| Author | Message | ||
     Hughlysses |
Les Paul died today. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090813/ap_en_mu/us_ob it_les_paul  | ||
| Xl1200r |
I knew this day was coming - he put a lot of years in here. I only wish I had a chance to see him play - I heard, at least recently, that he was still doing fairly regular gigs in NYC. Very influential man in the music industry, and most only know the surface of what he did. | ||
| Bill0351 |
"and most only know the surface of what he did" 100% TRUE! There is a very good documentary about Les Paul that I recently watched. If anything, the guys brilliance as an inventor eclipses his brilliance as a guitar player. What an incredible guy. | ||
| Bott |
Truly a great man. I am a diehard Les Paul player(read: TRYer). They just feel and sound "right" to me. I've owned a Tele, and played several Strats, but always go back to my Les Paul Studio. He will never be forgotten... | ||
| 5liter |
Used to watch Les Paul and Mary Ford on the TV back in the mid fifties. | ||
| 86129squids |
Craptastic.  ""and most only know the surface of what he did" 100% TRUE! There is a very good documentary about Les Paul that I recently watched. If anything, the guys brilliance as an inventor eclipses his brilliance as a guitar player. What an incredible guy." +1000. I think I saw that documentary once... hate to hear of the loss of a true legend. | ||
| Davefla |
94 years is a real good run. I'd sign up for it now. But ya still liked to think of him playing on Tuesday nights in his own club, ya know? | ||
| Court |
What sad news . . . . I just got the word from Dave Gess and my son. The last two times Colin and I had been to see Les perform at the Iridium we sat next to the stage . . . the guys foot was tapping on my arm as it rested on the stage. He was an absolute legend. Over the past couple years he's played a bit less and joked a bit more . . . he had a spectacular sense of humor. If you haven't read anything about Les Paul I'd suggest, just for the fun of it, that you might. He was the consummate tinkerer . . . a genius ahead of him time. Guitars were but a part of his like. He was amazing and certainly changed the world during his time here. Wow. Thank you to the Wizard of Waukesha for sharing an amazing life. Court | ||
| 86129squids |
Good on ya, Court- I'd love to have met the man. However, last weekend I did get to hang out with Billy Joe Shaver- when you get to meet a "DUDE" you savor it. RIP and Godspeed- at least as fast as your fingers, Mr. Paul. | ||
| Steve_mackay |
Having grown up, and still living right off of Les Paul Blvd in Waukesha.... RIP to a local legend! | ||
| Hughlysses |
I sure wish I could find a synopsis of his technical achievements. I used to have an old Rolling Stone magazine that had an excellent interview with him (may still have it buried someplace). Besides the guitar models that bear his name, the things mentioned included electronic echo, overdubbing, the multi-track magnetic tape deck, multi-track recording studio, and low impedance guitar pickups. Very neat and amazingly talented guy. | ||
| Xl1200r |
Hugh - his page on Wikipedia has a lot of good info and photos. | ||
| Court |
Here's one of my favorites (even though it's very long) articles about the evolution of the Electric Guitar. The gist of the article is that "Electrifying" the guitar was originally intended for the purpose of simply making the guitar louder to be heard over other instruments. What, in fact, evolved was essentially a new and unique instrument. You may also thank Les Paul for things like Multi-Track recording and the famous "Les Pulverizer" . . . he was a genius. Read about him . . . you'll be amazed.  | ||
| Diablobrian |
Wow, sad news indeed. Godspeed to the man who's "name is on the guitar son" quoted from a great commercial a couple years back with the man himself showing a young wannabe rocker how to play that guitar. He will be missed. | ||
| Psyclonej |
Les Paul had a good run. The world is a poorer place without him.  | ||
| Lemonchili_x1 |
Sad news about an amazing man. | ||
| Prof_stack |
I heard his music very young growing up in the mid 50's on our record player. Here's a good example of Les Paul and Mary Ford in 1953. Magical music. He had guitar chops out the kazoo. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYlG7qb3iCs&feature =related | ||
| Badlionsfan |
A friend of mine went to see him in NYC June 1st. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
That show my friend saw was the late show that day, which ended up being the last show he ever played. | ||
| 86129squids |
National Public Radio's Fresh Air is doing a piece RIGHT NOW on Les Paul!!! Yeah, NPR- just go listen!!! | ||
| Hughlysses |
There's a WHOLE lot of great stuff on youtube featuring Les. I just ran across this one, absolutely hilarious. The guy may just have invented every trick guitar lick we've ever seen: |
