I was touched by the tribute that Les Paul got following his death at 92. Reuters today has a nice article about this kindly, clever, talented, innovative man.
It’s interesting when people die how they are remembered. Les Paul spent his life as a musician and, with his wife, Mary Ford, had a string of hits amongst which was ‘How High The Moon’ and ‘Mocking Bird Hill.’ He is a member of many Halls of Fame.
He also was heavily involved in developing guitars and came up with the solid guitar which he felt created a more true sound than the hollow wooden guitar. He worked with the Gibson company in guitar development and many guitarists around the world are in his debt.
Of course he is not a household name. His life was not filled with serious controversy.
He did not fill the headlines because he took his country to war for oil or profit. He was not known for his ostentatious lifestyle. He was not known as a despot who starved his people or as a man who engaged his country in torture or spied on its citizens. He was not the CEO of a corporation which rips off those in undeveloped countries or pollutes the air, soil or water.
He didn’t engage in Ponzi schemes which defrauded many little people. He was not known as a philanderer who sought blow-jobs in his office. He didn’t create a media empire which promotes a right-wing ideology and greed. He didn’t trick gullible people into believing in some fictitious god. He didn’t run a drug cartel or traffik women and children.
No, Les Paul was a decent man who left the world a better place than he found it.
If only those who strut about on the world stage could leave a legacy like Les did our world would be peaceful and there would be lots of love and caring.
We should hold up and remember people like Les Paul. And, when they die, we should ignore and condemn those whose only purpose in life was self-interest, that and an insatiable greed for power and money.
RIP Les. You’re one of the good guys!
I agree he was a good humble man, It should not be forgotten that many others took his creation and influenced the world through their music but also through there lives as drug addicts, suicides, child molesters, murders, songs of hate, rage and racial prejudice. These so called artist would not have been given a platform if it wasn’t for Les. There were others who made music that is truly artistic and meaningful giving hope and an avenue of expression to millions. But none of this is Les’s fault as each chooses their own path, so RIP Les and you shall be remember for your creation and not what others have done with it whether it be good or bad.
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Margit, that others took his guitars and did untoward things with them shows the potential extremes of human behaviour. I guess gunpowder was the precursor to the nuclear bomb.
We need to reward positive behaviour and condemn that which is engaged in by lowlife who are sometimes called President, Prime Minister, Cardinal, General, CEO, etc.
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It is terrible that there are always people who will take something that is beautiful and find a way to make something ugly out of it.
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David G Reply:
August 16th, 2009 at 11:07 am
Some humans have real genius for doing this, Jeannie. And, sadly, they have many disciples.
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Les Paul was still playing music every Monday a few years ago. When we went to New York, we tried to get in, but there was a long line of people waiting and we didn’t have reservations.
I wish I could have seen him play!
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David G Reply:
August 25th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
He was a legend, Wagelaborer, for all the right reasons. Many who get State funerals get them for all the wrong reasons.
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