Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Les Paul to Receive Rock Hall's American Music Masters Award



One of the greatest innovators of the last sixty years (and the most overlooked on the "great guitarists" lists), Les Paul, will be honored by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the annual American Music Masters series. The week-long tribute starts on November 10 and will include a tribute concert on the 15th.

Rock Hall President and CEO Terry Stewart said "You have an inductee who in some ways maybe has had one of the biggest influences of all our inductees with the creation of his solid-body guitar, overdubbing ... not to mention his musical styling and his ability to play. He's become an idol and an icon to people in the rock world, as well as people in jazz and popular music."

"It's not just his innovation and his musical playing, but sort of the residual effects of that guitar. It's become the beginning point for so many people in music, particularly rock music."

Paul, who is 93, is attributed with not only the development of the solid-body electric guitar, but also developed numerous innovations in the recording studio. As a guitarist, he is best known for his early-50's hits with then-wife Mary Ford (How High the Moon, Mockingbird Hill). He continues to play today, even after having to relearn the instrument after a stroke, on Monday's at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York.

Paul was originally inducted as an early influence in 1988. His American Masters Award is only the second time that it has been given to a living musician, following Jerry Lee Lewis last year.

SOURCE: http://winkscollectibles.blogspot.com

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