The Wisconsin
Foundation for School Music is proud to announce
its first-ever
recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award in Music Education: Les
Paul! |
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Les Paul, “father of the electric
guitar” and modern-music pioneer was honored
with the Lifetime Achievement Award on October 27,
2004 at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison,
Wisconsin. Highlights of the evening included
remarks from Governor James Doyle, State Superintendent
Libby Burmaster, Ben Sidran, Clyde Stubblefield and
special guest speaker Steve Miller. A spectacular
video featuring photographs of Les Paul and his inventions
and a congratulatory message from Joe Perry of Aerosmith
added to the evening’s events. Music was
provided by The Gomers, a Madison-area band, with guest
soloist Joy Draglund. Following the event, Les
Paul and Steve Miller surprised the audience as they
both picked up guitars and jammed with The Gomers. Those
who attended the event were presented with a commemorative
limited edition poster, designed by renowned illustrator,
John Craig. It was truly an evening
to remember!
All proceeds from this event and future related
events will go towards the Wisconsin Center for Music
Education and the Les Paul Atrium. Friends of Les
Paul have made cash donations or autographed a guitar
in his honor that were sold at a silent auction in 2005. Guitar
donations were received from:
Les Paul
Joe Perry (Aerosmith)
Garbage (signed by Shirley Manson, Butch Vig, Duke Erikson and Steve Marker)
Peter Frampton
Steve Miller
ZZ Top
Charlie Daniels
The Eagles (signed by Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Timothy B Schmidt and Joe Walsh)
Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)
George Benson
Steve Vai
Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi)
Marshall Amplifier (signed by Dr. Jim Marshall)
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Event Article:
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Born June 9, 1915 in Waukesha, WI, the name Les Paul is
synonymous with the electric guitar. His performing career
started at the age of 13 and by the early 1950s he was the
greatest jazz guitarist of his generation. The Les Paul Trio,
which included his talented wife Mary Ford, produced such
hits as "Tennessee Waltz," "Mockin' Bird Hill," "How
High The Moon," and "Vaya Con Dios." He also
won a 1977 Grammy Award with Chet Atkins for the album Chester
and Lester.
As an inventor, Mr. Paul's breakthrough creation of the
solid-body electric guitar paved the way for electric music
and made the sound of rock and roll possible. In 1953 while
performing with Bing Crosby, he perfected the first multi-track
recording machine, allowing separate lines of instrumental
music and vocals to be blended together. His many recording
innovations - including sound-on-sound, overdubbing, reverb
effects, and multi-tracking - greatly accelerated the advancement
of studio recording.
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