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Monday August 13th, 2001
Gibson honors Les Paul, his legacy at Iridium opening tonight
Gibson Guitar will honor its most famous guitar endorser, the legendary Les Paul, at the grand opening of the new Iridium Jazz Club in New York tonight, August 13. A performance by the 86-year-old guitarist with his trio and surprise guests will highlight an evening of festivities that includes a special presentation from Gibson and a VIP cocktail reception with music by Late Night With Conan O'Brien guitarist Jimmy Vivino. The celebration also kicks off a series of guitar events to mark the 50th anniversary of the Gibson Les Paul model.
Les Paul is not only Americas most popular guitar player, said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Musical Instruments. He is a leading innovator in guitar and electronic design. He has been experimenting with electric guitars for as long as there have been electric guitars. Please join us in honoring Les Paul, an American treasure.
Les Paul was already a well-known guitarist by the 1940s, when he became the leading proponent of the solidbody electric guitar, playing a homemade instrument he nicknamed The Log. His electronic innovations, such as the six guitar parts he played on his 1948 hit Brazil, would earn him recognition as the father of multi-track recording and a Technical Grammy this year. His million-selling recordings with his wife Mary Ford, including Mockin Bird Hill and How High the Moon, made him the most famous guitarist in the world by the time he and Gibson joined forces in 1952 to design Gibsons first solidbody electric guitar.
Just a click away. . .
Les Paul
The Les Paul Story
Gibson Historic Les Pauls
Gibson USA Les Pauls
Iridium Jazz Club
The Les Paul model changed the image of the solidbody guitar from a simple plank of wood to an elegant, stylish piece of art. Except for an updated bridge and humbucking pickups, the Les Paul Standard of today is still the same American-made guitar that Les and Gibson introduced 50 years ago. The Les Paul has been the driving force behind many changes in popular music, powering the blues rock sound of the late 60s and southern rock in the late 70s. In the new millennium, the Les Paul is providing signature sounds for every genre of rock, from alternative to metal.The 50th Anniversary celebration at the new Iridium starts with a VIP cocktail reception at 6:30 p.m., with Jimmy Vivino and his band performing at 7:30. Doors open to the public at 7:45 and Gibson will make a presentation to Les at 8:15. The Les Paul Trio will perform at 9:00. The New Iridium Jazz Club is located at 1650 Broadway at the corner of 51st Street in New York City.
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