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Les Paul had a bigger impact on popular music than Michael Jackson IMHO

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edhopper Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 04:58 PM
Original message
Les Paul had a bigger impact on popular music than Michael Jackson IMHO
yet there is mostly silence on his passing.
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chaplainM Donating Member (744 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 05:01 PM
Response to Original message
1. His story lacks the freak-show appeal of MJ. eom
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Triana Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 04:46 PM
Response to Reply #1
140. freak shows are created by the media
just look at the health care debacle right now and how they're handling reporting on that. They reported on MJ the same way and were about as "fair and balanced" and truthful about him (ie: they weren't).

Why blame MJ for the media's definition of him and for the fact that they created a freak show around him? It DOES get viewers, lots of website clicks and sells LOTS of magazines. You know - PROFIT?!

And DO THEY CARE who or what they destroy to get and keep their PROFITS? You know they don't.

You all know better.

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ejpoeta Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 05:01 PM
Response to Original message
2. probably because he wasn't as visible as michael jackson. i don't know...
i didn't even know who he was.
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edhopper Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 05:05 PM
Response to Reply #2
6. well for one thing
"Without Les Paul, we would not have rock and roll as we know it," said Terry Stewart, president of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. "His inventions created the infrastructure for the music and his playing style will ripple through generations. He was truly an architect of rock and roll."

wiki him
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ejpoeta Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 05:21 PM
Response to Reply #6
10. i believe you.... it's just that michael jackson was out there in the public eye....
guys like les paul are like the guy behind the curtain.
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immoderate Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 11:15 PM
Response to Reply #10
64. Only if you're young.
Les Paul had a TV show and a string of #1 hits in the 50s.

--imm
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misanthrope Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 11:21 PM
Response to Reply #64
65. Hell, it was the middle-aged who remember MJ on top...
...For anyone who came of age in the last 20 years, he was a nostalgia trip.
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mitchum Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-15-09 01:13 AM
Response to Reply #65
145. Or a rather silly camp figure
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KakistocracyHater Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-15-09 07:57 PM
Response to Reply #6
155. so did that guy who invented the synthesizer, Forbidden Planet had it on
their soundtrack I think. But I can't remember his name. Plus-how old is the op? One tends to value the biggest in one's time, it shows in all those Woodstock threads. For millions, Michael Jackson WAS the 80s, practically MADE the music video mandatory, had film directors & special efffects imported into the music biz, was widely admired by MANY RACES, he crossed so many barriers, it shows in the Thriller sales. Plus had Eddie Van Halen in his song & ON his video.
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RushIsRot Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-15-09 09:14 PM
Response to Reply #155
158. Wasn't the synthisizer guy named Moog?
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Frank Cannon Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 05:01 PM
Response to Original message
3. Well, that's what you get for living a very long, useful life...
with relatively few issues.

Let that be a lesson to you, children.
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HiFructosePronSyrup Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 05:02 PM
Response to Original message
4. 1. It's not a competition.
2. Les Paul was 94.
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Uzybone Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 07:07 PM
Response to Reply #4
24. +1: sometimes things are too simple
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blondeatlast Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-15-09 07:48 PM
Response to Reply #4
151. Yup. nt
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6000eliot Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 05:02 PM
Response to Original message
5. I thought the same thing.
Les Paul was a true giant and legend whose impact on recorded music can't be over-estimated. Michael Jackson is puny in his shadow.
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maxsolomon Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 05:12 PM
Response to Original message
7. yes. How High the Moon was the greatest song in Rock History.
1. Elvis - Amurka
2. The Beatles - Amurka and Europe
3. Michael Jackson - the entire planet

& after Nirvana, the Deluge. Another Pop Explosion is no longer possible.
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BlooInBloo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 05:13 PM
Response to Original message
8. For fuck's sake whiners. It's not a fucking contest.
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Karenina Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 03:07 PM
Response to Reply #8
119. Blaukohl bleibt Blaukohl
und Brautkleid bleibt Brautkleid.

This is part and parcel of the American sickness. NOTHING stands on its own merit. Everything must be compared and ranked...

:crazy:
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onenote Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 03:43 PM
Response to Reply #8
124. right! I could just as easily say the guy who invented the paintbrush
had a bigger impact on art than Da Vinci. Or that the guy who invented boxing gloves had more of an impact on boxing than Ali.

Paul was important. But that doesn't mean that the media (and the public) should suddenly pretend that his death is more newsworthy than Jackson's. The number of people who knew of and were interested in Jackson dwarfs the number of people who were aware of Les Paul's existence.

Frankly, I'm rather glad that Paul's death is getting the amount of coverage that it is getting. More people are learning about him which is good.
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blm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 05:18 PM
Response to Original message
9. The silence isn't from music business....Les has been GENUINELY FETED many times over the years
Edited on Thu Aug-13-09 05:18 PM by blm
and over the decades by those who know that he was responsible for careers in just about every aspect of the music business.

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tridim Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 05:22 PM
Response to Original message
11. Without a doubt, but you'll probably get reamed for daring to say it on DU.
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zonkers Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 05:24 PM
Response to Original message
12. Aint that the way it always is? Sigh.
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enigmatic Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 05:27 PM
Response to Original message
13. Les Paul was a giant, a true innovator
No Les Paul, no electric Rock n Roll, and no Michael Jackson.

Safe Passage, Mr. Paul.
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sofa king Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 05:29 PM
Response to Original message
14. Les Paul is dead? Oh, no!
That's a darned shame. He's one of the fellows I'd hoped to see play one day.
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redqueen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 05:29 PM
Response to Original message
15. He wasn't controversial.
I know that's really hard to figure out... how controversial things attract more attention... but I'm sure you'll get there eventually.
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Solomon Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 05:33 PM
Response to Original message
16. Yeah right. "There would have never been popular music
if not for Les Paul". (rolls eyes)

Get a grip. He didn't invent guitars or pianos or drums or singing or ... popular music.

Why can't people praise someone without trying to shit on somebody else to do so? I respect the hell out of Les Paul but this kind of stuff is just using him to make a knock against somebody else.

Just give him his props on his own terms. Or else we should just start adding other names to the list, okay? How 'bout Elvis, Beatles, Sinatra, etc. etc.
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edhopper Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 05:43 PM
Response to Reply #16
19. Um, he actually did invent
the modern electric guitar and multi-track recording.
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ContinentalOp Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 07:14 PM
Response to Reply #19
28. Well, multi-track recording and VSO at least.
I would dispute the electric guitar part. ;)
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asdjrocky Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 08:03 AM
Response to Reply #28
91. First solid body electric guitar. Good point.
But you know the electrics before that were pieces of crap.
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ContinentalOp Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 01:37 PM
Response to Reply #91
115. Well, Fenders were on the market first, and they certainly were no pieces of crap -nt-
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GReedDiamond Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 10:03 PM
Response to Reply #19
61. Yes, multi-track recording...AND...
...overdubbing, which brought music production to a whole new level.

There is absolutely no doubt that without the inventive genius of Les Paul, music, particularly pop and rock n roll, would not be the same.

A hundred Michael Jacksons would not equal one Les Paul when it comes to the comparative importance of their individual musical and technical achievements.
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slampoet Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 12:15 AM
Response to Reply #16
81. Elvis, Beatles, and Sinatra ALL used four different inventions of Les Paul's

In Fact Les built the recording machine at Columbia records that made most of Sinatra's best hits.



Please don't comment on things you don't know about.
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blm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 07:52 AM
Response to Reply #81
86. Capitol Records - the house that Les built. Of course, his efforts helped build ALOT of recording
studios and record labels all over the world, too.
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asdjrocky Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 08:02 AM
Response to Reply #16
90. Learn your history.
No Les Paul, no Tom Dowd, no Rock'n'Roll.
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Solomon Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 03:28 PM
Response to Reply #90
122. And you should learn your history. Les Paul did not invent
Edited on Fri Aug-14-09 03:33 PM by Solomon
rock and roll.

You guys kill me. You can go forever about what wouldn't be if not for ...

It's stupid. If it weren't for Benjamin Franklin there would be no Les Paul. How 'bout that? LOL
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mitchum Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 05:38 PM
Response to Original message
17. Absolutely...Paul changed the way that people created music...
Jackson just upped the ante on the MARKETING of song and dance men.
There is no comparison.
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Name removed Donating Member (0 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 05:41 PM
Response to Original message
18. Deleted sub-thread
Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.
 
