The Elder Statesman of Popular Music
But by the late 70s and early 80s, his current career as an elder statesman of popular music in general, and the electric guitar specifically, began to blossom.
In 1975, he officially came out of retirement with a concert at New York's Carnegie Hall. In 1977, he released a Grammy Award winning record with Chet Atkins, called Chester and Lester. And in 1984, Paul began his regular gig playing every Monday night in New York, first at a club called Fat Tuesday's and since 1996, at the Iridium Jazz Club, originally across from Lincoln Center, and now located at Broadway and 51st Street.
It was at the Iridium where we interviewed Paul, a week before his 87th birthday. Looking at least 15 years younger than his actual age, he's also one sharp interviewee, as befits the godfather of popular music and its most popular instrument.
Between his soundcheck and our interview, a Gibson representative asked Paul to sign a Les Paul guitar that would be given to a leukemia fund. And after a 1998 concert at the Iridium, Paul spent a good ten minutes talking to a guitar-playing child who was attending via the Make a Wish Foundation. Paul asked him what kind of guitar he plays. When informed that it was a cheap imitation of a Les Paul, Paul asked the parents for the child's address. It's a safe bet a real Gibson Les Paul guitar arrived shortly thereafter.
The Quotable Les Paul
Once Paul finished signing, we began our interview. Because I play one his guitars, and use it to record my own music (when I'm not writing articles for magazines and the Internet), I was thrilled to be about to talk to the man who literally made it all possible. After a lengthy discussion about the history of the guitar that bears his name, I asked him what he thinks of today's home recording boom, which allows virtually anyone to record their music on equipment ranging from four-track cassette recorders to computers equipped with special music recording software? "Well, that's how I started, so I thought it was a very good idea! I'm sure the studios didn't like it, but then they've never liked the idea."
Paul says that in the 1950s, recording studios (perhaps via record labels or the various musicians' unions) had created a rule that stated that if a musician was within 35 miles of a legitimate recording studio, he couldn't make a record without a professional recording engineer from a studio there. "I lived 33 miles from New York, and they made me have an engineer. I said 'unless he wants to sleep over, and wake up at five o'clock in the morning and go to bed at six pm....holy Cripes!'"
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Howard Owens
Fine piece. I've linked to it from my blog.
2 - J Bowen
Maybe you chose not to mention it, but I understand that not only is he about 87 years old, but he has a degenerative disease that affects his hands beyond his years. I can't imagine him stopping though.
Good work.
3 - Ed Driscoll
J,
Thanks for the kind words, I really appreciate them. As far as Les' birth name, I think I've seen it spelled Polsfuss myself--however, I took the spelling from the Internet Movie Database's page on Les.
While I'm far from an expert on his life, the only degenerative disease that I've read that Les has is arthritis, but that, combined with a right arm that can't move at the elbow would be enough to stop most musicians half his age in their tracks--but somehow, he keeps on playing.
And hopefully will for sometime to come!
Ed
4 - jerry
i love les and chet,they are awesome...liked your interveiw,,are they doing a tv special on les? i would love it .. take care..ps am a finger picker..
5 - Howard Owens
Good piece. Les Paul is the original Guitar God.
6 - Steve Teeter
I don't want to seem to minimize the achievements of Les Paul, which are enormous, but while he may have "developed," as in furthered, sound on sound recording, he certainly didn't invent it.
On April 18, 1941, jazz great Sidney Bechet recorded two sides as "Sidney Bechet's One Man Band," playing clarinet, soprano sax, tenor sax, piano, string bass, and drums. It was an overdubbing job using 78 phonograph equipment, and was fearsomely difficult, done largely as a stunt dreamed up by his recording producer.
Later musicians, including Les Paul, certainly developed the technique far beyond that relatively primitive attempt, but the title of "first" goes to Bechet.
7 - x
What Billy said. Tango singer Carlos Gardel also cut a record where he overdubbed his own voice, back in the '30s (or '20s), singing along with a previously recorded 78. Cool low-tech trick, but definitely not multitrack recording.
Great article, by the way. I have to go see Les Paul some day (may he live to be 120).
8 - Steve Teeter
Ah. That IS different.
9 - Don J
Great article about a music pioneer!
10 - BWR
Really nice piece on a fine musician and innovator. For some additional information about the development of the original Les Paul guitars in the early 1950s, check out Tom Wheeler's book "American Guitars" or A.R. Duchossoir's book "Gibson Electrics" - - there's a wealth of information there about Gibson's development of the instrument and its pitch to Les Paul to endorse them.
