Thursday, August 13, 2009

Oh No. . .

His influence cannot be overstated. Without him and his marvelous invention music itself would be forever different. today we lost a true American Icon and Original.
Especially to every kid in every garage band in America
Rest In Peace
Les Paul

1915 - 2009


















The One that started it all, the Guitar that changed music forever


Les Paul & The Log

6 comments:

midnight rider said...

Yeah, but he lived a long full and I would imagine not dull life.

elmers brother said...

he was still playing publicly last year. Youtube has at least 4 videos of him playing in NY last year this time.

Z said...

great tribute; I blogged on him a bit, too,...I'm kinda sorry I made it "all about ME" now and thought of changing it but I'm leaving my remark that, as a singer, since he was the one who invented the ability to sing ON TOP of yourself via tracks (singing harmony to your lead, for example), I'm an even greater fan of Paul's for that sheer BLISS of putting headphones on and singing to MY VOICE....I'll never forget the first time, it almost brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. It was the first time I thought "you really ARE a singer, kid" I'll never be able to thank him enough for that.
Thanks for the beautiful tribute to the man.

midnight rider said...

Elmer's Brother -- at the Iridium, right? I saw those videos, very good stuff. For 93 (at the time) he was astonishing. I'm less than half that age and wish I could play 1 tenth as well. A coule years ago he put out an album called Les Paul and Friends American MAde World Played with the likes of Richie Sambora, Eric Clapton, Edgar Winter Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Bonnie Raitt, Jeff Beck, Sam Cooke Billy Gibbons and on and on. Really fantastic stuff and STILL available at Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/American-Made-World-Played-Friends/dp/B000A9QKMI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1250214514&sr=8-2

(and others I imagine)

midnight rider said...

Z -- Multitracking! Without it Sgt Pepper and just about any rock 'n roll record would never have been made.

I did some recordings when I was (much) younger and you're right -- and Pasto would agree -- nothing like singing harmony with yourself, or playing lead to your own rhythm guitar. A Les Paul of course.

He did so much to make what we listen to and how we listen to it today possible. Just an amazing man.

Pastorius said...

Yes, I had forgotten that in addition to the Gibson Les Paul, he was also the innovator of multi-tracking.

The man is on the Olympus of Music.

God Bless Him in the Kingdom.

:)