Fire1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 05:52 PM
Response to Original message
20. Mainly cause most of us don't know who the fuck he is or was!
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edhopper Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 06:42 PM
Response to Reply #20
21. More the pity
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Zodiak Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 08:00 AM
Response to Reply #20
89. We don't know the caveman who discovered fire, either
But we can appreciate his contributions all the same.

Les Paul fell out of the spotlight long before many DUers were born, but that does not diminish him one bit.
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Fire1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 08:54 AM
Response to Reply #89
106. You can't miss what you can't measure. We know fire
was discovered by 'someone' and appreciate the element but your analogy is a strawman, in this case.
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Zodiak Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 04:43 PM
Response to Reply #106
138. For one, fire is not an "element"
Edited on Fri Aug-14-09 04:45 PM by Zodiak
You need to update your scientific knowledge beyond Plato, especially bearing such a nick.

Now, concerning your "strawman" argument, you fail to see the analogy. If one person is more popularly known than another, it is not a measure of greatness, only popularity. One cannot deny that the caveman who discovered fire was very important, but none of us know his name. So if you have not heard of Les Paul before, that does not diminish him one bit, and it certainly doesn't make him less of a musician than a megastar from the 80s.

That's the argument, and why the analogy is apt.

If you are walking back the thrust of your post to simply pointing out that people have not heard of him, therefore he is passed unnoticed, then fine. But the way you worded the argument was dismissive and deserved some attention. The question was pretty much rhetorical, and that is the point of this thread. Your literalism and cursing are out of place.

Les Paul was a great musician who contributed more to modern music than any star of the last 50 years, and whether a person has heard of him or not should have no bearing on the measure of the man or the reasons for lamenting the silence of his passing.
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Fire1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 05:22 PM
Response to Reply #138
143. Alrighty then. 'Someone' discovered the combustion of
substances with oxygen resulting in light and heat! Secondly, I'm simply pointing out that one can hardly be expected to 'lament' the passing of someone they've never heard of nor can they extend any kind of mearsurement in terms of his accomplishments or talents. However, just because he is unknown to some in no way diminishes his talent or contributions and I'm sorry if that was your interpretation. I was just offering a suggestion as to WHY there was 'silence' regarding his passing.

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mitchum Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 01:31 PM
Response to Reply #20
113. Yes, but your ignorance does not diminish his importance
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Fire1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 03:19 PM
Response to Reply #113
120. Nobody said it did, Einstein. n/t
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mitchum Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 04:13 PM
Response to Reply #120
130. Wow! Did you steal that riposte from Noel Coward?
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Tangerine LaBamba Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 06:48 PM
Response to Original message
22. Pretty appalling that people don't know who he was,
but the part that I like is that Paul has always been revered during his long, honorable, productive life by all the guitar giants who paid him the respect he rightfully had coming.

There's nothing like saying "Thank you" to the person who made the music possible.

Michael Jackson, on the other hand, probably hadn't the slightest idea of who Les Paul was, and that's the different between a true musician and a cardboard cutout........................
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ContinentalOp Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 07:12 PM
Response to Reply #22
25. That's silly and totally unfair to Jackson.
He wasn't an idiot. I'm sure he even met Les Paul at some point.
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Tangerine LaBamba Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 08:14 PM
Response to Reply #25
38. Talk about "silly"?
You envision a meeting between Michael Jackson - that famous guitar virtuoso, right - and Les Paul?

So, tell me, since you're "sure he even met Les Paul at some point," how you know this?

And does your special and intimate knowledge qualify you to call my opinion "silly"?

I should defer, of course, to your ability to divine events that may or may not have happened, but I would never call your assertion that you're "sure he even met Les Paul at some point" anything like "silly." That would rude and judgmental and ill-conceived. That would not be the right thing to do, as far as I'm concerned.

I'm quite fascinated that you are "sure" that such a meeting took place.

Tell me more. I'd love to know all about this encounter.

Thank you......................
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ContinentalOp Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 08:33 PM
Response to Reply #38
45. Yes, I think it's silly that you try to paint Jackson as some kind of uncultured imbicile.
The guy was a professional in the music industry for about 40 years. From the time he was around 10 years old until the day he died. I guarantee that he knew who Les Paul was. As a guy whose art was very much a studio creation I'm sure he was aware that Les Paul pioneered multitrack recording. And I would find it very hard to believe that they didn't cross paths at some point, backstage at an award show, at dinner at Quincey Jones' house, who knows, there would have been thousands of opportunities. I didn't know either of them but I am friends with a couple of minor figures in the music industry and they know or have met just about everybody you could imagine. It's a small industry.
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Tangerine LaBamba Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 08:53 PM
Response to Reply #45
50. Yes, it's a small industry -
and a relative of mine is what you call "a superstar" in the rock end of the business.

But your characterization of Michael Jackson as "some kind of uncultured imbecile" is rather harsh, I think. While he was nowhere near the genius that Les Paul was, nor will his contributions, such as they were, endure in the many incarnations that reverberate every time a kid picks up a guitar today and for decades, generations to come, there's no need for you to paint Jackson in such unforgiving and unkind terms. I'm sure he was not an imbecile.

But, if you regard Jackson's knowledge of Les Paul's name, and perhaps his contributions, as some evidence of them meeting, I'd like to see how you got from the inside of Michael Jackson's head to a physical, corporeal meeting of two men in the music business.

How many dinners at Quincy Jones' house, do you think, included Les Paul? One? Five? Thirty? Two hundred?

And how many included Jackson as a guest? Twelve? Thirty-nine? Fifty-seven?

I think you're just imagining things, and trying to present them as fact, when, in fact, you have no information on this matter, and you were just trying to batter my comparison of Jackson and Paul - a funny match-up if ever there was one.

Unless you're gonna quote me something substantial - show me a photo - cite an article about their encounter - you're just blowing silly smoke.

Really silly smoke.....................................
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ContinentalOp Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 09:47 PM
Response to Reply #50
55. edit: not worth it
Edited on Thu Aug-13-09 10:26 PM by ContinentalOp
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Tangerine LaBamba Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 09:57 PM
Response to Reply #55
59. You're making it into a personal attack -
that's all you can do?

Really? Nothing to refute. No solid opinion or information? No intelligent and respectful discussion, or disagreement?

Just gotta nail that DUer who dares to have an opinion with which you disagree?

And how do you know I never met Paul or Jackson?

My goodness, you sure do make up all kind of "realities" for yourself.

You're adorable..................
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democracy1st Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-15-09 07:57 PM
Response to Reply #59
154. hell u put down MJ whats the difference thats stupid
Edited on Sat Aug-15-09 07:58 PM by democracy1st
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noiretextatique Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 03:51 PM
Response to Reply #38
125. jackson knew a lot of people
including princess diana and frank sinatra. he knew lots of musicians, producers, etc., so it's quite possible he knew les paul too.
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immoderate Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 07:18 PM
Response to Reply #22
30. I agree, except...
MJ might have been weird, but not stupid. I'm not a fan of his music, but I am under the impression that he was a student of music. I'd sooner believe that he studied Les Paul, than was unaware of him. But I'm just guessing.

I believe that anybody on the creative end of music knew about Les Paul.

--imm
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Tangerine LaBamba Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 08:17 PM
Response to Reply #30
39. Did you ever see Michael Jackson
play - seriously play - an instrument? I saw him strum a guitar, almost more of a ukulele, when he was really young, but did you know that he had any serious musical training, or could play any instrument?

Like the above poster who is 'sure that he and Les Paul met at some time," are you basing your opinion on anything substantial, or are you just guessing? Because if you're guessing, then my guess is truly as good as yours.

He surely was not a guitar virtuoso, that's for sure. And he certainly lacked the gravitas that Les Paul's reputation will maintain for a long, long time..................................
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immoderate Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 08:38 PM
Response to Reply #39
46. An educated guess.
Edited on Thu Aug-13-09 08:43 PM by immoderate
I have heard Quincy Jones, and others, talk about Jackson and his work ethic. Jones talked about Jackson's curiosity and preparation, from a very young age, about production. It's not about the guitar. It's about the studio.

I would be surprised if Jackson were not aware of Les and his methods. Again, I'm not a fan of his music, but it was well produced.

Edit to add: Here's a connection for you. http://cgi.ebay.com/Michael-Jackson-Signed-1952-Gibson-Les-Paul-Tito-Played_W0QQitemZ160350208927QQcategoryZ104408QQcmdZViewItem

No. It doesn't prove my point.