11 - Bill Gwaaltney
I only saw Les once with Mary in 1950 and still have the autographed picture along with all of his records which I cherish very much. Bill Gwaltney
12 - duane
Billy Beck, I owned a 73 Les Paul and a 63 ES-335 (not the 355) and a couple of Strats, as well, and an Ibanez. I loved them all, but there's no doubt that the Gibsons have their role.
Since there are a number of experts looking at this blog, I was wondering if Les got rich as the inventor of the guitar bearing his name.
13 - Ed Driscoll
Duane,
I believe that Les receives royalties from the sale of each Gibson and Epiphone (the cheaper, authorized "clones" of the higher-end Gibson line) guitar. And there have been a pretty fair number of those sold over the years!
I'm no expert on Les's finances, but I would assume that between the royalties and the name recognition of the guitar, which has kept Les's name in the spotlights far longer than most other 1950s superstars, his weekly gig in New York, and the sales of his back catalog of music, Les is not hurting financially.
Ed
14 - john
Sure wish there was more about Mary Ford on the site!
15 - Bill Harris
I bought one of the first edition Les Paul Gibson guitars and later sold it because of the strings being under the bridge. HOW DUMB!!!! Have been a fan of Les Paul forever.
Bill
16 - KRIS ODEL
JOHN, WITH REGARDS TO MARY...LES SORT OF HAPPEND UPON HER WHEN HE WAS ARRANGING A REPRISAL OF A COUNTRY WESTERN SHOW HE'D DONE IN THE 30S & 40S. A FRIEND OF HIS, GENE AUTRY, SUGGESTED ONE OF HIS BACK-UP SINGERS. COLLEEN SOMMERS WAS INVITED OUT TO LES' HOUSE (I BELIEVE IT WAS IN HOLLYWOOD, CA AT THE TIME). THERE IS THIS GREAT STORY ABOUT THAT DAY THAT COLLEEN SHOWED UP AT LES' AND HE WAS OUT MOWING THE LAWN. COLLEEN ASK IF LES LIVED THERE AND MOTIONED HER BACK TO THE GARAGE (WHERE HE REHEARSED AND RECORDED ON THAT RECORD CUTTING MACHINE). HE FINISHED UP HIS YARD WORK AND WENT BACK TO THE GARAGE WHERE COLLEEN HAD JUST BEEN LIFTED THROUGH THE WINDOW (THE ONLY WAY INTO THE BUILDING DUE TO ALL THE EQUIPMENT). WHEN LES FOLLOWED, COLLEEN ASKED WHERE LES WAS. LES INTRODUCED HIMSELF. COLLEEN SAID SHE THOUGHT HE WAS 'THE GARDENER'. SHE DIDN'T BELVIEVE HIM UNTIL HE PLAYED HIS GUITAR FOR HER. EVIDENTALLY, THERE AFTER SHE WAS HOOKED.
THERE LIFE TOGETHER AS LES & MARY BEGAN WHEN LES DECIDED THAT COLLEEN'S NAME WAS TOO PLAIN FOR THE ACT (THE WESTERN SHOW) SO SHE BECAME MARY LU. LATER WHEN THEY WERE DONE WITH THE WESTERN GIG LES THOUGHT THEY SHOULD GIVE MARY A VERY PRESTIGEOUS LAST NAME. THEY STARTED LOOKING AT NAMES LIKE ROCKERFELLER AND THE LIKE BUT LANDED ON 'FORD'.
MOST OF WHAT THE RECORDED TOGETHER WAS EITHER AT THE HOUSE OR ON THE ROAD AS WELL AS WHAT WAS TRANSCRIBED FOR THEIR RADIO SHOW.
THEY MADE AN UNBELIEVABLE NUMBER OF HITS IN THE FIFTIES AND EARLY SIXTIES. MARY BY THE END OF THAT TIME WANTED TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP TOURING AND RECORDING SO MUCH. LES ADMITS HE COULDN'T STOP. SO LES KEPT GOING AND MARY RETIRED. MARY PASSED AWAY IN THE LATE 70S OF A DIABETES RELATED DEATH.
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW LES FELT & STILL FEELS ABOUT MARY JUST WATCH THE VIDEO TAPE FROM 1992, "LES PAUL...THE LIVING LEGEND OF THE ELECTRIC GUITAR"
JOHN & ALL I HOPE THIS FILLS IN SOME OF THE GAPS ABOUT MARY. I'M NOT A CREDITED
WRITER AND I'M SURE THERE ARE THINGS MISSING OR SOME FUZZY FACTS BUT I'VE READ QUITE A BIT ABOUT THEM (LES & MARY) AND I THINK I'VE GOT IT RIGHT FOR THE MOST PART. I HOPE THIS WETS YOUR APPETITE FOR SOME MORE RESEARCH.
