It’s merely beginning to set in that the father of the electric guitar, the pioneer of multi-track recording, and truly genius musician, Les Paul has passed away yesterday. I never got the chance to see him play or meet him, but I have acquired several LPs and 78s of his recorded legend which is a privilege to drop the needle on the wax each time. Any chance I get to really sit down and listen to any of his classic recordings, I am transfixed by the fact that he invented everything you hear from the very guitar he’s playing to the mesmerizing technique of multi-tracking which creates an orchestra of guitars even down to the tape echo effects. What really amazes me is that he thought to use various speeds of tape to get notes way higher then the guitar can physically go, all while calculating various pitches and tempos to blend in real-time instruments with the sped up ones! Ahhhh!!! What a genius! Truly a remarkable man with countless significant contributions to music and history! It was just last week while he was still with us on this earth that my girlfriend and I celebrated his music in my basement as we danced a two-step to a Capitol label 78 of one of the best versions of Caravan ever! And yesterday, the day of his passing, I went to the record store and picked up a rare LP I have never seen in a store before of him and his trio! I’ll always listen to that particular record with a deep respect and attentiveness. May Les Paul and his legacy live on forever in our hearts and souls.
We were so sad to hear the news as well. Came across a piece of sheet music with Les Paul and Mary Ford we’ll mail out to you.