When the challenge was posted to submit designs for decorating a Gibson 10-foot guitar three Guthrie men stepped forward. You could say they strung their ideas together and picked the best elements.

Wes Guthrie, now 97 years old, was a long-time art professor at Waukesha’s Carroll University. His son Jim and grandson Ryan inherited the artistic gene. Wes thought Les Paul’s moniker of “Red Hot Red” was a great theme for the guitar.

Their design was selected and the three Guthries got started. The fourth Guthrie, 2-year old Ethan, offered his stickers when he saw the 10-foot fiberglass guitar. Jim’s brother Lee was plucked to help with the project as well. (There are just way too many punny opportunities.)

Ryan, Jim and Wes Guthrie with their 10-foot guitar

GuitarTown organizers want to keep the finished designs “under cover” until the official May 31^st unveiling, but they did say we could offer a peek or two.

Going along with the tongue-in-cheek theme, the trio installed an “oven” in the back of the guitar and placed some of Les Paul and Mary Ford’s “hot” music inside.

“Oven” in the back of the “Red Hot Red” 10-foot tall Gibson guitar.

If you are anywhere near Waukesha this May 31 through June 2, stop by downtown Waukesha to revel in the festivities and most importantly, view all ten 10-foot tall guitars and the 20 smaller “playable” guitars. All will be on display Friday June 1 and June 2. If those dates just don’t work for you, visit downtown Waukesha later this year to view the guitars.

Read more about Waukesha’s GuitarTown

Find out more at www.waukeshaguitartown.com

Launchpad is a statewide, alternative music competition for Wisconsin high school students who are in bands formed outside of traditional music classroom ensembles. Groups compete against their peers in regions. The top three finalists from each region compete for the grand prize: free studio recording time, a Milwaukee Summerfest appearance and the Les Paul Launchpad Award.

The Les Paul Foundation is proud to sponsor this new workshop for young musicians and the Les Paul Launchpad Award.

Download Flyer Here

See also

Artist Tom Noll captures Gibson Les Paul guitarists on one of the 10’ guitar.

Ten fiberglass Gibson Les Paul guitars that stand 10 feet tall are being decorated by regional artists. Many of the designs will celebrate the city’s connection to Les Paul. Additionally, 20 playable guitars have been artistically enhanced by renowned regional artists. All guitars will be on unveiled in downtown Waukesha beginning Friday, June 1^st. Bidding for the guitars is available on line through the event’s website: www.waukeshaguitartown.com.

Marcia Schneider themed her guitar for Les Paul & Mary Ford’s song “Hummingbird”, that hit the Top Ten on the Billboard Charts in 1955.

Thursday, May 31^st will be a private Gala in historic downtown Waukesha, by ticket only.  Friday, June 1^st will be the public unveiling of the decorated 10 foot tall and the playable guitars.

The Les Paul Trio and Russ Paul will perform at the events in Waukesha. Russ has agreed to meet visitors on Friday, June 1^st and Saturday, June 2^nd at the site of the Les Paul Memorial in Waukesha’s Prairie Home Cemetery. Multiple other activities are noted on the event’s website.

Artist Pat Mitchell said her mosaic design reflects Les & Mary Ford’s love for each other and Wisconsin’s love for Les. The photo was taken before the hardware was installed.

Items in the auction include equipment, memorabilia, personal effects and instruments from Les’ early years to his weekly performances at New York’s Iridium Jazz Club. Among the items at the auction are:

1951 Fender Nocaster serial number 1751

Given to Les by Leo Fender. The back of the headstock is signed by Leo.

1927 Gibson L-5 Sunburst Cremona

This item is one of two Les purchased when he and bandmate Sunny Joe Wolverton traveled  to Gibson’s Kalamazoo factory in 1933.

1952 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop

1952 Les Paul Goldtop

This item is one of the very first Les Paul guitars Gibson produced.

Boss BCB-6 Pedal Effects

Used by Les during his weekly shows at Fat Tuesday’s and later at the Iridium.

1955 Steinway & Sons Grand Model B piano

This item is from Les’ main recording studio in his Mahwah, NJ home.

1968 Prototype Gibson Les Paul Custom Recording Model

Pictured in Les’ autobiography, Les Paul in His Own Words.

1970s Ampex MM1000

This item is a sixteen track recording machine Les used in his home recording studio in Mahwah.

Late 1960s API Recording Mixing Console

This item has several modifications by Les.

Julien’s Auctions, which is managing the sale, is the premier celebrity and entertainment auction house of high profile celebrity and entertainment auctions. Past auctions include U2, Cher, Barbara Streisand and the estate of Marilyn Monroe. The live auction will take place at Julien’s Auctions Beverly Hills Gallery.

The public will be able to view the items at Julien’s Auctions gallery in Beverly Hills from May 29 – June 8.

Although many items will be auctioned, key artifacts from Les Paul remain in various museums across the United States and others are being held for future exhibits.

Julien’s Auctions

Lou Pallo, long-time member of the Les Paul Trio, was Les’ straight man for Les’ stage antics. It was obvious to all that the two admired each other and were good friends. No one worked longer with Les than Lou, beginning with Les sitting in at Lou’s weekly gigs, followed by Les forming a trio to play every Monday at Fat Tuesday’s, then the Iridium Jazz Club. The two performed together consistently for almost 40 years.

Thank You Les

“Thank you Les,” is Lou’s star-studded tribute to Les Paul. The CD recording, DVD documentary and vinyl record are scheduled to be released this Summer.

