Les Paul ~ 1915 - 2009

[John and Janet Ruiz]

Describing Les Paul as "a guitarist" is understating his relationship to the modern electric guitar, kind of like saying Moses led some people once. But Les Paul, the guitarist, died yesterday at the age of 94 as I'm sure many of you know. A Rolling Stone article - HERE and some more HERE. . His site - lespaulonline.com.He certainly lived a full life and left his mark. He'll be missed.

[Mike and Lisa Tracy]

There is biographical video (done as a part of the PBS "American Masters" series) about Les Paul. It is titled "Chasing Sound" and is very well done and worth watching.

[John and Janet Ruiz]

Thanks Lonnell, wonderful words you've put down there and they're timely as always.

That's a classic video Lois. Thanks!

I'm glad we have a sense of recognition for this man, and of course his music made over the years with Mary. They did some great stuff. Linda, I also remember seeing them on TV as a little tyke. In fact, those early impressions made a lasting mark. Alvino Rey too who believe it or not did an afternoon performance at my elementary school once. He had his pedal steel and several lap steel guitars and thrilled and mystified our young minds with the sounds he made with them.

LewEllen, you're so right. The "Les Paul" has such a history to it and it will definitely remain for many years to come as The Guitar that will be recognized as a kind of ultimate statement of cool, of clarity, of solid consistency and quality. I don't doubt a 100 years from now someone somewhere will be saying the exact same thing. As long as there are guitars, people will know what the "Les Paul" is, no doubt.

Lonnell, you reminded me of a song I've loved since I first heard it many years ago. "I Know Who Holds Tomorrow". In all times and seasons, the words seem to speak:

Every step is getting brighter,
As the golden stairs I climb.
Every burden's getting lighter
Every cloud is silver lined.
There the sun is always shining,
There no tear will dim the eyes,
At the ending of the rainbow,
Where the mountains touch the sky.

Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.


See ya there, Les.

[Lonnell Johnson]

Johnnie and Janet,

Thank you so much for posting the information about the passing of Les Paul. I have fond memories of listening to one of Les Paul and Mary Ford’s most popular recordings “The World is waiting for the Sunrise” as I was preparing for elementary school in the 1950s. For some strange reason I really appreciated their rendition at the time and since then, although I certainly didn’t recognize the virtuoso skills of Les on the guitar, as so clearly demonstrated in the recording I just enjoyed. Over the years, I have thought of the message of that particular song, and not too long ago I checked out a CD from the library and listened to this incredible duet. I have come to appreciate the message of the song which I heard in my “inner ear” in a spiritual context in light of Romans 8:22-23

For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Not only is every rose bud covered with dew, but all of God’s creation is pregnant with expectation, groaning as if in childbirth. I really like the translation from the Amplified Bible of this same passage.

We know that the whole creation [of irrational creatures] has been moaning together in the pains of labor until now.

And not only the creation, but we ourselves too, who have and enjoy the firstfruits of the [Holy] Spirit [a foretaste of the blissful things to come] groan inwardly as we wait for the redemption of our bodies [from sensuality and the grave, which will reveal] our adoption (our manifestation as God's sons).

The essence of the message of the song is reinforced in that it was played in tribute to Les Paul who recently died. The lyrics also moved me to tears, having officiated at another funeral yesterday. Indeed, the world IS waiting for the sunrise. . . which brings to mind a poem that I composed after watching the rising of the sun from the top of a water tower at Camp Gunnison back in 1980. I recite the poem on my Way Corps webpage, but here is here is the written version

Sunrise

The sun also arises, and the sun goes down,
and hastens to the place where it arose.
Ecclesiastes 1:5

Today I beheld the beauty
of the dawning of the day,
the purple mountain majesty
crowned with mounds of sifted snow
displayed against the molten sky.

I saw no veil, no morning mist.
The sun’s purest rays revealed
mountains of uncut amethyst
ignited in dawn’s afterglow,
lingering as a fading flame.

Fleeting embers are man’s reward,
tokens of passing pleasures till
we all are gathered with our Lord
to see Him face to face and know
the sun shall rise to set no more.

A closing thought brings to mind lyrics to another song from bygone days: “. . . Sunrise Tomorrow.”

Thanks again.

Lonnell Johnson

[lois gueli]

This is so cool, cool man!

[LewEllyn Hallett]

Thanks for posting this! I'm just realizing how much he accomplished and admire his inventiveness and openness to new ways to make good music. His was a fascinating life. This is silly, but the "current culture" reference that comes to mind is in the movie Juno, when she sees the composer's guitar on its stand, and says: "Oh man, is that a Les Paul?!" I paraphrase, but Les and his guitar got in there, and they'll be referenced for generations to come.

[Linda Zinn]

Would it be showing my age to say I remember watching Les Paul and Mary Ford performing on their 1950s TV show? Of course it would, but what a sweet memory. They really made an impression on me, and I was only about 8 years old. That memory (I can still see and hear them clearly) is one of my most vivid, musically speaking. I'm glad it's something that stayed with me--one of those little treasures that just makes it's home in my head. (And that's saying something, because after 63 years of life, there's a lot of "stuff" rattling around in there!)

Mary had such a rich voice, and I was fascinated to learn that she was "the other singers" she was harmonizing with. Wasn't that another of Les Paul's innovations...multitrack recording? I didn't know then that the electric guitar he was playing was his own invention. What a creative guy--a man of vision.

Vaya con Dios, Les Paul.

[John and Janet Ruiz]

Amen Brother Kev'! I remember that album - great piece o' work it was. Chet Atkins is now deceased too. Fortunately they both left plenty of recorded and filmed work to appreciate.

He was very innovative to say the least, and in ways that gave him a lifetime of energy. I remember reading an interview with him years ago, about what a kick he got out of the Les Paul and the Humbucking pickups being known in the rock world for their "distortion" and power when pushed at full into an amp. He noted that developing the sound of the Les Paul with the pickup designs was to avoid distortion and get a clean, clear rich tone. (In fact, he and Leo Fender had convened early in the 50's to discuss their ideal designs and determined between them the ideal sound to emulate in an electric design was the sound of the pedal steel guitar, a sound Leo Fender pursued in his early models of what became the "Telecaster".) So here all these new players take his LP's and drive them hard, get that rich distortion and stamp a whole new sound out of them. He loved it! and thought it was great. Quite a guy. Always thinking, creative, full of ideas.

[Kevin Nye]

Naturally I have know of the Gibson "Les Paul" electric guitar over the years, but it wasn't until some one turned me on the the album "Guitar Monsters" featuring Les Paul and Chet Atkins. It was then that I learned of his extraordinary and tasteful talents as a guitarist. Of course Chet Atkins is (was? Is Chet still with us?) another phenom on par with Les Paul.

But, since I am not a guitarist (I play guitar but do not consider myself a guitarist), no doubt I cannot fully appreciate the greatness of this legendary man and his ability to play. But I have and will continue to marvel at the tunes this man has played on the git-tar. Rest In Peace Les Paul, and thanks for your most excellent music!