R.I.P. Les Paul

[CECAA850]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32403755/ns/entertainment-music/

[oldtimer]

He lived a long and productive life, RIP.

[Johnlw7]

I have a good friend in Missouri who had the privilege of visiting Mr. Les at his home studio in New York.He said what impressed him more than all his gear,guitars and knowledge,was that he was a true gentleman and one of the nicest persons you could hope to meet.think I'll listen to some of his LP's today.RIP Mr. Paul.

[Hifi jim]

He forever changed the course of modern music, pioneering the solid body electric guitar and multitrack recording. R.I.P.

[picky]

We should all be so lucky to live 94 years as he did. May God Bless him. The Les Paul is my favorite guitar; I hope to be the proud owner of one, some day. -Glenn

[Islander]

Les, you were a pioneer who changed the world of music and the lives of musicians. Music listeners enjoy your innovations every day and probably always will. R.I.P.

[RT FAN]

The king is dead. RIP, Mr. Les Paul.

[Tom Mobley]

IMO, a true American genius. Got an idea, got it working, changed the world. PWK was similar,

[BLSamuel]

R.I.P. Les Paul

One of the true Icons of American music. Les' contributions to music will live on for years and years.

We should all live such a long productive life ... and while being a true gentleman or lady.

[colterphoto1]

Guitarists who have played Les Pauls
make up a who’s who of jazz and rock: Page, Wes Montgomery, Eric
Clapton, George Benson, Jeff Beck, Pete Townsend, Duane Allman, Keith
Richards, Eddie Van Halen, and Slash.

At
his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Mr. Paul said, “I
have been credited with inventing a few things you guys are using....
About the most I can say is ’Have fun with my toys.’”

From the Boston Globe article.

[colterphoto1]

Here's to hoping that Les meets up with Duane Allman and Wes Montogomery in Heaven tonight. What a jam that would be ! [8][8][8]

[jacksonbart]

Bottom Notch

[BigStewMan]

quite an impact he had on the music world. sad to see him go.

that gold top guitar was something else!

[j-malotky]

Here was a man who changed the world for the better.

A few months back i rented a Les Paul documentuary from Netflix. Very interesting man. Just wait till his personal collection hits the Auction Block. He saved EVERYTHING. Absolutely Priceless.

JM

[jt1stcav]

Gibson Les Pauls were always coveted as "thee" solid bodied guitars many aspiring musicians hoped to own some day...while employed at Guitar Center, they were usually the first electric guitars I'd see kids pick up off the wall display to **** on (usually plugged to a tubed Marshall stack). Regardless to how modest he was, I'm sure Mr. Les Paul was damn proud of those instruments. He will always be remembered, and his creations will continue to inspire new musicians for generations to come.

[BLSamuel]

Here was a man who changed the world for the better.

A few months back i rented a Les Paul documentuary from Netflix. Very interesting man. Just wait till his personal collection hits the Auction Block. He saved EVERYTHING. Absolutely Priceless.

JM

But wouldn't it be cooler if it all goes to a Les Paul museum or the first permanent exhibit in a true pioneers of Rock wing in the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. I'm sure we'd not be so lucky...

(edit I've got to read my posts before I post... it seems like my fingers get a bit disconnected from my brain ... yeah, that's my story)

[Islander]

A write-up of Les Paul's recent performances. He was very popular with the fans, commenting, "I sign a lot of boobs." Who says he wasn't a rockstar?

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/les-paul/chasing-sound/100/

[colterphoto1]

at the end of that interview...

Everyone gets a moment, and Paul seems to love it almost as much as
they do. And yet there’s a part of it that still mystifies him.

He mentions it while leaving the club.

“Bing asked me, ‘Why do people like me?’ He didn’t know. I don’t
think he or Sinatra understood that. I’m the same way. I have no idea
why people like what it is that I do.”

[Islander]

Sounds like some real stars have no idea why they're stars, unlike some of the headline-chasers we keep hearing and seeing, even if we don't want to.

The real stars just are who they are, without trying to be special. Make sense?

[Islander]

Testimony about Les Paul from some of the guitarists and others who looked up to him:

Slash said, "Les Paul was a shining example of how full one's life can be, he was so vibrant and full of positive energy. I'm honored and humbled to have known and played with him over the years, he was an exceptionally brilliant man."

Joe Satriani said, "Les Paul set a standard for musicianship and innovation that remains unsurpassed. He was the original guitar hero, and the kindest of souls. Last October I joined him onstage at The Iridium club in NYC, and he was still shredding. He was and still is an inspiration to us all."

Keb' Mo' said, “He's a guy who played right up to the end, that's what we all want to do! With his brilliant playing and invention of multi track recording, Les Paul changed the face of music history."

