A music legend much larger than Michael Jackson passed away today. RIP Les Paul

[XOKCowboy]

Not only did he build the first the solid neck electric guitar (which pretty much gave us Rock and Roll) he was the man who pioneered overdubbing and multi-track recording. He was also an accomplished jazz guitar player.

Les Paul was instrumental in how we experienced music today. He should had the same fortune in his lifetime as MJ's . He deserved it.

[handmade34]

1. a fine musician he was

[Sebastian Doyle]

2. Rock. Jazz. Blues. Country. Even the overproduced pop crap made by corporate labels today.

All of them (for better or for worse) including Michael Jackson probably wouldn't exist without the inventions of Les Paul (and the forms of music that would exist would be much different without them)



Thanks for everything, Les. :(

[XOKCowboy]

12. Most people outside the music business will never know...

what this man did. I prolly shouldn't have mentioned MJ but you get what I'm saying.

[dolphindance]

34. You're giving him too much credit in the Jazz area.

His inventions enriched the recording of the music and a case could be made for Jazz Guitar.

But the music would still have lived on without Paul. Furthermore, there definitely WOULD be no rock and roll without blues or jazz. Both created by black folks.

[Sebastian Doyle]

36. As I said, some musical forms would exist, but would be a lot different.

Miles Davis wouldn't have necessarily needed a guitar to make his records possible, but George Benson definitely did. (Just to mention a couple of names at random. I'm admittedly not a jazz expert.)

[dolphindance]

40. George Benson, for sure. One of my favorites! (n/t)

[Turborama]

3. I second that emotion. K&R

[NYC_SKP]

4. Two things.

It wasn't really necessary to bring MJ into this tribute to Les Paul. Plenty of people grew up with and adored his songs and he was filled with unique talents that shouldn't be dismissed so.


And with respect to fortunes, Jackson seems to have had a troubled live, and a short one.

I'm not sure his fortunes were greater than Les Paul's, if you know what I mean.

:thumbsup:

[XOKCowboy]

13. You have a good point and I shouldn't have brought MJ into it...

:thumbsup:

[deep1]

5. You know, you could honor the man.....

without having to knock down or even mention Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson was a very important entertainer of my generation and for many people of different races and nationalities.

No need for that shit. Say your respects and move on.

[BlooInBloo]

8. Actually, some people can't.

[ConnorMarc]

10. And That Is Exactly Why I Will Say...

He was so large, that nobody heard of his ass.

That man, whoever the hell he was, could not hold a candle to MJ's fame and acclaim.

RIP anyway.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[XOKCowboy]

15. He also probably laid down some tracks on an A3440S....

using SimulSync in his earlier years.

Don't bother. I appreciate the support though.

[blm]

20. If YOU never heard of him YOU should be ashamed of your lack of basic music knowledge and

certainly not highlighting that ignorance on a message board.

[blm]

21. I think the poster meant to say a figure more important to the music INDUSTRY and to musicians

and to HOW people are better ABLE to enjoy music.

Since Les is known MORE for his inventions than his songbook.

[redqueen]

27. Why bring MJ up at all? (nt)

[blm]

30. yes, it was unnecessary, but, I'm thinking it was meant from a POV that sees the disparity

in coverage and lack of recognition of his BODY of work at a time when notoriety seems to help catapult the scrutiny on the work of a figure like MJ.

I don't think it was intended to be malicious. My feelers usually detect malice.

[redqueen]

31. Disparity in coverage is due to lack of controversy & old age.

It's very simple really.

And you're right... I should never attribute to maliciousness what can be explained by stupidity.

[blm]

32. I don't think it's stupidity...it's just a POV from the perspective of a musician who likely

cherishes and reveres very much the contributions of a legend like Les Paul, just as some here do MJ.

[redqueen]

26. Yep... sad isn't it?

There was one like this yesterday too.

[PHIMG]

6. My music hero is BETTER than your music hereo. How tedious!

What is this? Celebrity Death Pissing Match? Grow up!

[BlooInBloo]

7. People who behave as though it were a contest are fucking shitty.

[deep1]

9. Thank you....

I see no point in comparing the two. Totally different musicians. He was probably trying to start bullshit.

[XOKCowboy]

11. I was pointing out the disparity in what each did for todays music

and how they are being commemorated. Les didn't sell as many records as Michael but his innovations in guitars and recording shaped the entire music industry as we know it today. I'm sorry if I upset the MJ fans but Les was a pioneer and I think it's a shame that his passing is just barely mentioned.