--imm
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Tangerine LaBamba Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 08:57 PM
Response to Reply #46
51. There's a difference between production
and execution.

Michael Jackson also copyrighted the term "King Of Pop," and had a throne shipped around with him wherever he lived, but that didn't make him royalty.

Les Paul did both production and execution, and he surely didn't need the many accoutrements that defined a Michael Jackson performance. When you compare Les Paul's work with Jackson's, well, it's just inane to do that, because they're horses of such different colors.

A producer doesn't have to be a musician, just needs that Magic Ear, and Jackson, yes, was a hard worker. That does not make him anything except a hard worker.

In the end, he produced nothing in the last twenty years or so that had any value. Les Paul never stopped working, and all he had was his instrument.

Jackson couldn't go on stage without the assistance of hundreds...............................
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immoderate Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 09:05 PM
Response to Reply #51
53. No argument about that.
This started off about whether MJ was aware of Les Paul. That's all.

I don't consider Jackson a great artist or talent.

--imm
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Tangerine LaBamba Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 09:58 PM
Response to Reply #53
60. We agree on all of it,
it seems.

Les Paul was amazing. I'm really glad he lived as long as he did.............................
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ContinentalOp Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 09:49 PM
Response to Reply #39
56. edit: n/m. lost cause
Edited on Thu Aug-13-09 10:27 PM by ContinentalOp
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Tangerine LaBamba Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 09:54 PM
Response to Reply #56
57. He played his nose?
Really?

You're so cute with the namecalling. A sure sign that you've got nothing of worth.

Antsy little critter, ain't ya?





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Tangerine LaBamba Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 02:05 AM
Response to Reply #56
84. Good idea -
it's better this way, really. When you're in a hole, and all that.

Well done.....................

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noiretextatique Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 03:52 PM
Response to Reply #39
126. he was a singer and a songwriter eom
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asdjrocky Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 08:05 AM
Response to Reply #22
93. That's not fair to Michael Jackson.
The man knew the industry he worked in. And he was a smart, multi-talented performer.
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Bonobo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 07:05 PM
Response to Original message
23. Of course he did. On more than pop music too. K&R
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reprehensor Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 07:13 PM
Response to Original message
26. I saw Les Paul play in 1991
Downstairs at Fat Tuesday's in NYC.

It was his little weekly set with another electric guitar pumping out rhythm and a gut bass.

Intimate setting, totally unpretentious man just noodling away Jazz numbers like he had done for 40-50 years.

Thanks for the guitars and the licks, Les.
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immoderate Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 07:36 PM
Response to Reply #26
33. I was a regular at the Fat Tuesday sessions. It was walking distance from my apartment.
The other guitarist, Wayne Wright, whom I knew, pulled Les out of seclusion to play those gigs. The bass player was Gary Mazzaroppi. The audience was always full of guitar players.

I remember one time he accidentally brought Les Paul #1 to the gig, the first Les Paul guitar off the line, which had just been refurbished for him by Gibson. I got to touch it.:) Every time I went to see him, I felt like history was being made.

--imm
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asdjrocky Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 08:09 AM
Response to Reply #26
94. Lucky you.
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ContinentalOp Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 07:13 PM
Response to Original message
27. Well, duh. That's undeniable. Inarguable.
Which is part of the reason for the lack of posts. I don't think there were thousands of threads when Bob Moog died either.
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asdjrocky Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 08:12 AM
Response to Reply #27
95. Rimes with vogue.
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BOG PERSON Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 07:14 PM
Response to Original message
29. No. Les Paul was good at guitar.
Michael Jackson at his peak was like a demigod.
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immoderate Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 07:25 PM
Response to Reply #29
31. Obviously, you're not a guitar player.
And you're probably pretty young. In the 50's Les and Mary had their own daily TV show and multiple hits in the top 10. Demigodness is so fleeting. Les was a god.

--imm
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Tangerine LaBamba Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 08:19 PM
Response to Reply #29
40. Like a demigod -
No, he was an entertainer who could dance and sing, but who hadn't contributed anything that revolutionized the music world, and who didn't do anything meaningful with music for the last twenty years of his life.

He worked on his reputation, and that was about it. Beyond a few big songs that established him, he never did anything else that was of any import.

Comparing Les Paul and Michael Jackson is sort of like comparing Hillary Clinton to Sarah Palin.................................
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Vidar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 11:52 PM
Response to Reply #29
74. A much more lasting influence
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blm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 07:56 AM
Response to Reply #29
87. HAHAHAHAHAH.....what an absurdity....proving you know NOTHING about music or the business
of creating and MAKING music.
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Orsino Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 08:14 AM
Response to Reply #29
96. He invented multitracking, and so could be said to have had a wider influence than Jackson's. n/t
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TheKentuckian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 07:25 PM
Response to Original message
32. Bigger impact is probably true but Jackson was inarguably the bigger star
It is really that simple. Jackson's impact is more personally concentrated while Paul's were more systemic. What's your favorite Les Paul song isn't something that gets a response, there is no emotional connection, no memories evoked.

I think you are comparing apples to oranges here. Paul was an absolute giant but I wouldn't really say he and Jackson really did the same thing in a way that would create a contrast.

Artists just get more play just like quarterbacks.
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immoderate Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 07:53 PM
Response to Reply #32
34. Were you around in the 50s?
While I accept the apples and oranges comparison, I do have strong emotional ties to Les Paul's recordings. I have strong memories of rushing home from school to catch his daily TV show with Mary, from their New Jersey home. (Another innovation.)

Check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ_5ubk2H4k

I can't get through this video without some tears of nostalgia.

--imm
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Tangerine LaBamba Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 08:21 PM
Response to Reply #34
41. "How High The Moon"
Remember?

Les Paul and Mary Ford?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0ffdwBUL78

I remember when you couldn't go anywhere without hearing that song on the radio. Even then, his guitar work was amazing - and that's more than fifty years ago!
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immoderate Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 08:50 PM
Response to Reply #41
49. Yes. I had a Les Paul collection.
I had a stack of 45s by Les Paul. Some were guitar instrumentals. I watched their TV show every day after school. Les and Mary must have had a dozen hit records.

--imm
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misanthrope Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 11:32 PM
Response to Reply #32
67. You mean like the difference between, say, JS Bach and Yanni?**nm
**
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Zomby Woof Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 08:00 PM
Response to Original message
35. No argument from me
I can name 1,000 artists who had a bigger impact on popular music than Jackson. Jackson had a COMMERCIAL impact, but his musical impact was vastly overrated.

Les Paul made 20th century electric guitar music of ALL genres possible. And he invented multi-track recording. Only Thomas Edison and a small handful of others achieved more in the realm of sound recording/invention.
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asdjrocky Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 08:15 AM
Response to Reply #35
97. 1,000? Really? 1,000?
No way. I dare ya. Go ahead and try. Hey, I love Les Paul and I give him all props, but what you just stated here is ridicules.
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hootinholler Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 08:09 PM
Response to Original message
36. And it continues to play out that way in this thread.
Edited on Thu Aug-13-09 08:10 PM by hootinholler
7 recs and 41 replies.

Rest easy, Les. Thanks for all the great music.

-Hoot
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SemiCharmedQuark Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 08:11 PM
Response to Original message
37. Probably because he died at 90+ years old and it is not a shock.
Edited on Thu Aug-13-09 08:15 PM by SemiCharmedQuark
People who die in their 50s always get more coverage than people who die when they are at the age where death is expected. The "He was so young!" angle is very popular.
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Sebastian Doyle Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 08:26 PM
Response to Original message
42. Everybody's surely heard of the Les Paul guitar
The fact that he invented multi-track recording may not be as well known. And probably not many people in the last two generations would know the music that Les himself made, even if they heard it. So he wasn't an "icon" in the sense that Michael Jackson or Elvis or whomever was, but without his inventions, they wouldn't have existed in the first place.

So yeah, definitely a bigger impact. Rock, Jazz, Blues, Country, R&B, whatever..... some of those musical forms wouldn't exist at all without electric guitar, and the others would be a hell of a lot different without it.
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misanthrope Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 11:35 PM
Response to Reply #42
68. Maybe "everyone" hasn't heard of it like they once did...
...People aren't learning to play these days at the rate they once did and kids are too busy playing "Guitar Hero" to learn how to do it for themselves.
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Sebastian Doyle Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 12:10 AM
Response to Reply #68
78. Yeah, but even the kids who play "Guitar Hero" have this.....

