Wednesday July 23rd, 2003

Les Paul carries on 'love affair' with admiring peers and fans at Summer NAMM

It was love at first sight, even disbelief, as guitar icon Les Paul did Summer NAMM in Nashville last weekend. "That's Les Paul," shocked industry veterns, peers and even Gibson employees muttered at first sight of the 88-year-old living legend. It was Les' first Nashville visit since 1976 when he came to Music City to record the Grammy-winning Chester and Lester with the late Chet Atkins.

Thursday night he attended Gibson Custom's 10th anniversary VIP party. "I'm very proud of what they've done with the Les Paul guitar," he told a crowd that jammed the front parking lot at Gibson's Custom, Art & Historic division. "I want to thank all the fellas who work here at the plant. And I want to thank the players, because if it wasn't for all those guys out there playing the thing, we'd all be hungrier than hell."

In introducing Les Paul, Gibson president Dave Berryman noted, "This is a great event in the history of the guitar and the history of rock 'n' roll." Although Les' appearance had been unannounced, when Berryman said "The father of the electric guitar, the man who started it all," the crowd knew who the special guest was.

The next three days he enthralled the industry and the city with several appearances, always taking more time than planned and winning new admirers with his humility and humor. "It's not often that I get down here," he said. "It's not often that I go anywhere."

Following is a photo gallery as Les Paul does Summer NAMM in Nashville.

Friday night Les, with bassist Nikki Parrott and guitarist Lou Pallo, performed at Muriel Anderson's All Star Guitar Night at the historic Ryman Auditorium with a host of star musicians including Steve Morse, Howlin' Wolf veteran Hubert Sumlin', fingerstyle champion Richard Smith, acoustic hero Bryan Sutton and new wave banjo master Bela Fleck among others.

Gibson Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz shows Les an exact replica of "the log," the solidbody electric guitar prototype Les built in 1941 that caused the electric guitar revolution. This replica is going to the Rock ' Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH.

Saturday Les hosted "A Conversation with Les Paul" at the Country Music Hall of Fame.

"This is my baby," Les said as he hugged his original "log" that resides at the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Sunday Les appeared at Gibson's NAMM booth at the Nashville Convention Center to sign autographs for industry fans.

The meeting of the legends - Les and Jim Marshall of Marshall Amplifiers at a Nashville club after NAMM closed Sunday.

Les at the Baldwin Showcase signing a Baldwin Piano fall board for one of 100 Les Paul Studio pianos to be introduced soon.

Les entertains Baldwin Piano and Showcase staff playing a Baldwin Custom "Goldtop" grand inspired by Gibson's first solidbody electric guitar in 1952 - the Les Paul Goldtop.

Monday morning Les was on a plane back to New York City in time to make his regular Monday night gig at the Iridium Jazz Club in midtown Manhattan.

Come back soon, Les.