Les Paul
I had no personal relationship with Les Paul.
That may sound a bit odd. With such pioneers or “old school” American music All Stars team, who would expect a Baby Boomer to have met or known Les Paul.
Well, I did meet and have an exchange with Tex Beneke. Yes, that one. The Chattanooga Choo Choo, sax guy from Glenn Miller. So there!
But Les Paul I only knew from reading about him and from hearing his recordings. PBS, I believe, had a special about him. From afar I *heart* Les Paul. The dude was a-MA-zing! Not very erudite, but I’m keepin’ it real.
I took some heavy duty flak for promoting the significance of Lawrence Welk as an important figure in the history American popular music. I haven’t written up a defense yet. However, a moment’s reflection from those who have the historical context in memory will deem it unnecessary.
No such sticking-of-the-neck-out is required for Mr. Paul. A genu-WINE pioneer. An intregal part of the history of American music.
I often wish I had the creativity, spunk, joy, and courage as Les Paul. He’s a model. A role model for all of us no matter what your station in life or occupation.
With martini in hand, “Here’s to you Les Paul!”
Here’s a tribute:
The passing of Les Paul last week reminded me of the power that a single person has to change the world. Les Paul was a self-made, self-educated man, who learned everything he needed to know through the once great American pastime of tinkering. He held no formal degree in music or engineering, but after years of experimenting with player piano rolls, crystal radio sets, and eventually wooden planks and electric pick-ups, he brought his “log” electric guitar to the audience and eventually helped Gibson bring the solid-body electric guitar to the world. It may have taken him 10 years to convince Gibson to go electric, but next to tinkering, I guess patience and perseverance are the other attributes shared by history’s greatest inventors.