So even they owe a debt to Les Paul, whether or not the little shits realize it.
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Sebastian Doyle Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 12:10 AM
Response to Reply #68
79. Yeah, but even the kids who play "Guitar Hero" have this.....

So even they owe a debt to Les Paul, whether or not the little shits realize it.
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dorkulon Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 08:28 PM
Response to Original message
43. Ah Jeez, you had to dredge this shit up again?
Les Paul was awesome. But I dunno about "bigger impact" than MJ. He sure annoys me less though.
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Canuckistanian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 08:28 PM
Response to Original message
44. I never thought MJ was much of an innovator
Maybe MJ pioneered combining dance and pop music. But his music wasn't exactly groundbreaking from a music history standpoint.

But Les Paul created a whole culture around the electric guitar and fundamentally changed music as we know it.

And without multitracking, music would have been much more simple and uninspiring.

RIP, Mr. Paul.
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BOG PERSON Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 08:43 PM
Response to Reply #44
48. SOMEBODY would have eventually come up with the idea of multitracking,
if not Les Paul.
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Canuckistanian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 09:57 PM
Response to Reply #48
58. I can think of a few who would have
Frank Zappa. Todd Rundgren. Or the Beatles.
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mitchum Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 11:53 PM
Response to Reply #58
75. Raymond Scott DID long before those guys
He and Paul were independently developing multi-track recording at the same time. Not to take anything away from Paul, but Scott was experimenting with stacking recording heads while Paul was still overdubbing with discs.
Both were geniuses.
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mitchum Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 11:49 PM
Response to Reply #48
73. SOMEBODY would have eventually come up with the idea of being a song and dance man
Wait a minute...lots of people did...long before Jackson
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blm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 04:45 PM
Response to Reply #48
139. and SOMEBODY came up with Moonwalk and taught it to Michael Jackson....
do you REALLY want to go down that road? Leave it alone.
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BOG PERSON Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-15-09 07:44 PM
Response to Reply #139
149. Chill out, rock snob
Some of us happen to think a white dude with a guitar isn't the highest form of artistic expression. Sorry!
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mitchum Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-15-09 07:52 PM
Response to Reply #149
153. I think a black dude with a trumpet is the highest form of artistic expression
And that's why I say that lightweight Jackson wasn't fit to carry Miles Davis' coke spoon.

What a lame attempt on your part to make this about race.
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BOG PERSON Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-15-09 08:00 PM
Response to Reply #153
156. Stuff White People Like #116 -
Black Music that Black People Don’t Listen to Anymore

All music genres go through a very similar life cycle: birth, growth, mainstream acceptance, decline, and finally obscurity. With black music, however, the final stage is never reached because white people are work tirelessly to keep it alive. Apparently, once a music has lost its relevance with its intended audience, it becomes MORE relevant to white people.

Historically speaking, the music that white people have kept on life support for the longest period of time is Jazz. Thanks largely to public radio, bookstores, and coffee shops, Jazz has carved out a niche in white culture that is not yet ready to be replaced by Indie Rock. But the biggest role that Jazz plays in white culture is in the white fantasy of leisure. All white people believe that they prefer listening to jazz over watching television. This is not true.

Every few a months, a white person will put on some Jazz and pour themselves a glass of wine or scotch and tell themselves how nice it is. Then they will get bored and watch television or write emails to other white people about how nice it was to listen to Jazz at home. “Last night, I poured myself a glass of Shiraz and put Charlie Parker on the Bose. It was so relaxing, I wish I had a fireplace.” Listing this activity as one of your favorites is a sure fire way to make progress towards a romantic relationship with a white person.

Along with Jazz, white people have also taken quite a shine to The Blues, an art form that captured the pain of the black experience in America. Then, in the 1960s, a bunch of British bands started to play their own version of the music and white people have been loving it ever since. It makes sense considering that the British were the ones who created The Blues in the 17th Century.
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mitchum Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-15-09 10:47 PM
Response to Reply #156
159. I rest my case...
and it is MY case
as opposed to your effort
which merely consisted of pasting a passage from a snarky (and so 5 years ago) website.
I will leave you now
so that you can dwell upon
both
your clumsy attempt at race-baiting
and
the alleged genius
of
Short Eyes Jackson
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blm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-16-09 10:08 AM
Response to Reply #156
164. wow - so black music was NEVER recorded or played through any device pioneered by Les Paul?
Your view of music history has no resemblance to reality. YOU are trying to turn it into a race issue when it absolutely has NOTHING TO DO WITH RACE.

You don't even know the DIFFERENCE between a musician and an industry changing INVENTOR. Something that RACE has ZERO to do with to any objective person.
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blm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-16-09 10:01 AM
Response to Reply #149
163. if he was JUST a guitarist I'd agree with you - but, that isn't the case, IS IT? The music INDUSTRY
Edited on Sun Aug-16-09 10:02 AM by blm
expanded and evolved because of Les' brilliance. If you don't GET that, then that's your problem with basic music history.
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misanthrope Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 11:35 PM
Response to Reply #44
69. MJ was a music marketing giant.**nm
**
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Javaman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 02:24 PM
Response to Reply #69
118. He was a product. A well marketed product, but still a product. nt
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immoderate Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 12:05 PM
Response to Reply #44
110. Jackson's contribution was visual, not musical.
Jackson took video production to new heights when there was a vacuum at the music video stations to fill. He also was a middle-of-the-road black artist at a time when racial barriers had to be broken.

Les also invented the "echo chamber" and the phasing effect. He told me he discovered phasing when he had two turntables with the same recording. Playing them out of phase gave that swirling effect. Many of the effects that we now just plug in to a box for were invented first by Les Paul, before there was a box to plug into.

--imm
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mitchum Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 04:28 PM
Response to Reply #110
133. Exactly...Jackson wasn't even the most influential musician during his decade...
of pop dominance. That would be Prince.
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slackmaster Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 08:40 PM
Response to Original message
47. I think it's an apples-to-oranges comparison
Edited on Thu Aug-13-09 08:41 PM by slackmaster
I believe that if Les Paul had not invented the solid-body electric guitar, someone else would have sooner or later.

Both were brilliant, creative men who accomplished great things and made huge contributions to entertainment.
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ContinentalOp Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 10:10 PM
Response to Reply #47
62. You mean like Leo Fender who sold the first commercially available solidbody electric guitar?
:shrug:
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olegramps Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 08:49 AM
Response to Reply #62
104. You are right about that.
The Gibson Company wasn't interested in making a solid body guitar until Fender produced his. As I remember it Les Paul developed his guitar because of an auto accident that left his arm permanently locked in one position. He certainly contributed much to the music industry along with his wife, Mary Ford.
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Mudoria Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 09:02 PM
Response to Original message
52. Without a doubt
Edited on Thu Aug-13-09 09:06 PM by Mudoria


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immoderate Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 09:08 PM
Response to Reply #52
54. Any guitar player...
makes at least a mental bow to that image.

--imm
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bridgit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 10:14 PM
Response to Original message
63. agreed
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Vinnie From Indy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 11:36 PM
Response to Reply #63
70. nice ax!
Les Paul & Michael both accomplished a great deal in their lives. I'll drink a toast to both!
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Gabi Hayes Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 11:26 PM
Response to Original message
66. 6 hour show on WGN radio, right now, mostly about Les. streaming here:
http://www.wgnradio.com/about/listen/

very sad right now, cause the hosts are very good friends of his....have him on all the time

talking about when he was on the show last; his 94th birthday, when he'd just gotten back from the hospital

should be very good....lots of his friends will call, including many famous musicians

going to be talking to Club Iridium owner now (that's where he played every week, up til June of this year)
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csziggy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 11:41 PM
Response to Original message
71. NPR had a nice bit on him this afternoon
The part about him building his own disc recorder (not sure of the actual name, but it cut vinyl master records) and then using the records he cut to make "multi-track" recordings was amazing!

I'm not sure which NPR show it was on - maybe Talk of the Nation.

