What does a city do when one of the most prolific guitar legends comes "home"
to perform a $300 a-ticket, sold-out show with his trio at Marriott Milwaukee
West Hotel? Well, and rightfully so, they give him a welcome fit for royalty
and dignitaries.
The Occasion? Les Paul had come home again to Waukesha, Wisconsin, where is
was born in 1915 (he had not performed in his hometown since his late Mother's
100th birthday in 1988). This self-taught musical innovator was whisked away
in a specially designed tour bus dispatched from Nashville by Gibson Guitars
(which manufactures the guitar that bears his name) after being mobbed by
autograph seekers, photographers and the media.
Flashback to the 1940's, when this guitar pioneer designed and developed the
solid-body electric guitar and helped popularize the instrument as a recording
artist with his wife Mary Ford. Together they recorded several top ten hits in
the early fifties and in 1951 the song "How High The Moon," spent nine weeks as
the number one song. Before the term "rock'n'roll" was coined, this record
clearly fit the bill. The song is a toe-tapping up tempo number, infectious
and worthy of any guitar god. Artist's such as Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin and
Jeff Beck, to name a few, count Les Paul as an influence. But, it seems Paul
is less known for introducing the technique of multi-track recording which
revolutionized all types of recorded music including the guitars we hear now in
rock'n'roll.
Les Paul shows no signs of slowing down and at 89 he performed on his own
Grammy Award Winning tribute album with guest guitarists such as Keith Richards
of the Rolling Stones, Sting, Eric Clapton and Steve Miller, among others.
In fact, at age 91, Paul is still recording, with plans for three new albums
including a country album embedded with tracks he recorded more than seventy
years ago. Paul will then work on a jazz album followed by a blues album. He
tried retirement in the 1960's, but didn't like it because "working gives me a
reason to get out of bed in the morning."
Flash ahead to his recent concert, a benefit to raise money for the Les Paul
Experience Exhibit that is the brainchild of the Waukesha County Historical
Society and Museum. Before he played a note, this master of guitars was
humbled and blessed with a standing ovation.
What followed was pure magic, as Paul glided through a strong set of vintage
classics and playful banter with the saucer-eyed concert goers. Reminiscing
about old times between numbers, Les Paul somberly remembered all the friends
he has had throughout the years that are no longer with him, but joyfully spoke
of the new friends he makes every day.
To this day, anyone who enjoys the guitar and music in general, can thank Mr.
Les Paul for his legendary contributions. I have a feeling he has millions of
friends he has never met, and he always will.
Author Robert Benson writes about rock/pop music, vinyl record collecting and
operates www.collectingvinylrecords.com, where you can secure your
copy of his
ebook called "The Fascinating Hobby Of Vinyl Record Collecting."
Robert can be contacted at robert@collectingvinylrecords.com.
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