorded Amorada but not with Delicado on the other side of the record
Willy
59 - bruce
I have always loved Les and Mary. Even had a few Les Paul and JR,s in my time. I have their album # HL 7333, Harmony Records,(if anybody needs to try to find one), "The Fabulous Les Paul and Mary Ford" album. Also has a # XLP 78768, on it.
I have an old Epiphone I still pick on once in a while, But my prize is a 1948 "Serenader" Electric Bass my dad bought new in 1948, by Bud-Electro co, seattle, Washington.
It dose my heart well to hear that Les is well and fine. I wish him all the best. Bruce.
60 - haily
hi im haily mom used 2 b a huge fan of les paul see ya
61 - fred dooley
Chet Atkins & Les put out a wonderful LP in about 1976, "Chester & Lester"; part of an ongoing duet series Chet did with guitar masters such as Merle Travis, Doc Watson & Mark Knopfler. When the "Guitar Monsters" album came out about 1977 my picker friends and I decided that it was a superb collection of out-takes from the "Chester and Lester" recording session. Their "second best" is still a
fabulous album. I bought a well-used 1955 LP custom "black beauty" at Swat's Pawn & Loan in San Angelo, Texas in the fall of 1964. Cost $90-US, fully two weeks of field work picking corn. Dream come true. I've never played it around others without people wanting to buy it off me. Les my old guitar and Les the man are not as shiny as they were 50 years ago, but are much more beautiful and are making music that makes people happy.
62 - Felix Torres
When I heard Les for the first time, his music style really change my mode to play my guitar. This was in 1957. I alway dream to meet him personally. I ued to hear a five minutes at 12 noon on TV. he is my mentor. Desire to know more about any TV show like or his performance. Wishing a very long life to Les and hope to see him any time.
63 - Ed Howard
I have a Les Paul Custon from around 1980. Not many guitars sound this good
A lot of people would like to get it.
It will probably never be sold
This is a guitar of a lifetime.
64 - mario amaral
vy happy if i could send a big hug,to that great artist of my time , i have almosto every records
65 - Sydney
As reported by SoulShine.ca, Les Paul has hit the Billboard top 200 charts this week with his newest album, "Les Paul & Friends: American Made World Played". This is his first album to be released in 50 years.
Read Full Article
66 - Willy
Dear Sydney Comment 73
His first album in 50 years ???!!!
And what about....
Lover's Luau Released 23 Mar.59
Warm and Wonderful " 18 Dec 61
Bouquet of Roses " 16 Jul 62
Swinging South " 13 May 63
Les Paul Now " 68
Chester and Lester " Feb 76
Guitar Monsters " Jun 78
67 - zfore
les paul is awesome
68 - George Martin
Could anyone furnish a list of the Christmas songs recorded by Les Paul and Mary Ford? I can only find 4.
69 - Willy
Comment 77
Dear George
There are 6 Christmas songs recorded by Les and Mary
1.Jingle Bells Master number 9173 26 Nov.1951
2.Silent Night Master number 9174 26 Nov.1951
both titles on Capitol 1881 78 r.p.m.
3.JUngle Bells Master 11880 12 Oct 1953
4.White Christmas Master 11881 12 Oct 1953
both titles on Capitol 2617
5.Rudolph the Red-Nosed-Reindeer Master 12882
6.Santa Claus is Coming to Town Master 14689
both titles on Capitol 3302
TITLES 1 , 2 , 4 and 6 have been released on a 45 r.p.m. Extented Play Disc EAP 1 - 543
title Christmas Cheer . Released October 1954
Title 3 is Jungle Bells (Dingo-Dongo-Day)
From Willy Van den Berghe Australia see also comments a.o. 39 and 65
70 - Willy Van den Berghe Austalia
Dear George Comment 77
Forgot " The Christmas Song " Composer Mel Torme/Robert Wells Recorded 1961 but released for the first time in 2001 on "The Columbia Singles Collection" COL-CD-6863 Track 21 Label Collectables Sony Special Products
Willy
71 - Eldon Lee Jr.
From talking to my dad, prior to the 30's, Les Paul would perform with groups near his Waukesha WI home with his guitar and banjo. Banjo you say? I was told he played the banjo because it was louder and could be heard in a dance band. Maybe that lead to his development of the electric guitar.
My dad was a trumpet player and always enjoyed it when Les Paul would come to Michigan / Indiana to play with them as a guest artist. Then they could sit and talk music at the breaks. My dad died in April 2005 at the age of 97 still talking about his enjoyment of Les Paul the musician and the person.
Eldon Lee Jr.
72 - Christopher Rose
Comment #73 above was chosen as Comment of the Day for Saturday 17th December 2005.
73 - Phil
Hi # 19.
I am watching "A Tribute To Les Paul" as I read your post.
As a young guitarist with no cinemax I had my brother in law tape it for me.
I haven't watched in in years and was fascinated by Les Pauls playing so I did a search for more info.
Anyways,
It was filmed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in the late 80's and also featured ,BB King, Waylon Jennings, Rita Coolidge, Carly Simon, Stanley Jordan, The Stray Cats and the Les Pauls Trio.
I've searched everywhere for it but cant find anything.
My copy is on VHS tape, it's grainy and there is no sound towards the end.
I can capture the video to the comp and put on kazaa if you want.
Phil
74 - larry
my favorite was chanson d: amor! ithink it was them
75 - Willy Van den Bergh
Comment # 76 reply
It wasn,t