This is not the clip I heard this afternoon, but there are links to a lot of Les Brown stuff from the NPR archives: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111845182
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mitchum Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 11:47 PM
Response to Original message
72. Jackson was just Sammy Davis Jr with a Jheri Curl...and both eyes
a hyped-up song and dance man
Paul was a genius
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Gabi Hayes Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-13-09 11:55 PM
Response to Reply #72
76. but they had three eyes/noses each.
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misanthrope Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 03:19 AM
Response to Reply #72
85. Davis played a variety of instruments.**nm
**
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asdjrocky Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 08:18 AM
Response to Reply #72
99. Wow. I think if you look back and really think, you'll wish you hadn't said that.
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mitchum Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 01:29 PM
Response to Reply #99
112. True...as someone pointed out earlier Sammy could actually play several instruments...
unlike Jackson.
Jackson was just part of a tradition; Paul was an innovator.
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blm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 01:59 PM
Response to Reply #99
117. if you think that then you must not have noticed how irreverent mitchum is......
and how often. And, I am always glad to click on his posts, because I expect to be highly entertained by that irreverence.
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mitchum Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 04:08 PM
Response to Reply #117
128. Thank you...
as you know, I consider that to be the sweetest praise in the world
particularly coming from you

hope all is well,
mitchum
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blm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 04:25 PM
Response to Reply #128
132. eh...well comes and it goes....very sad about Les....
when Michael died, I flew to NY for the memorial....I ended up calling Les and crying my eyes out to him for almost an hour....stayed in NY to see Les at Fat Tuesdays. When he played some of his bluesier tunes I cried some more.

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mitchum Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 05:46 PM
Response to Reply #99
144. Hey, I could have ended that crack with "...with short eyes instead of one eye"
Edited on Fri Aug-14-09 05:48 PM by mitchum
instead of the ending that I did use.
See...I did think about what I said...and went easy on Jackson.
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blm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-15-09 03:57 AM
Response to Reply #144
146. Heh.....
.
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Twinguard Donating Member (486 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 12:08 AM
Response to Original message
77. Anyone who has listened to recorded music at any point in the past 50 years
should give the man a salute.

Vaya con Dios, Mr. Paul.
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democracy1st Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 12:10 AM
Response to Original message
80. dayum man grow up and quit hating on MJ
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deep1 Donating Member (252 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 02:02 AM
Response to Original message
82. No need for the comparison.......
Edited on Fri Aug-14-09 02:16 AM by deep1
The disrespect on this thread for Michael Jackson is unwarranted. He is one of the greatest entertainers ever made and his music goes across many races and nationalities.


As woman of color, I owe much respect for him to opening doors to black entertainers in pop at a time when MTV discriminated against them. Virtually every singer/entertainer today has moves that mirror Michael Jackson's ingenuity.

I and millions of others hold Michael to a very high esteem.

So please don't ever trivialize Michael's death. I know people who lack rhythm and don't know how to dance are the main ones bashing Michael.

The man was excellent at what he does and was an incredible influence to many people.

The OP could have payed respect to his idol without bashing another. How can you compare?

They are TWO DIFFERENT ARTISTS. Get off your bitter hatred of Michael.
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Triana Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 09:50 AM
Response to Reply #82
107. thank you
:loveya:
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akbacchus_BC Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-15-09 04:16 AM
Response to Reply #82
147. Totally agree with you but be careful, some one will tell you that you are
a newbie and without a star! Thank you for your perspective!
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Blue_In_AK Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 02:04 AM
Response to Original message
83. You are correct.
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asdjrocky Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 07:58 AM
Response to Original message
88. For sure.
If you've ever touched a solid body electric guitar. If you've ever recorded in a studio. If you've ever listened to the Beatles white album. You should thank Les Paul.

And here's another one who should never be forgotten: Tom Dowd. If you don't know who he is, look it up.

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Zodiak Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 08:03 AM
Response to Original message
92. Les Paul was a great man
In my opinion, a much bigger contributor to the industry than MJ, but then again, that is comparing apples to oranges. Virtuosos and inventors are not the same as super-megastars.

Fellas like Les and Buddy Rich were not celebrated popularly when they died, but that does not diminish either of them. Those in the know took note...and that is all that really matters.
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olegramps Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 08:16 AM
Response to Original message
98. Don't forget Mary Ford, his wife, who was a terrific vocalist.
She was very talented and also played the guitar. She was very much part of their success story.
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Paladin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 08:21 AM
Response to Original message
100. Agreed. (n/t)
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Triana Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 08:29 AM
Response to Original message
101. What Solomon said:
"Why can't people praise someone without trying to shit on somebody else to do so?"

f*ck that.

BOTH of them contributed immensely to what music is today and their contributions - either of them - are not to be understated.

Take your H8 elsewhere.
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jmm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 08:43 AM
Response to Original message
102. If I was Les Paul,
this thread would be one of the last things I want done in my memory. I've not too familiar with him but I can't imagine he'd want his own fans trying to put him in Michael Jackson's shadow. Nobody else should have to be torn down to build him up.
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Triana Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 09:51 AM
Response to Reply #102
108. "Nobody else should have to be torn down to build him up."
SO well said!


:applause:
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redqueen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 03:31 PM
Response to Reply #108
123. Yes... sadly, far too many enjoy the tearing down. (nt)
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Triana Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 04:41 PM
Response to Reply #123
137. It says more about the people doing the tearing down than it does about MJ.
People really ought to stop projecting their own issues onto MJ and then ridiculing HIM for them. Sure it's easier - that way THEY don't have to change. What does it accomplish?
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redqueen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 04:46 PM
Response to Reply #137
141. It makes them feel better in some way I guess.
Some kind of one-upmanship bullshit. It's idiotic.
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Posteritatis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 10:08 AM
Response to Reply #102
109. And this is the one comment that people in this thread need to read. (nt)
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spiritual_gunfighter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 08:48 AM
Response to Original message
103. He did
without a doubt, completely transformed the way popular music sounded. He also influenced me as a musician, my first guitar was a Les Paul Special. Sad loss.
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Rebubula Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 08:53 AM
Response to Original message
105. Agreed....NT
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Gabi Hayes Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 12:08 PM
Response to Original message
111. what big star (at the time) gave a young Les Paul his first break?
and what were the circumstances?

great story
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mitchum Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 01:33 PM
Response to Reply #111
114. Bing Crosby
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Gabi Hayes Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 03:22 PM
Response to Reply #114
121. close.....break might not be the exact term. perhaps 'publicly discovered' would be more accurate.
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Joe Fields Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 01:48 PM
Response to Original message
116. amen...'nuff said!
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noiretextatique Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 03:57 PM
Response to Original message
127. les paul will be remembered
and there will be appropriate memorials to him. les paul and jackson were from entirely different eras. there are a lot of people alive today who have no idea who les paul was. not so with jackson. kudos to both men: they accomplished a hell of a lot more than most.
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Echo In Light Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 04:10 PM
Response to Original message
129. Unfortunate corporate culture perception management
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mitchum Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 04:16 PM
Response to Reply #129
131. That's it! It is quite apparent that we live in a debased culture when mere celebrity...
is equal to, or trumps, genius
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guitar man Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 04:28 PM
Response to Original message
134. yep
Without Les Paul, rock and roll as we know it would not exist.

However, I believe he will be memorialized for a long long time to come, every time someone wields one of these. ;)

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Triana Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 04:33 PM
Response to Original message
135. What I liked best about MJ was how he channelled his success:
Michael Jackson Honored in Austria - 2009 Save the World Award

July 24th, 2009

ZWENTENDORF, Austria — Michael Jackson was honored in Austria a month after his death devastated fans across the world. His brother Jermaine Jackson accepted the "2009 Save the World Award" for the King of Pop's efforts to reach out to the less fortunate and give a voice to the vulnerable.

(as with most positive news about Michael, this was not highly publicized)


http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iEGynvPvJm6TqXTQ2_Owb0cjA9YgD99L3L4O0



Here's why he received this award:

_ _ _ _ _

January 10, 1984: Michael visits the unit for burn victims at Brotman-Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles.

April 9, 1984: David Smithee, a 14-year-old boy who suffers from cystic fibroses is invited to Michael’s home. It was David’s last wish to meet Michael. He dies 7 weeks later.

April 14, 1984: Michael equips a 19-bed-unit at Mount Senai New York Medical Center. This center is part of the T.J. Martell-Foundation for leukemia and cancer research.

July 5, 1984: During the Jackson’s press conference at Tavern On The Green, Michael announces that his part of the earnings from the Victory Tour will be donated to three charitable organizations: The United Negro College Fund, Camp Good Times, and the T.J. Martell-Foundation.

July 14, 1984: After the first concert of the Victory Tour, Michael meets 8 terminally ill children backstage.

December 13, 1984: Michael visits the Brotman Memorial Hospital, where he had been treated when he was burned very badly during the producing of a Pepsi commercial. He donates all the money he receives from Pepsi, $1.5 million, to the Michael Jackson Burn Center for Children.