Bootsy Collins said, "Yes, it is very painful when you lose a man, his music, and his everyday presence here on this planet called earth. For us musicians that knew the bar that this man Mr. Les Paul set, not only for guitar players but for music in general, especially rock music, the world will never be the same. His famous Gibson Les Paul brand Guitar's are still to this day the number one hottest rock guitar on the market. I got the opportunity in 1991 to do a session with Mr. Paul when I was with Dee-Lite, we did a song called: "A little More of Les". yes, one of my corky titles of course, but It was such an inspiration to be in the presence of such greatness, he will be sadly missed by many. We love you Les!"

Joan Jett said, "I, and everyone at Blackheart Records, mourn the passing of our dear friend, Les Paul. He was a genius inventor, musical innovator, and a wonderful person. Without the advances he pioneered, the recording sciences and the electric guitar would have been left years behind. I will miss him so much."

Ace Frehley said, "The music industry has lost a giant! I'm very saddened by the news of Les Paul's passing. I was lucky enough to have known Les as a friend, and admired him as a musician and innovator. He forever changed the way we listen to music."

Butch Walker said, "Les Paul... I will always owe you.. bigtime..."

Billy Gibbons said, "Les Paul brought six strings to electricity and electricity to six strings. Les Paul was an innovator, a groundbreaker, a risk taker, a mentor and a friend. Try to imagine what we'd be doing if he hadn't come along and changed the world. There will always be more Les to come. That's certified."

Rickey Medlocke said, "I'm so thankful that this guy was such an incredible genius for developing such a great guitar. I am a 3rd generation Gibson user and I always will be. God bless Les Paul."

Tad Kubler said, "There are very few human beings in history that touched so many people the way Les Paul did. He shared his gifts with everyone and brought people together with his brilliance and devotion to music and the art of sound. It was a privilege to have met him. He will be incredibly missed. But our blessing is to know his spirit and soul will live for eternity in music everywhere."

Wes Scantlon said, "Les and I have the same birthday – it is an honor to have been born on the same day as such a genius guitarist, innovator and human being"

Neil Portnow (President/CEO of The Recording Academy®) said, "Three-time GRAMMY® winner Les Paul was a musical mastermind whose innovations in electric guitar and recorded music are unparalleled. A 1983 Trustees Award recipient and a 2001 Technical GRAMMY Award recipient, his career and contributions to popular music will forever be celebrated, and will continue to influence future generations of musicians. His magnetic charm and sunny disposition matched his incredible skill set, and he will always be remembered with great fondness, humility, and respect. The music industry has lost a true innovator and legend."

Terry Stewart (President of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum) said, "Without Les Paul, we would not have rock and roll as we know it," said Terry Stewart, president and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. “His inventions created the infrastructure for the music and his playing style will ripple through generations. He was truly an architect of rock and roll."

Elliott Easton said, "I am deeply saddened by the passing of Les Paul. It is simply impossible to overstate the impact he has had on the modern world and our culture. There are those that refer to Les as "the Thomas Edison of Music Technology". To me that is inadequate. Thomas Edison never invented a device that could make the world fall in love with you. There isn't a person working in the music industry today that doesn't benefit in some way from Les' pioneering work."

Brian Wilson said, "Les Paul and Mary Ford were among my most favorite musicians in the 50's. He was the first guy to do multi guitar multi track recording and that turned me on to guitars and stacking vocals for our records."

Johnny A. said, "I am personally very saddened by the passing of Mr. Les Paul. As well as being such an iconic figure in the world of music, as a player and inventor, Les was truly a gentleman with an unbeatable sense of humor. It has been my honor to have known and played with him. His spirit will surely be missed."

Dave Navarro, "Les is single handedly responsible for the direction and evolution of the modern rock movement. Period. If you are a fan of modern music, you owe Les Paul an enormous THANK YOU!"

Don Miggs said, "I used to promise myself that every trip back home to NY should be capped off with seeing Les perform. I knew he wasn't going to be around forever and seeing him was a "must-do." Sadly, I never made good on my promise but one night I was walking into a deli and who do I see? Yup. My palms went sweaty, my tongue felt thick and I got a pit in my stomach, but I stopped him with a grunt of some sort. He looked me square in eye like "don't miss this moment," and I gulped and said, "It's because of you I can put food on my family's table, thank you," and he said, "You've done that for yourself, son, but thank you." And he was gone. Ah, Les, thank you thank you."

Randy Bachman said, "I am deeply touched by the passing of Les Paul who I first met in 1959. As a guitarist, composer, electronic innovator and inventor he was beyong genius and there was none other like him. He was a true musical gift from God to the world and spent his life honoring that gift. I proudly play my Les Paul guitars every night on stage and never forget the moments we shared."

Gary Rossington said, "I am very saddened to hear about the passing of Les Paul, he was an amazing guitarist. I play a Les Paul guitar every night and it's the best sounding guitar ever made. I have a framed t-shirt on my wall, signed by Les Paul that I admire when I'm at home, Les was the best!"