Les Paul DEATH
News of the death of Grammy winner Les Paul today. Les Paul has died, the enormous talent who with Mary Food delivered “How High the Moon”, “The Tennessee Waltz,” “Vaya con Dios”.
Paul was 94 and passed in White Plains from pneumonia. His Les Paul guitars were used by Eric Clapton to Pete Townshend. In 2002 he told the Guitar Player:
“I wanted people to hear me. That’s where the whole idea of a solid-body guitar came from. In the ’30s, the archtop electric was such an apologetic instrument. On the bandstand, it was so difficult battling with a drummer, the horns, and all the instruments that had so much power.
“With a solid-body, guitarists could get louder and express themselves. Instead of being wimps, we’d become one of the most powerful people in the band. We could turn that mother up and do what we couldn’t do before.”
Funeral arrangements have not been announced. Les Paul will be greatly missed.
Erin Andrews
Crystal Harris
Shannon Twins
Ikki Twins
on August 13th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Les Paul died - 2 major music eclipses during the 3 eclipses in a sense w/Seeger - http://bit.ly/SROR9
on August 13th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Let’s all stop for a moment and say a prayer for Les.
This is a sad day.
The day Les passed is also the 91st Birthday of Sid Bernstein.
Les nor Sid have been inducted into the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame.
Sid Bernstein 2010 should be the year he is inducted into the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame. If the hall waits any longer most of us will be long gone and Rock-n-Roll will be just a snap shot in time of the past days…Like the dinosaurs.
Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame wake up and do something worthwhile.
Short of that Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame. Shame on you!
Ira Marlowe , Englewood NJ
on August 13th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Yes, so sad.:(
I don’t believe in what I call *The Rock-n-Roll Hall of Shame. They need to rethink and do something worthwhile.
on August 13th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Actually, Les Paul was inducted to the R&R HoF in 1988 under the category “Early Influence”…
on August 13th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
He made it possible for all of our dreams to come true.
A sad day here at Terry Rogers Guitars.
We Love you Les!
on August 13th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Les will be missed greatly by all of us in the music world…its a shame that in this online blogs eulogy of him they mistyped his partners name…its Mary Ford kids not Foof…tsk…tsk no proofreading?!?!?!?!!?
on August 13th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Les Paul was a visionary, a genius, a pioneer and a legend. it would never be to much to say this.
on August 14th, 2009 at 12:04 am
http://bit.ly/SROR9
this is so sad the music world is missing a great person RIP Les Paul
on August 14th, 2009 at 8:28 am
Les, my amazing girlfriend, Denise DeStefano, has been waiting for you in heaven since last year ……. enjoy the jam session - be there soon
on August 14th, 2009 at 10:46 am
Les Paul (In Memorial) 1915-2009
This looks like just another ho-hum year but wait,
6/9/15 has produced a talent, unparalleled & great,
How come? Many births this month and year so far,
Delivered today was the father of the electric guitar.
Big band, jazz, rhythm & blues, classical, rock & roll,
6 strings was never before blessed with so much soul,
Oh yeah, with music so unique and full of life that’s all,
Simply a sound unlike any other thanks Mr. Les Paul.
A guitar is the heartbeat, oh yeah, leader of the band,
Rhythm, orchestra, gently cradled by woman or man,
Showcased in front, Hendrix, Clapton, Vaughn, King,
Ellis in the background, Rait and others make it sing.
Benson, Montgomery, where to begin, where to stop?
Cray, Perry, Prince, Slash & Van Halen, made it pop,
All the way to 94 even Les himself could carry a tune,
His passing only means showtime is now on the moon.
Hey! Trillions of stars will sway to the masterful beat,
While planets rotate in harmony and stomp their feet,
There are two Creators in heaven, The Original & Les,
Angels are happy they’ll be getting lessons from the best.
A legacy to be left wherever music is played then heard,
Many have even taken the task, skillfully adding words,
Radio, MP3, ipod, record player, studio, stereo in the car,
Can’t imagine how any would sound w/o an electric guitar.
© 2009 by Luke Easter