January 28, 1985: Michael and 44 other artists meet to record “We Are The World”, written by Michael and Lionel Ritchie. The proceeds of this record are donated to the starving people in Africa.

1986: Michael set up the “Michael Jackson UNCF Endowed Scholarship Fund”. This $1.5 million fund is aimed towards students majoring in performance art and communications, with money given each year to students attending a UNCF member college or university.

February 28, 1986: After having had a heart-transplant, 14-year-old Donna Ashlock from California gets a call from Michael Jackson. He had heard that she is a big fan of his. Michael invites her to his home as soon as she is feeling better. This visit takes place on March 8th. Donna stays for dinner and watches a movie together with Michael.

September 13, 1987: Michael supports a campaign against racism. He supports efforts of the NAACP, to fight prejudices against black artists.

October 1987: At the end of his Bad Tour, Michael donates some personal items to the UNESCO for a charitable auction. The proceeds will be for the education of children in developing countries.

February 1, 1988: The Song “Man In the Mirror” enters the charts. The proceeds from the sales of this record goes to Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, a camp for children who suffer from cancer.

March 1, 1988: At a press conference held by his sponsor Pepsi, Michael presents a $600,000 check to the United Negro College Fund.

April 1988: Free tickets are given away for three concerts in Atlanta, Georgia to the Make A Wish Foundation.

May 22, 1988: Michael visits children who suffer from cancer in the Bambini-Gesu Children’s Hospital in Rome. He signs autographs and gives away sweets and records to the little patients. He promises a check of 100,000 pounds to the hospital.

July 16, 1988: Before a concert at Wembley Stadium Michael meets the Prince of Wales and his wife Diana. He hands over a check of 150,000 pounds for the Prince’s Trust, and a check of 100,000 pounds for the children’s hospital at Great Ormond Street.

July 20, 1988: Michael visits terminally ill children at Great Ormond Street Hospital. At a unit for less critical patients he stays a little bit longer and tells a story.

August 29, 1988: At his 30th birthday Michael performs a concert in Leeds, England for the English charity-organization “Give For Life”. The goal of this organization is the immunization of children. Michael presents a check for 65,000 pounds.

December 1988: Michael visits 12-year-old David Rothenburg. His father had 5 years earlier burned him very badly in an act of revenge against his former wife.

January 1989: The proceeds of one of Michael’s shows in Los Angeles are donated to Childhelp USA, the biggest charity-organization against child-abuse. In appreciation of the contributions of Michael, Childhelp of Southern California is founding the “Michael Jackson International Institute for Research On Child Abuse”.

January 10, 1989: The Bad Tour comes to an end. Under-privileged children are donated tickets for each concert and Michael donates money to hospitals, orphanages and charity-organizations.

February 7, 1989: Michael visits the Cleveland Elementary School in Stockton, California. Some weeks earlier a 25-year-old man had fired at the school’s playground. 5 children had been killed and 39 had been wounded.

March 5, 1989: Michael invites 200 deprived children of the St. Vincent Institute for handicapped children and of the organization Big Brothers and Big Sisters to the Circus Vargas in Santa Barbara. After this event he invites them to his ranch to introduce his private zoo at his Neverland Ranch to them.

November 13, 1989: The organization “Wishes Granted” helps 4-year-old Darian Pagan, who suffers from leukemia to meet Michael. Michael invites the little boy to a performance of Canadian acrobats.

December 28, 1989: Young Ryan White, who suffers from hemophilia, spends his holidays on Michael’s ranch. Ryan had been infected with AIDS by contaminated blood transfusions in 1984. After he was excluded from his school in Kokomo, Ryan fought against the discrimination of AIDS victims.

January 6, 1990: Michael invites 82 abused and neglected children through Childhelp to his Neverland Ranch. There are games, a Barbeque and a movie show provided for them.

July 1990: 45 children from the Project Dream Street, Los Angeles, for children with life-threatening illness are invited to Neverland Valley.

August 18, 1990: Michael invites 130 children of the YMCA summer program of Los Angeles and Santa Barbara to his Neverland Ranch.

May 6, 1991: Michael is invited to the Jane Goodall Charity event. Michael supports her, an advocate of behavioral research concerning chimpanzees in Gombe, Nigeria for more than 30 years.

July 26, 1991: Michael pays a visit to the Youth Sports & Art Foundation in Los Angeles. This Foundation supports families of gang members, and helps dealing with drug-abuse. Michael talks to the kids and presents them with a wide-screen TV set and a financial gift.

December 1991: Michael’s office MJJ Productions treats needy families in Los Angeles with more than 200 turkey dinners.

February 1992: Within 11 days Michael covers 30,000 miles in Africa, to visit hospitals, orphanages, schools, churches, and institutions for mentally handicapped children.

February 3, 1992: At a press conference at the New York Radio City Music Hall, Michael announces that he is planning a new world tour, to raise funds for his new “Heal The World” Foundation. This Foundation will support the fight against AIDS, Juvenile Diabetes and will support the Camp Ronald McDonald and the Make A Wish Foundation.

May 6, 1992: Michael defrays the funeral-expenses for Ramon Sanchez, who was killed during the Los Angeles riots.

June 23, 1992: At a press conference in London, Michael makes an announcement about his Heal The World Foundation.

June 26, 1992: Michael presents the Mayor of Munich, Mr. Kronawitter, with a 40,000 DM-check for the needy people of the city.

June 29, 1992: Michael visits the Sophia Children’s Hospital in Rotterdam and presents a check for 100,000 pounds.

July 1992: Michael donated L. 821,477,296 to La Partita del Cuore (The Heart Match) in Rome and donated 120,000 DM to children’s charities in Estonia and Latvia.

July 25, 1992: On the occasion of a concert in Dublin, Ireland, Michael announces that he will give 400,000 pounds of the tour earnings to various charities.

July 29, 1992: Michael visits the Queen Elizabeth Children’s Hospital in London. To the surprise the children, he brings Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse from Euro-Disney to the hospital.

July 31, 1992: On the Eve of his second concert at Wembley Stadium, Michael presents Prince Charles with a check of 200,000 pounds for the Prince’s Trust.

August 16, 1992: 6 year old Nicholas Killen, who lost his eyesight caused by a life aiding cancer surgery, meets Michael backstage in Leeds, England.

September 1992: Michael donated 1 million pesetas to charity headed by the Queen of Spain.

September 30, 1992: President Iliescu of Romania inaugurates a playground for 500 orphans which Michael has financed. Michael discusses his Heal The World Foundation.

October 1, 1992: Michael chooses a concert in Bucharest, Romania for worldwide television broadcast. Bucharest is a logical choice due to the numerous orphanages the country is known for.

November 24, 1992: At Kennedy Airport in New York, Michael supervises the loading of 43 tons of medication, blankets, and winter clothes destined for Sarajevo. The Heal The World Foundation collaborates with AmeriCares to bring resources totaling $2.1 million to Sarajevo. They will be allocated under the supervision of the United Nations.

December 10, 1992: During a press conference at the American Ambassy in Tokyo Michael is presented with a check for $100,000 for the Heal The World Foundation by Tour Sponsor Pepsi.

December 26, 1992: During a broadcast request for donations to the United Negro College Fund, Michael declares: “Black Colleges and Universities are breeding some of the leading personalities of our time. They are on top in business, justice, science and technologies, politics and religion. I am proud, that the Michael Jackson Scholarship Program enabled more than 200 young men and women to get a qualified education.”

January 19, 1993: Michael is one of the stars to perform at the Presidential Inauguration of Bill Clinton. Before he sings “Gone Too Soon” he draws the attention to the plights of the victims of AIDS and mentions his friend Ryan White.

January 26, 1993: At a press conference held at Century Plaza Hotel in Century City, Los Angeles, Michael is presented with a $200,000 donation from the National Football League and the Sponsors of the Super Bowl. He gets another $500,000 from the BEST Foundation for his Heal The World Foundation. At this occasion the foundation of “Heal L.A.” is officially announced.

February 1993: In association with Sega, launched an initiative to distribute more than $108,000 of computer games and equipment to children’s hospitals, children’s homes, and children’s charities throughout the U.K.

March 1993: The foundation of an independent film company is announced. They will produce family-oriented movies. A part of the earnings will go to the Heal The World Foundation.

March 27, 1993: At a meeting at Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, Michael gives a 5-minute speech to 1200 teachers and politicians.

April 26, 1993: Within his “Heal LA” tour, Michael visits the Watta Health Foundation, and two schools in Los Angeles South Central.

