Remembering Les Paul: Great Gibson Guitarist, Producer, Entertainer and … Inventor

His drive and ambition, not only impressed, but inspired so many along the way. Paul would have been 100 years old in 2015 and no doubt- still making music, had he lived.

The Les Paul Foundation has submitted the necessary application seeking to celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments by Paul over his lifetime and to commemorate his 100^th birthday with a commemorative postage stamp issued by the United States Postal Service (USPS).

Every year, the USPS Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC) reviews approximately 50,000 proposals and selects 25-30 stamp subjects that will be of “enduring” interest to the majority of the American population.

Applications for a commemorative stamp must be made three years in advance of the proposed date of issue to allow sufficient time for design and production, if the subject is approved.

Sue Baker, Program Director for the Les Paul Foundation, had known Paul for many years prior to his death and shared her thoughts on the reasons behind this effort.

Baker said, “Les Paul, guitar player, inventor and entertainer, was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin on June 9, 1915 and died on August 12, 2009. He has been called the “Father of the Electric Guitar”, “Architect of Rock and Roll” and received numerous credits related to his extensive work on the electric guitar, recording technology as well as his mesmerizing guitar playing. There were other performers, but they were not inventors. There were other inventors, but they were not performers. Les Paul exceled at both.”

Paul was 96 when he died.

The Les Paul Foundation was established in 1995 by Paul to encourage young musicians to pursue their dreams and every year honors its Mission Statement to “honor and share the life, spirit and legacy of Les Paul by supporting music education, engineering and innovation as well as medical research.”

In the spirit of continuation to further Paul’s legacy, the Les Paul Foundation has invited the public to sign their petition in memory of Paul.

U.S. Representative Paul Ryan, from Paul’s home state of Wisconsin, was the first to respond to a string of letters sent to members of Congress earlier this year. Ryan pointed out the insightful and interesting facts surrounding the reasons to commemorate the Les Paul legacy on a USPS stamp.

Millions of people, both young and old, remember the name “Les Paul.” More times than not though, people identify Paul with the Gibson Les Paul guitar, the most well known guitar in the world.

The Gibson Les Paul guitar was named after Paul. It is a solid body electric guitar designed by Ted McCarty and Paul in 1952 and is the guitar that made the rock and roll sound possible. In 1974, Gibson USA was built in Nashville to produce Gibson’s Les Paul guitars.

But Paul’s legacy didn’t start or stop with the widely sold guitar or his performances.

Baker remembers Paul’s first invention. She recalled, “He made a device out of a coat hanger and a piece of wood and hung it around his neck so that he could sing and play both harmonica and guitar at the same time.”

During the 40’s, Paul met with two near fatal accidents that could have ground his career to a halt, but his passion to create music preempted his handicaps.

A meeting at NBC with Bing Crosby became the pivotal point in Paul’s career. Greg Crosby, Bing Crosby’s grandson, remembers the meeting between Paul and Crosby.

Greg reminisced, “Les met Bing the first month he was working at NBC. Bing wandered into the recording studio where Les was recording. Les was blown away because Bing took the time to listen to his trio. When the set was over Bing asked Les what they called themselves and what they were doing at NBC. Les told Bing that the trio was working for NBC to which Bing said, ‘No you’re not, you’re working for me.’ Bing hired the trio on the spot.”

In 1945, the two shared a hit single; It’s Been A Long, Long Time.

In the 50’s Paul’s career took off with a string of hits he performed with his wife, Mary Ford, a television series, a number of partnerships with Bing Crosby and the invention of the first 8-track professional tape recorder. (Listen)

It was Paul whose inventions ushered in the sound of rock & roll with such innovations as sound on sound recording, tape delays and phase effects. His sound engineering skills are incomparable. Without his inventions, the music industry would still be in the stone- age.

Lou Pallo, who played with such greats as Sammy Davis, Jr, the Platters and the Four Seasons, was Paul’s friend and rhythm guitar player for decades. In spite of hearing loss in both ears and acute arthritis that crippled his fingers on both hands, Paul managed to perform with Pallo well into his late 80’s.

Pallo said, “Les was always ahead of his time. He was unbelievable. What a sound he got from the multiple guitars and multiple voices. No one ever came near it- no one ever will. In the 50’s he came out with the stereo sound when there was no stereo. Les Paul was not only a ‘guitar,’ he was a great musician, entertainer and innovator. There will never be another Les Paul.”

Even heart surgery in 1987 didn’t slow Paul down. It wasn’t long before he was back performing live with his friend, Pallo.

In 2006, Les Paul & Friends: American Made – World Played debuted as Paul’s first rock and roll album. Paul collaborated with such greats as Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Buddy Guy, Joe Perry, Billy Gibbons, Jeff Beck, Richie Sambora, Steve Miller and Peter Frampton. The album was released in celebration of Paul’s 90^th birthday. He won two Grammy’s for the album.

Paul succumbed to complications from pneumonia in White Plains Hospital in August 2009 with his family by his side.

Paul’s foundation was designed to remain dormant until his death. The Foundation originally funded The Wisconsin School Music Program and the Grammy Camp and has grown to add many other programs and projects, including Guitars for Vets, Music Unites New York, Little Kid’s Rock, and the Hearing Health Foundation among a host of others.

In 1994 Bing Crosby’s picture graced the 29¢ postage stamp in the “Legends of American Music” series issued September 1 of that year. Greg Crosby said it could not be more fitting than to honor the legendary Les Paul in the same way.

More about Paul’s amazing accomplishments here.