[eilen]

16. You do have a point

because a single artist like MJ--while he had wide appeal, was not the bees knees for everyone.

Whereas with Les Paul, his innovation, talent and influence created an industry that if not for him, MJ AND all other popular music artists would not have made the impact they did. Les Paul was a pioneer, he blazed the trail, hell, he invented the trail.

He just did not carry the ego that we saw reflected in the display recently with MJ, but also in the past with Elvis. All popular music artists stand on Les Paul's shoulders as opposed to merely being influenced by the big dogs like MJ etc.

[Solomon]

19. Well how about other people? Was he bigger than Elvis too?

How 'bout Sinatra?

What you really did here was cheapen Paul's legacy by using him to trash Jackson.

Praise him on his own merits. Don't use him to knock somebody else down.

[whopis01]

25. You are not upsetting the MJ fans - you are upsetting the Les Paul fans.

You make it sound like it is some sort of contest and Les Paul lost by not having as much media coverage in death.

Is who gets the bigger crowd at their graveside really all that important to you?

All in all, I think that the true disparity between how they are being commemorated is this: Michael Jackson's life and passing is commemorated in a media circus and a fight to be the first one to air with the latest story and headline. Les Paul's work and contribution will be celebrated and live on every time anyone picks up and begins to play one of the instruments he invented. To me it is obvious who is receiving the better commemoration.

[redqueen]

28. +1

[old mark]

17. His 94th birthday was June 9th - I sent him a card. He was one of the

players who interested me in the electric guitar over 55 years ago, and I'm still playing every day.
He was inducted into te inventors hall of fame in 1990 for many inventions, including the concept of overdubbing, and inventing the machines to make it work with the Ampeg company. He played live shows every week till a few months ago despite arthritis in both hands and heart disease. He was a lifelong wiseass, and loved his life. He was a genius for real.

Lester Poulfus, I owe you the main happiness in my life - love of music - I could never thank you enough.

mark

[Echo In Light]

18. As a drummer, many of my guitarist buddies I jam w/play a Les Paul

Rock on, Les Paul.

Rec'd

[Zodiak]

22. Let's not forget that the man was GOOD

He was the Eddie Van Halen of his time. I do not believe many guitar players could mimic his jumpy style. He had tremendous control of the fretboard.

Alas, though....so many young musicians probably learned for the first time yesterday that Les Paul is a person, not a guitar.

I saw a dedication to Les Paul at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. A film of him playing with his wife was playing there, and I stood transfixed watching him play for an hour. Unbelievable!

MJ and Paul are not comparable, though. One was an inventor and a virtuoso, and the other was a mega-superstar. Musically, they don't even play the same sport.

[Berry Cool]

23. There's a great exhibit on him at the Rock Hall.

I highly recommend it to everyone.

[whopis01]

24. It amazes me how people just can't resist comparing him to Michael Jackson

just because they died relatively close together.

I just don't see the need to bring Jackson into it all when it comes to Les Paul. It is a shame that he can't just be remembered for who he was and what he did without being compared to someone that has virtually nothing to do with him.

[greguganus]

29. But could Les moonwalk? n/t

[yorgatron]

33. K&R

:cry: :cry: :cry:

[marmar]

35. Why the need to slight Michael Jackson in order to pay homage to Les Paul?

Sincerely, :wtf:

[BlooInBloo]

39. That's just how some people are.

[tuckessee]

37. Oh goodie! A pissing contest between two corpses.

Call me in two hundred years and let's see who the "larger" of two is if anyone still remembers them at all.

Personally I think Johann Sebastian Bach is bigger than either of them so stick that in your pipe and smoke it. ;-)

[ContinentalOp]

38. You mean solid body?

All guitars have a solid neck. Also it's a stretch to say that his guitars pretty much gave us rock and roll. The Fender Esquire was the first commercially available soild body electric guitar and the Les Paul didn't come out until two years later (although Les Paul had built himself a one off version years earlier). It wasn't even really a popular model for rock guitarists until later in the '60s. This is not to diminish Les Paul's importance of accomplishments, but it just annoys me when people try to credit the Les Paul guitar with the invention of rock & roll. ;)

[donheld]

41. Can't celebrate without a dig?

[Kat45]

42. Yes, laid the groundwork for rock'n'roll.

RIP Les Paul.