May 5, 1993: Former President Jimmy Carter and Michael, who are chairmen of the “Heal Our Children/Heal The World” initiative, are in Atlanta to promote their “Atlanta Project Immunization Drive”.

June 1993: Michael has announced that he will donate $1.25 million for children who have suffered from the riots in Los Angeles.

June 1993: 100 children from the Challengers Boys and Girls Club visit Neverland.

June 10, 1993: Michael promotes the new DARE-program. The purpose of the program is to inform children about the dangers of drug abuse.

June 18, 1993: Michael pays a visit to a hospital in Washington. He spends several hours with the young patients and plays chess with some of them.

August 1993: With Pepsi-Cola Thailand, donated $40,000 to Crown Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s charity, the Rural School Children and Youth Development Fund, in support of school lunch programs in rural villages in Thailand.

August 1993: In conjunction with Pepsi-Cola International, donated new ambulances to the Contacts One Independent Living Center for Children in Moscow, Russia and the Hospital de Ninos Dr. Ricardo Gutierrez in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

October 1993: Donated $100,000 to the Children’s Defense Fund, the Children’s Diabetes Foundation, the Atlanta Project, and the Boys and Girl Clubs of Newark, New Jersey.

October 22, 1993: Michael visits a hospital in Santiago.

October 28, 1993: Michael makes it possible for 5000 underprivileged children to visit the Reino Aventura Park, where the whale Keiko (”Free Willy”) is living.

November 5, 1993: Michael is guest at a children’s party at the Hard Rock Cafe in Mexico City.

December 1993: With the Gorbachev Foundation, airlifted 60,000 doses of children’s vaccines to Tblisi, Georgia.

December 16, 1993: The Heal The World Foundation UK supports “Operation Christmas Child” delivering toys, sweets, gifts and food to children in former Yugoslavia.

1994: Michael donates $500,000 to Elizabeth Taylor’s AIDS Foundation.

January 7, 1994: On the weekend of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, Michael gives a party for more than 100 underprivileged children at his Neverland Ranch.

February 22, 1994: “The Jackson Family Honors” is televised. The earnings of the show are given to their own newly formed charity, “Family Caring for Families”.

August 6, 1994: Michael and his wife Lisa Marie are visiting two children’s hospitals in Budapest. They distribute toys to the ill children.

1995: Michael wants to free dolphins who have been locked up for years. He believes there should be legal guidelines about the way dolphins have to live in zoos and parks.

March 1995: Little Bela Farkas received a new liver. Michael and Lisa Marie met this 4-year-old boy during their trip to Hungary in 1994. Michael did everything to help Bela, whose only chance to live was getting a new liver. The Heal The World Foundation covered the surgery and the cost for caring.

June 21, 1996: Michael donated a four-times platinum disc of “HIStory” in aid of the Dunblane appeal at the Royal Oak Hotel, Sevenoaks in England.

July 18, 1996: In Soweto, South Africa Michael is laying down a wreath of flowers for youngsters who have been killed during the fights involving Apartheid.

September 1996: The first Sports Festival “Hope” was held for orphans and disadvantaged children. 3000 children and 600 volunteers took part in the Sports Festival and Michael Jackson was a special guest.

September 6, 1996: Michael visits the children’s unit of a hospital in Prague.

October 1996: Michael visited a hospital for mentally challenged children in Kaoshiung, Taiwan and offered 2,000 free tickets to the sold out performance in Kaoshiung.

October 1, 1996: Michael donated the proceeds of his Tunisia concert to “The National Solidarity Fund”, a charity dedicated to fighting poverty.

October 3, 1996: Michael visits a children’s hospital and brings small gifts for the patients during a HIStory tour visit in Amsterdam. A room in the hospital (for parents who want to be with their children) is named after Michael.

November 1, 1996: Michael donates most of the earnings from a HIStory concert in Bombay, India to the poor people of the country.

November 7, 1996: Before his first concert in Auckland, New Zealand, Michael fulfills the wish of little Emely Smith, who is suffering from cancer, who wants to meet Michael.

November 25, 1996: Michael visited the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, delivering toys, signing autographs, and visiting with children.

December 9, 1996: During a HIStory tour visit in Manila, Michael visits a children’s hospital. He announces that a part of his concert earnings will be donated to the renovation of the hospital.

January 25, 1997: Michael waved his personal fee for his Bombay appearance and donated $1.1 million to a local charity helping to educate children living in slums.

April 4, 1997: British magazine “OK!” is publishing exclusive photos of Michael’s son Prince. The magazine pays about 1 million pounds for the photos. Michael donates the money to charity.

June 18, 1997: Michael signed the “Children in Need” book auctioned by the charity UNESCO.

September 1998: Michael meets 5 year old Aza Woods, who suffers from cancer, at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas. Michael introduces Aza to the attraction “Star Trek: The Experience” and spends the rest of the afternoon with the little boy. Finally Michael invites Aza to spend some time with him at his Neverland Ranch.

November 16, 1998: Michael arrives in Harare, Zimbabwe. He is a member of the American Delegation invited by the Minister of Defense. The delegation thanks the government of Zimbabwe for helping to keep the peace in this area.

September 4, 1999: Michael presented Nelson Mandela with a check for 1,000,000 South African rand for the “Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.”

January 22, 2000: During Christmas last year a violent storm ravaged the park of the Chateau de Versailles and destroyed 10,000 trees in the park. The estimated cost for rebuilding the park is around $20 million. Some celebrities are supporting the restoration of the park. French officials are reporting that Michael Jackson is one of them. He was one of the first people to donate money to this cause.

October 28, 2000:Michael painted a plate to be auctioned for the “Carousel of Hope Ball” benefiting childhood diabetes research.

March 6, 2001: Michael donated a black hat, a birthday phone-call and a jacket worn at the Monaco Music Awards in 2000 to the Movie Action for Children auction, an event being given by UNICEF with all proceeds will going to UNICEF’s efforts to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission in Africa.

March 26, 2001: Michael handed out books to young people at a Newark, NJ theater. The event, which helped to launch the Michael Jackson International Book Club, part of his new Heal the Kids charity, aims to promote childhood reading and encourage parents to return to reading bedtime stories.

September 15, 2002: Michael donated 16 exclusively autographed items consisting of CD’s, videos and 2 cotton napkins to aid in the support of the victims of a severe flood in Germany. These items were auctioned off for charity and managed to raise 3935 Euro (US$ 3,814).

October 12, 2002: Michael Jackson invited more than 200 Team Vandenberg members, who recently returned from overseas deployments, and their families to his Neverland Ranch. This was to show his appreciation for the sacrifices the military in his community make.

November 19-29, 2002: Michael donated an autographed teddy bear dressed in his likeness to Siegfried & Roy’s celebrity teddy bear auction. This auction benefits Opportunity Village which is a non-profit organization based in Las Vegas (USA) that enhances the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families. Michael’s autographed teddy bear raised $5,000 for the charity.

November 21, 2002: Michael donated a jacket to the The Bambi Charity Event in Berlin which raised $16,000.

April 25, 2002: Michael Jackson performed at a fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee at the Apollo Theater in Harlem helping to raise nearly $3 million dollars towards voter registration.

June 2003: The Wolf family, who experienced serious damages to their belongings during the flood in Saxony, Germany last August, was invited to Berlin by Michael Jackson when he was at the Bambi Awards. On that occasion Michael invited them to Neverland. In June, they spent three days at Neverland, meeting Michael and his children.

Charity Awards

May 14, 1984: At a ceremony in the White House President Reagan presents Michael an award for special efforts; he is honored for his participation in a national ad campaign against drunk driving.

January 1989: The “Say Yes To A Youngsters Future” program honors Michael in recognition of his efforts to encourage children to natural sciences and award him with the “National Urban Coalition Artist/Humanitarian Of The Year Award”.

March 1989: At the Universal Amphitheater in Universal City, California, Michael receives the Black Radio Special Award for his humanitarian efforts.

September 22, 1989: The Capital Children’s Museum awards Michael with the Best Of Washington 1989 Humanitarian Award in recognition of his efforts to raise money for the museum, and for his never-ending support of children.

February 3, 1990: From Japan Michael receives a Role Model Award.

April 5, 1990: During a ceremony, where Michael is awarded as “Entertainer Of The Decade”, Michael meets President George Bush, who honors him with the “Point Of Light” award. Michael receives this award for his philanthropic activities. President Bush explains Michael’s humanitarian commitments to the press.

