On June 1, 2009, we thought we'd catch Les' weekly
performance at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York City. Les and his Trio
were doing two shows there every Monday night. The Iridium is located downstairs at 1650
Broadway, one of the most famous buildings in music history. Little did
we know at that time, that it would be Les' last night of performing.
Les became ill shortly after and missed his 94th birthday celebration the
following week. He passed away on August 13, 2009.
Mr. Paul; Lester William Polfus was
born on June 9, 1915, in Waukesha, Wisconsin. From an early age, Les had
an interest not only in music, but in the technology of any instruments that
played it. By the age of seven, Les was punching holes in his mother's
piano rolls to see how the music was affected. Blessed with perfect
pitch, he began playing the harmonica at the age of eight and the guitar
shortly afterwards. By the time he was 13, Les was performing around
town. He built a rack for his harmonica that would allow him to play the
harmonica and guitar simultaneously. Wanting to get more volume out of
his guitar, Les' scientific curiosity led him to pull apart his guitar and his
mother's Victrola. He then jammed the tone arm of the Victrola into the
top of the guitar, creating the first electric amplified guitar. Before
he was even fifteen, Les had built not only his own small broadcasting station
but also a crude recording machine. On stage he wired his guitar into a
couple of radios to create an early stereo effect.
By 1934, Les Paul had designed his first solid body electric
guitar. Of course, the Gibson Les Paul model guitar was to become a
standard for Rock & Roll music. As an inventor, Les Paul redefined the
recording industry with technology breakthroughs like overdubbing and
multitrack recording. He designed the first eight track tape recorder
and much more.
As a musician and recording artist, Les Paul also excelled.
In 1939, his trio played the White House at the request of President
Roosevelt. After surviving a near fatal car crash in 1948, Les resumed
his recording career with his wife, Mary Ford, having number one hits in the
1950's with "How High The Moon" and "Vaya Con Dios."
Among his many honors, Les Paul has been inducted into the
Grammy Hall of Fame, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Inventors Hall of
Fame. No bio this short could ever do justice to this true American
legend. RIP, Les!!!!
Les Paul at the Iridium, June 1, 2009
Les Paul & Trio, Photo courtesy of Vicki
Perjanik
Les Paul, Photo courtesy of Vicki Perjanik
Pam & Charlie outside the Iridium
Photo courtesy of Vicki Perjanik
On any given Monday that Les Paul performed, there were usually
celebrities throughout the audience at the Iridium, there to see him play. On this
occasion we were seated with Mike and Vicki Perjanik, in from Australia for a
music publishers conference. Mike is a noted musician himself as well as
composer of music for a numerous popular Australian TV shows.
Mike & Vicky Perjanik
Photo courtesy of Vicki Perjanik
Outside the Iridium, 1650 Broadway.
From the right, Pam, Charlie & Mike.
Photo courtesy of Vicki Perjanik
Pam at the Iridium
No article on this website would be complete without talking
about group harmony. On May 22, 1946, the Les Paul Trio recorded two
sides with the vocal group, the Delta Rhythm Boys. Both acts were
recording for Decca Records and both were living in Los Angeles at the time,
so the combination was natural. The Delta Rhythm Boys went out to Les
Paul's garage studio and rehearsed several times before the recording session.
The two sides were not recorded at Les Paul's home, however, but at the old
KHS Radio Studio on Melrose Avenue. The two sides, "A One Sided Affair"
and "What Would It Take" both featured Deltas' tenor, Carl Jones on lead.
Rounding out the group were Kelsey Pharr, Traverse Crawford, and Lee Gaines
with Rene DeKnight most likely the pianist. The Les Paul Trio was Les
Paul (electric guitar), Cal Gooden (guitar) and Bob Meyer (string bass).
(From the Classic Urban Harmony Archives)
(From the Classic Urban Harmony Archives)
Finally we thought we'd add a few items from the Classic Urban
Harmony Archives to this tribute.
(The Above Three Items From the Classic Urban
Harmony Archives)
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