Les Paul just died this past Thursday, August 13. Thought I’d pen a few lines here as, to my great amazement, the main stream national press doesn’t seem to be saying much about one of the greatest influences on 20th and 21st century music to have lived. Of course true audiophiles including jazz, country, and rock-n-roll lovers, as well as anyone who seriously picked-up a guitar know Les Paul.
He is often credited with inventing the solid electric guitar among many other music innovations. One of his early influences was Django Reinhardt (one of my favorite artists especially when collaborating with Stephane Grappelli). I had not thought much about Les Paul since childhood when about 10 years ago I discovered the wonderful recordings of Kay Starr. Kay notably used Les’ invention of over-dubbing to wonderful effect on her hit, “Wheel of Fortune.” So it is that his influence on modern music began in the 1930s and, though mayhaps not always recognized (especially by the casual music enthusiast), is likely to continue t’ill civilization crumbles. Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Kay Starr, ZZ Top, and Brett Dennen only begin to illustrate the breadth and depth of Les Paul’s influence.
Thank-You Les Paul for making my world a better place to live in.
For those interested, Immergent is providing free MP3 downloads of 5 of the 10 tracks on Les Paul’s latest work, “Les Paul and Friends” at the following site. Unfortunately I believe only through today (sorry I didn’t pick-up on this sooner).
http://www.immergent.com/immergent-remembers-les-paul
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Les didn’t really “invent” the solid-body electric guitar as such (there were precursors some 20 years earlier), but he certainly deserves credit for establishing it as a legitimate instrument that could be used to craft mainstream music with style and familiar sound (earlier and parallel attempts were a little left of centre, appealing principally to those playing certain styles of country), and could be as pretty as any other finely-crafted wooden instrument.
Certainly his biggest influence remains that of introducing the very idea of recorded music that did not HAVE to involve all musicians playing at once in the same room – as was the state of recorded music until that point in history. I suppose there are some who would lament the down-side of this and point to the rather factory-like approach that some music has taken in the intervening period – with tracks being shipped out to studio musicians halfway around the world to add embellishments to – but there are many more who would note the manner in which so-called “multi-tracking” permitted the emergence of the solo recording artist; the secluded genius who could meticulously assemble their own individual vision a piece at a time.
Les would also be known for two additional things. One, his devotion to the aesthetics of tone. Many of his technical achievements were the result of his unflinching pursuit of what would sound good to the human ear, both in terms of pristine clarity (and some of his recordings form the early 50’s can easily rival high-end digital rcordings of today), and in terms of a rich and pleasing tone (and multi-tracking was a way of being able to optimize the tone of each voice and instrument). The other, his unfailing good nature and sense of humour, both in his music and around it with the people he interacted with.
An outstanding work ethic, an unfailing vision, and an ever-pleasant demeanor. That’s a lot to be remembered for.