September 14, 1990: The Council of the American Scouts honors Michael with the first “Good Scout Humanitarian Award”. Michael receives this award for his humanitarian activities by supporting the Make A Wish Foundation, the Prince’s Trust, the United Negro College Fund and Childhelp USA.

October 23, 1990: Michael Jackson and Elton John will be the first recipients of the award in memory of Ryan White, which will be handed over in 1991.

May 1, 1992: President George Bush presents Michael with the “Point of Light” award for his continuing support of deprived children. During his stay, Michael visits little Raynal Pope, who had been injured very badly by dogs.

June 3, 1992: The organization “One To One”, who is caring for better living conditions of young people, honors Michael with an award for his commitment to deprived youngsters.

July 1993: The American Friends of Hebrew University honors Michael with the Scopus Award 1993.

August 1993: The Jack The Rapper Awards are presented and Michael is honored with the “Our Children, Our Hope Of Tomorrow” award.

November 17, 1993: Michael rejects the Scopus Award. He was nominated for this award, which was planned to be given him on January 29th, 1994.

April 12, 1994: On occasion of the 2nd Children’s Choice Award ceremony at Cit Center in New York, Michael is presented with the “Caring For Kids” award. This award is to honor celebrities, who take time for young people. 100,000 children and young people from 8 to 18 years old gave Michael their vote of confidence. The Children’s Choice Awards are sponsored by Body Sculpt, a charity organization, that offers drug-prevention programs for young people.

November 2, 1995: Michael receives the award “Diamont of Africa”.

March, 30, 1996: The Ark Trust-Foundation, who wants to draw the attention of the public eye on animal’s problems, presents the 10th Genesis Award. Michael is presented with the 1995 Doris Day Award. He gets this award for the “Earth Song” video, which draws attention to the plight of the animals.

May 1, 1999: At the Bollywood awards in New York, Michael is presented with an award for his humanitarian activities. The award is signed: “Though he comes from the young American tradition, Michael is the embodiment of an old indian soul. His actions are an expression of the philosophy of Weda, which asked to work for the people - not for one’s own interests.”

Organizations

The Millennium-Issue of the “Guinness Book Of Records” names Michael as the Pop Star who supports the most charity organizations. The following projects are supported by Michael Jackson:

AIDS Project L.A.
American Cancer Society
Angel Food
Big Brothers of Greater Los Angeles
BMI Foundation
Brotherhood Crusade
Brothman Burn Center
Camp Ronald McDonald
Childhelp U.S.A.
Children’s Institute International
Cities and Schools Scholarship Fund
Community Youth Sports & Arts Foundation
Congressional Black Caucus
Dakar Foundation
Dreamstreet Kids
Dreams Come True Charity
Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation
Heal The World Foundation
Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
Love Match
Make A Wish Foundation
Minority Aids Project
Motown Museum
NAACP
National Rainbow Coalition
Rotary Club of Australia
Society of Singers
Starlight Foundation
The Carter Center’s Atlanta Project
The Sickle Cell Research Foundation
Transafrica
United Negro College Fund
United Negro College Fund Ladder’s of Hope
Volunteers of America
Watts Summer Festival
Wish Granting
YMCA - 28th Street/Crenshaw
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America

This is the oldest mentoring organization serving youth in the USA.
BBBSA has provided one-to-one mentoring relationships between adult volunteers and children at risk since 1904. BBBSA currently serves over 100,000 children and youth in more than 500 agencies throughout all of the United States.

BMI Foundation

From jazz to musical theater, from music education for gifted youngsters to support for the work of accomplished concert music composers, the BMI Foundation seeks out the best and most promising of today’s and tomorrow’s musical creators and offers a platform of support that fosters their growth and ensures the continuation of the heritage of American musical ingenuity for generations to come.

Childhelp USA

Childhelp USA is dedicated to meeting the physical, emotional, educational, und spiritual needs of abused and neglected children focusing efforts and resources upon treatment, prevention.

Children’s Institute International

This is a private, non-profit organization specializing in the treatment and prevention of child abuse and neglect. Over the past 90 years, CII has evolved from a shelter for single mothers and their babies to an internationally recognized model of comprehensive care and assistance for at-risk children and their families. CII assistance includes child and family assessment supported by 24-hour emergency residential shelter care, family treatment services, therapeutic day care, child health clinic, long-term foster family care, and substance abuse treatment and prevention services.

Make A Wish Foundation - fulfills the favorite wish of any child between the age of 2 ½ and 18 who has a diagnosed life-threatening illness.

Camp Ronald McDonald - amp for children with cancer.

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Triana Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 04:36 PM
Response to Reply #135
136. ...and your hatred of him is despicable - no reason to trash MJ to build Les Paul up
Edited on Fri Aug-14-09 04:36 PM by Triana
Do you think Les Paul would appreciate that? Both of them contributed a LOT to our musical culture.

That you would even post something like this says more about YOU than it does about Michael Jackson.

You ought to be ashamed of yourself.

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Triana Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-14-09 05:03 PM
Response to Reply #135
142. ...and..these are things DUers *should* care about, since they call themselves "progressives"
Edited on Fri Aug-14-09 05:16 PM by Triana
and "Democrats".

And they should NOT be trashing anyone who did them and MJ did all this and MORE. It wasn't much publicized by the lame$tream media because tabloid TRASH, gossip, lies, sensationalism sells better. YOU KNOW how the media ignores what doesn't sell or make/keep their profits high. YOU KNOW BETTER. You OUGHT to.

So - What have YOU done to improve the World today?

THIS? THIS THREAD? THAT'S

IT?!



TRASHING one icon to make another one look better, bigger, more important? CONSIDERING that the icon you're trashing has done MORE for progressive causes in this world than probably EVERYONE IN THIS THREAD COMBINED - that's pretty childish, hateful, and narrow-minded.

Man in the Mirror, Baby. Take a look. PARTICULARLY the OP of this thread and the rest of the trashers here.

You're TRASHING ONE OF YOUR OWN - a Democrat and a fellow progressive (MJ). Better take a second look at who he was and DON'T get the info from The Enquirer and the GODDAMNED media.

I suggest http://www.thesilencedtruth.com (however I doubt CHANGING your own minds is what anyone here will want to do) - it's easier to dump all your hatred and pain onto someone else and then blame THEM for it than to DO THE WORK to change yourself, isn't it? That's what the Republicans do, after all. PURE IGNORANCE. And in this thread, I see DUers doing the same thing to someone who really doesn't deserve that - and for WHAT? :puke:

CLUES on sale at Wal-Mart today 3/$1 - GET YOURS TODAY.

Pfft!
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edhopper Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-15-09 11:16 AM
Response to Original message
148. To make my point clearer
I was trying to highlight the near silence in the media (and even on these boards) on the passing of a man who was monumental in popular music. Compared to the frenzy and near hysteria from MJ's death, which continues.
This is why I made the comparison.
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BlooInBloo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-15-09 07:50 PM
Response to Reply #148
152. No you're not. You just want to whine and rip on MJ fans....
That's why the MJ whine threads about Les Paul got so many more recs than the ones that "only" honor Les Paul.
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edhopper Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-17-09 08:36 AM
Response to Reply #152
165. Yes, I am
what other psychic powers do you profess to have besides mind reading?
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blondeatlast Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-15-09 08:10 PM
Response to Reply #148
157. Honor the man, don't further your own agenda, which is the height of disrespect to him.
It could be a great chance to educate younger DUers about his tremendous impact on the music they know and love.

Two incredible talents, two enormous losses for the musical industry.

End of story.
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XOKCowboy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-15-09 11:47 PM
Response to Reply #157
161. You miss the point. again...
It's not a knock on your idol but a comparison in how they're commemorated.
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blondeatlast Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-16-09 08:24 AM
Response to Reply #161
162. he's not my idol--but you do disrespect Paul with this sad, irresponsible thread.
Where did I mention anything about my like/dislike for Jackson?
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XOKCowboy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-15-09 11:44 PM
Response to Reply #148
160. I made the same point and got the same crap....
"Cosmetic Music" is the rage nowadays. Michael, Britney, Hannah Montana sell more records than The Beatles did in their whole career in a couple of weeks and people think they're "demigods". I'm with you edhopper.
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leftofthedial Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-15-09 07:46 PM
Response to Original message
150. unquestionably.
It's hard to think of anyone who had a bigger impact on music than Les Paul.
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