So Long, Les Paul: 1915 – 2009

Whatever that thing is on the amp, chances are Les built it to do awesome stuff. This guy was off the hook. Les Paul 00 by anyjazz65 via Flickr
I bought my wine red Les Paul Classic in 2001, after becoming enamored with it’s sound and its incredible ability to coax a range of tones from the warm and nuanced clean sound appropriate for classic jazz to the screaming, milky sustained notes that embody rock and roll glory. Little did I know at the time that the instrument’s tremendous versatility and tonal grandeur were a mere reflection of the man who’s name was etched on the headstock.

Les Paul passed away this week, and with his passing we’ve lost a tremendously multi-talented musician and innovator. His contributions to music are literally felt every day, on every record, and on stages and halls as well as in garages and bedrooms worldwide. Two things that we most take for granted today – solid body guitars and multi-track recording – did not exist before Les Paul’s curiosity got the better of him. Think about that for a second. Solid body guitar. Overdubbing on recordings. Saying that his contributions were huge would still be an understatement.

Saying that his contributions were huge would still be an understatement. One of my regrets is that I had a chance a few years ago to see Les Paul’s group playing in New York City. We passed by the club after dinner at a place where the starving actors-turned-waiters sang show tunes to the patrons. The sign on the door said Les Paul was playing. I thought about it, but we had other places to go. That’s as close as I got to hearing him play live!

So here’s to you Les. You were a hell of a musician and innovator, and we’ll miss your talents.