The Artists
The all-new recording features Les’ friends playing his songs with Lou. Artists include Johnny A., Eddie Brigati Jr., Blondie Chaplin, Melinda Doolittle, Tommy Doyle, Nokie Edwards, Jose Feliciano, Billy F. Gibbons, Bob Leive, Jay Leonhart, Steve Miller, Jon Paris, Nicki Parrott, Bucky Pizzarelli, Arlen Roth, Lexie Roth, Keith Richards, Slash and Frank Vignola.

Keith Richards and Lou recording a track for Thank you, Les. Photo credit: John Elkowitz

The Songs
Lou was instrumental in pairing Les’ songs with each artist. Among the recordings are “Vaya con Dios” by Lexie Roth, “September Song” by Billy Gibbons and “Memories of You” by Tommy Doyle.

“No question,” Lou responded when asked what his favorite piece was, “‘Over the Rainbow’ sung by American Idol finalist Melinda Doolittle. It was beautiful. It was Les’ favorite song and one of mine as well.”

Another of Lou’s favorites is “Tennessee Waltz” performed by Les Paul Trio member Nicki Parrott. “There are so many favorites,” Lou laughed.

When asked what he liked best about the project, Lou mused, “All the beautiful comments about Les, how he wasn’t just a guitar player. He was an entertainer, arranger, engineer and so much more.”

Getting to Know Les
The documentary captures the performers talking about how they met Les and how he influenced them. Steve Miller talks about when he was a child and how Les said he would become a star. Les’ son Russ talks about his Dad. There also are clips of Les in the documentary. Lou spoke with earned pride about the documentary, “People will really get to know Les when they see the documentary.”

On Meeting Les

When asked about a favorite memory about Les, Lou quickly responded, “That would have to be when I first met Les. I didn’t know it was Les. He just showed up where I was performing. Afterwards he said, ’I’m Les Paul.’

“I idolized him,” Lou reflected.

“Les said, ‘I like how you play. Here’s my phone number. Let’s get together. Come over to my house.’

“Just meeting him I was in heaven.” Lou shared, “To have idolized him when I was young and then to have played with him all these years. Working with him was an honor.

“Les said one should learn something every day. He added things to his repertoire all the time. He picked up new ideas and used them.

“Les always played the straight melody. He wanted only legitimate changes to songs. He didn’t improvise. Les loved to play the correct way. He played clean and that’s what I learned from him.”

For More Information

Photos and further information on the album are available on The Thank You Les facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/thankyoules .

See Also

Lou and Les
The Guitar Mafia
A Very Special Performance by the Les Paul Trio

Three separate clinics guided by guitarists and music educators taught students about the instrument Les Paul helped to pioneer.

The Les Paul “Reel Sound of Soul Music” Workshop provided the students an accurate depiction of the true talent and discipline needed to complete a recording project without the aid of the new technologies available in digital recording. Through interaction with the workshop facilitators, the students also learned about the many benefits to analog recording, and its history as it relates to Les Paul and the Stax Records legacy.
Mark Wender, Chief Operating Officer of STAX Music Academy

At the “Les Paul Memphis Guitar Summit” students learned how Les Paul developed the solid-body electric guitar, his influence on popular music and the role of the electric guitar in Jazz, R&B, Rock and Roll, and the Blues. The event was open to the public.

During the second day, students took part in the Stax Music Academy’s “Les Paul Be The Band” competition. Middle and high school students learned about Les Paul’s career and how his invention of multi-track recording influenced Stax Records and the recording industry as a whole.

Guest musical conductors guided students through the creativity and arrangement skills needed to perform a song in a recording session. Students learned various approaches to analogue recording, such as overdubbing. Each student group performed its selection for a panel of guest judges.

The final day, dubbed “Les Paul Reel Sound of Soul Music Recording Workshop,” took place at Ardent Studios. The group that won the previous day’s competition recorded its selection while other groups observed the process. Each participating student received a 45 RPM single of the winning musical piece.

Stax Music Academy exists to nurture and present the next generation of great Soul Communicators from the greater Soulsville region, holistically equipping them to excel and to impact the world through the universal language of music.

www.soulvillefoundation.org

See Also:
Les’ Foundation Furthers his Goals

Les Paul: Guitar Wizard offers 112-pages aimed at young readers while also providing a quick read for anyone looking for an accurate synopsis about the Father of the Electric Guitar.
There are great musicians and there are great inventors. Les Paul: Guitar Wizard unfolds the story of Lester Polsfuss, the boy from Waukesha who became both. The book hits the high points of Lester’s evolution to become Les Paul, the man who changed how music sounds today.

Les Paul’s curiosity drove him to chase the perfect sound throughout his life. His lightening guitar playing and his revolutionary recording techniques culminated in multiple gold records and other honors.

The book glimpses at the wizard’s way of thinking, how he identified what he wanted to do, the challenges that he faced and how his relentless drive led him to achieving his goals. Photographs, maps and illustrations punctuate the story, showing the scope of Les’ adventures and his persistent quest for improving the sound he could create.

The reader travels through Les’ childhood days of experiments with creating a solid-body guitar to his days as one of the earliest radio and television performers. Les creates award-winning recordings while developing multiple recording techniques that are used by most recording artists today.

The 7” x 9” paperback book contains a timeline, a list of Les’ better-known recordings and a glossary for young readers. Illustrations and sidebars explain such things as the basics of a crystal radio and an electric guitar.

Author Bob Jacobson, is a Wisconsin musician and author. The book is part of the Badger Biographies Series published by the Wisconsin Historical Society.

Books can be ordered from The Wisconsin Historical Society.