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The legendary guitartist has died at the age of of 94. I still have a copy of a Les Paul guitar and many of my mates think it's original. Maybe now is the the time to spill the the beans ?
The world of modern music would be drastically different = much less wonderful, without the many contributions, inventions, and innovations by the one and only Les Paul.
One of the very best that was allowed to live a long and happy life, playing til the end.
Paul was a guitar and electronics mastermind whose creations -- such as multitrack recording, tape delay and the solid-body guitar that bears his name, the Gibson Les Paul -- helped give rise to modern popular music, including rock 'n' roll. No slouch on the guitar himself, he continued playing at clubs into his 90s despite being hampered by arthritis.
"If you only have two fingers [to work with], you have to think, how will you play that chord?" he told CNN.com in a 2002 phone interview. "So you think of how to replace that chord with several notes, and it gives the illusion of sounding like a chord."
He and we can thank his ever supportive mother who greatly encouraged his love and interest in music all along, and got him his first guitar early on. Les often gave his mom her due in what got him going.
A good boy, and a nice man, who was the musical genius of our time.
I'm reminded of the song "How High the Moon" and what a favorite that was of my parents. My dad, an amateur guitar player who could've gone pro if he'd pursued it, even learned that song...by ear!
The above thrread was hi-jaxed and there were no modterators to take care of the the situation.
When one did come on > My original thread about Les Paul was by passed and then passed on to somebobody else. Not Fair.
Barry, I didn't see your post before I posted mine, which I did in the correct topic column. People replied in mine, and the mods have not seen fit to combime them, at least yet.
Don't bum out about it, I don't think Les is.
I hadn't thot of checking out the archive site. Good one!
Years ago I was lucky to tune in and get Marian McPartland's 'Piano Jazz' program (which airs on NPR, Sat's at 3pm on Oahu) on tape the day she had Les sit in with her. Lot's of great playing and discussion. His playing in the last few decades of his life are my favorite. He tended to let the guitar speak better w/out much accompaniment, or all the flash he was famous for. As his hands got worse he had to let his brain play the guitar more than his hands and the music benefitted greatly by it.
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