Les Paul Dies at 94

[Kabukiman]

the sad thing is this will probably be a blurb in the news, this man is the biggest influence on modern music. Everything this guy did for the industry could never be replicated again, he was a true genius.

QFT!

I'll have to pick up a Waukesha Freeman tomorrow. I imagine it will be front page there.

 

[Kabukiman]

Why is this still in the movie section?

Anyway, if you are Wisconsin Freak (I know there at least a few of us), stop by the Waukesha Museum if you can. The have a small display in the lobby where you can see some of their Les Paul collection for free. There is a guestbook to sign, and a place to make cash donations for the Les Paul wing of the museum that has been planned for some time now, but is seriously underfunded.

Most of the collection is on display at Discovery World in Milwaukee, but that is a temporary location.

Here's the press release from the Waukesha Museum:

Contact: Jim Hahn
Waukesha County Museum
412-716-1880
[email protected]


Waukesha County Museum Notes Passing of Les Paul
Iconic local hero defined innovation, artistry.


WAUKESHA, WI – August 13, 2009 – “The Board of Trustees and the entire staff of the Waukesha County Museum is deeply saddened by the passing of Les Paul earlier today. Despite his many professional accolades, international fame, and considerable career achievements, Paul was never shy about expressing his enormous pride at having grown up in Waukesha,” notes Kirsten Lee Villegas, Executive Director of the Waukesha County Museum.

“We are so grateful for Les’ personal support of our museum’s long-standing plan to create a permanent, hometown exhibit which appropriately honors his legacy,” Villegas added, “And we remain committed to the project as a lasting tribute to Les and his remarkable story.”

Dave Frazer, president of the museum’s board of trustees, acknowledged how important Les’ support has been to the exhibit’s completion. “Les understood the size of the task of creating a signature exhibit, and he not only committed a generous personal financial gift and performed at a local benefit, but he also provided a great deal of behind-the-scenes support that can never be fully appreciated,” Frazer added.

The museum has recently collaborated with a national design firm and drafted a preliminary outline of the next major steps for the exhibit -- ensuring future generations of young people are inspired by Les Paul’s life story and the values it represents.

Born Lester William Polfuss on June 9, 1915, the eponymous inventor of the Gibson Les Paul guitar saw his ingenious re-thinking of the instrument become its own unmistakable brand used by generations of the world’s best musicians, including Stevie Ray Vaughn and Eric Clapton. Additionally, his work in multi-track recording remains the standard today for capturing sound.

As an artist, Paul entertained countless music fans with regular performances throughout his career. Playing with the “Les Paul Trio” in the 1940’s and later with his wife, Mary Ford, Paul continued to play weekly sessions in New York City as recently as this year at age 94.

Members of the general public, who wish to support the Waukesha County Museum’s efforts to complete the Les Paul exhibit, can contact the museum directly at (262)521-2859 or through their website: www.waukeshacountymuseum.org.


About the Waukesha County Museum:
The 1893 castle-like structure at East Avenue and Main Street in Waukesha, Wisconsin is home to the Waukesha County Museum. Originally constructed as the county’s second courthouse, the building is owned and operated by the Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum, Inc., a not-for-profit organization.

Three floors of exhibits cover such topics as the Civil War, early settlement in the county, architecture, toys from many generations, and technology. The Museum offers educational programs throughout the year including spring and summer camps, Scout programs, and guided tours. The Research Center contains over 28,000 printed documents and over 9,000 photographs for researchers to reference.

The Museum’s 75,000 square foot building is a complex of three structures. The oldest portion is the shell of Waukesha County’s second jail built in 1885, which had been converted to office space in the 1980s. With its stunning turrets, the 1893 Richardson Romanesque courthouse captures the attention of all. Connecting the two older buildings is a 1938 WPA structure, stark by contrast in its Art Moderne/Art Deco style architecture. The building presents an opportunity to discover and contrast architectural details reflecting the culture of the times.

The Waukesha County Museum has been in the same building since its opening in 1914. The building was placed on the National Register of Historical Places in 1975. The Historical Society purchased the building from Waukesha County in 2003.

The Waukesha County Museum is located at 101 W. Main Street at East Avenue in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Exhibits and the Museum Store are open regularly from Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. General admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors aged 62 and above, $3 for students aged 6-17 and free for children 5 and under.

For additional information, call (262) 521-2859 or visit www.waukeshacountymuseum.org

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Starting tomorrow, they are going to be displaying some original John Lennon artwork. It's completely unrelated to the Les Paul thing, but if that's what it takes to get you to go to the museum, then go see that and drop a dollar in the Les Paul bin while you're there.

After talking to the person who was working at the museum today, I feel kind of sad/angry that these project is so underfunded and couldn't be completed while Les was still alive.

If you've enjoyed music in your lifetime, then you owe Les Paul. His legacy is much, much more than just the guitar Gibson sells. Look him up.

Anyway, it's a very small display since most of the stuff is at Discovery World right now, but the point is to sign the guest book and make a donation. I took some pics with my phone if anybody who can't make it wants to see some of what they had.