17 - Scott Wilhite
Great article! I'm a big Les Paul fan. In the late 80's or early 90's there was a special on Cinemax Sessions called "A Tribute to Les Paul". It featured many great guitarists including Steve Miller, Eddie Van halaen, David Gilmour and several others. Does anyone out therehave any ideas where to obtain a copy of this show? I would greatly appreciate any leads.
18 - Amgad Maher
I'm sorry ,I just need to know some Gibson egent to fix my guitar at Germane Case I have Frind in Germany will help me
19 - david goetz
I really enjoyed this piece.. i own an old les paul/mary ford 45 record called "song in blue". i've searched dicographies and can't find it listed. Does anyone know anything about this recording?? it's got to be an early example of spedup multi-tracking..
20 - felix
I remember reading that Les recorded those duets with Mary Ford like "How high the moon" using two reel to reel decks....recording the last harmony parts first, then bouncing to another deck while recording primary harmonies....then bouncing a final time while playing and singing the melody lines so the basic tracks would have the best fidelity. Real musicianship.
As for the poster hoping to hear Les and Chet Atkins, sad to say that Chet passed away a year or so ago. I have a couple Cds recorded by the two of them, usually recorded in a couple days, and including a little banter between them which is pretty funny.
Giants.
21 - Connie Boundy
Many years ago, my grandfather, Herbert Webb played piano with Les Paul, probably in the early 40's. I was looking to see if any of his recordings listed my grandfather as a musician. If anyone knows, please email me with the information.
Thank you.
22 - Stuart L Leech
We had lots of dealings in the late 90's with les to set up a club which fans could go to in europe for info on les and guitars etc we had many long conversatios on the topic Les was very keen to get this going ,but due to his commitments we still are talking...good luck old timer keep picking!!!
23 - Benjamin Train
Kris Odell has made a good contribution to your archive, except for the-all caps. My Stepfather; "Phil Brooks" with KMPX I think it was, helped to promote Les Paul and Mary Ford while they where in Hollywood. I spent time in their home there. They used to save pennies for me in a large jar. At that time, the "Little Black Box" Les was working on, that later became the pick-up for the Gibson Les Paul electric guitar, was in several stages of development. He was always trying something new. He would share his latest ideas or songs with my stepfather and mom. I think I still have some of the first cuts on 78's signed by Les and Mary. His home there was not fancy, but Mary made it much neater. I was looking back over my own life in the back yard, just a few minutes ago and wondered if it was possible to reach Les by phone or by an Internet forum to say thank you before he passed away. The next thing I know, I'm adding a paragraph or two in your blog. "How high the moon" and others notes posted here bring back very fond memories for me. Thank you for creating this forum. Isn't it amazing what one person can do in a lifetime. Les Paul has made his mark.
24 - Mike Govette
I stumbled upon these postings and have enjoyed them a lot.
In 1951, my father bought my mother a Gibson Les Paul gold top which was rare indeed: It was issued without a serial number, and has a trapese bridge. This guitar, I'm told, is less collectable because it is basically less playable. Through experience I found this to be true. The combination tailpiece/bridge which holds the strings in place by the string tension only, moves when you bend notes or attact too hard. The guitar is then out of tune.
I still have a picture of my mom playing it in the early 1950s.
I began playing this guitar around 1965, at age 14.
I begged for a new guitar because I thought the Les Paul was too heavy. I got a bright red Teisco (sp?) with a chome pick guard!
As I got better at playing, I realized what I had and took up the Paul again.
I still have thiw guitar, the only item my mother specifically left me in her will.
I have always wanted to show it to Les Paul himself, because it is such a piece of history. So, I too would like to know how to contact the man.
A while back I caught Les Paul playing with Jeff Beck on TV. The two were having a great time, trading licks.
I remember Les playing some cool flat picking lead, and when Jeff "answered" with a scorching lead of his own, Les reached over and unplugged Jeff's guitar IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS LEAD, for a joke! Jeff cracked up, plugged back in and kept going. It was a true pleasure to see two great guitarists truly enjoying themselves, minus the rock star posturing and one-upmanship that permeats other jam sessions.
Anyway, thanks for the forum. I enjoyed posting this info.
Mike Govette
25 - John
I read this article in Cleveland after spending almost a full day at the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.
There is an extensive Les Paul and Mary Ford exhibit along with many of the guitars that bear Les' name. Included in the exhibit is a photo of Les' mother aged 100 in 1985 along with a wedding photo of Les and Mary.
There is an extensive video of Les telling of his experiences that is indexed between the technical, musical, inventive, and personal aspects of his remarkable life.
I would reccommend a visit to all who have a chance to get there.
John