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
126 - shiva mudliar
you rock dude
127 - Willy Van den Berghe
Reply on # 115
Dear Bert
Maybe this may solve your problem with the recording of Delicado in the 50's
Go here where you can download and listen to Delicado with guitar solo by Jorgen Ingman as I already "told" you in my comment # 60 (May 2005)Maybe that's the one your looking for And Les Paul fans .....what's keeping you ? Only 3 comments in the first 4 months of 2008 ?????You can do better than that !!!!!
Greetings from 'Down under "
Willy
128 - Anthony Black
My dad always believed that the Les Paul guitar was the highest standard of quality that an elecrric guitar could be measured by. Needless to say he and I have always been great fans of Les. Dad died several years ago and left me his 1952 Les Paul. Does anyone know if I would stand a snowball's chance of getting Les to autograph it. Is he still playing in New York? I have no plans of letting the guitar leave the family, but I know my dad would be extreemly proud to know that Les Paul himself signed it or played it.
Any insight would be greatly apreciated.
thanks,
ab
129 - Ed Driscoll
Hi Anthony,
As was the case six (!) years ago when I wrote this article, Les is still playing two shows every Monday night at the Iridium Club in New York.
To the best of my knowledge, he still signs autographs at the end of his second show, and he'll sign virtually anything. For example, many a Les Paul guitar on eBay with an autographed pickguard got that way because a player took that pickguard to the Iridium for Les to autograph it.
So I'd check with the Iridium to make sure it's still the second show that Les signs autographs, and then make a beeline to Manhattan.
Ed
130 - Joel Brennan
Hi all -
I am the CEO of a Science and Technology Museum in Milwaukee, WI. You may be aware that Les was born about 15 miles from Milwaukee in Waukesha. Well, we put together a stunning exhibit using some of Les' personal collection of guitars, sound equipment and other innovations. We also had some great loans from the Rock Hall and other regular folks to round out the collection.
We just opened the exhibit at the end of June, and it will be up for at least 6 months until the end of the year (could be longer). Come and take a look.
Here is some information about Les and the exhibit from the opening. He came for the unveiling and to play a concert at our Pabst Theater in Milwaukee. Read on and enjoy.
If you want to learn more about the exhibit and how to get here.
We are proud to honor Les Paul and look forward to sharing this exhibit with his fans!
Joel Brennan
131 - Dave Hoffman
To all,
I am with an organization called Guitars not Guns please check us out! Our mission is to take guns out of childrens hands and replace them with musical instruments.
I have been tirelessly trying to contact Mr. Paul to try and get him behind us, possibly as a spokesperson. We are all volunteer music teachers and this project is so important, especially in big cities where crime is rampant! If ANYONE knows how to contact Mr. Paul, please, pass this on to him, or send me an agents E mail address. I can be contacted at guitarsnotguns.com or [Personal contact info deleted]
Thanks so much!
Dave Hoffman
132 - Charlie Dzuba
To Ed Driscoll;
I've posted a few comments (#97,101,103,104,109,110 and 119) on your site and stated that it is the best website for Les Paul fans - period.
My question is; Would you consider putting the "comments" in reverse chronological order so we don't have to scroll all the way down to view the last comment? Thank you
133 - brad pitt
LES PAUL IS THE GREATEST
134 - john hamilton
When I was five years old, I heard "The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise" by Les Paul & Mary Ford. That was 50 years ago, and I've been hooked on Les Paul ever since! I've been fortunate enough to have met Les,and to have seen him play "live" twice in my life. The first time in 1976 in Oklahoma City, and then in New York City in 1992. Les is a true guitar hero, a great entertainer, and one hell of a guitarist. Anyone who plays the electric guitar should listen to Les Paul's recordings, especially the ones with Mary Ford from the 1950's. The sound of Les' guitar on those records is fabulous, and still sounds fresh today in 2009!
135 - Luke Easter
Les Paul (In Memorial) 1915-2009
This looks like just another ho-hum year but wait,
6/9/15 has produced a talent, unparalleled & great,
How come? Many births this month and year so far,
Delivered today was the father of the electric guitar.
Big band, jazz, rhythm & blues, classical, rock & roll,
6 strings was never before blessed with so much soul,
Oh yeah, with music so unique and full of life that’s all,
Simply a sound unlike any other thanks Mr. Les Paul.
A guitar is the heartbeat, oh yeah, leader of the band,
Rhythm, orchestra, gently cradled by woman or man,
Showcased in front, Hendrix, Clapton, Vaughn, King,
Ellis in the background, Rait and others make it sing.
Benson, Montgomery, where to begin, where to stop?
Cray, Perry, Prince, Slash & Van Halen, made it pop,
All the way to 94 even Les himself could carry a tune,
His passing only means showtime is now on the moon.
Hey! Trillions of stars will sway to the masterful beat,
While planets rotate in harmony and stomp their feet,
There are two Creators in heaven, The Original & Les,
Angels are happy they’ll be getting lessons from the best.
A legacy to be left wherever music is played then heard,
Many have even taken the task, skillfully adding words,
Radio, MP3, ipod, record player, studio, stereo in the car,
Can’t imagine how any would sound w/o an electric guitar.
© 2009 by Luke Easter