Les Paul was a showman. To be
honest, he was the best I have ever seen.
For you young surfers, Les Paul invented the solid body
electric guitar that all the big rockers play; Who's
Pete Townshend, Yes's Steve Howe, Lead Zeppllin's Jimmy
Page all played Gibson Les Paul guitars.
But none of them could produce on stage the sounds that
Paul could. Plus, he was funny!
When I heard this week that he had died at age 94, I
immediately went back 47 years to 1962 when Paul and his
wife Mary Ford played the NCO club at Patrick Henry
Village in Heidelberg, Germany -- the best live show I
have ever seen.
I always enjoy entertainers who are funny. The great
British comedian Anna Russell made me laugh until I was
completely worn out. Victor Borge, Phyllis Diller, The
Smothers Brothers, Bill Cosby, are just a few of the
comics who can really make your sides hurt.
Les Paul and Mary Ford were unbelievably great -- and
you would not believe how funny they were.
Paul's absolutely unequaled guitar work always sounded
like an entire guitar orchestra. He invented multi-track
recording and he was an electronic genius.
On stage, of course, he credited all his genius to a
small "miracle black box" taped onto his guitar. Les
could pick a regular melody while the miracle box played
another version at 4 or 5 times the normal speed, yet
always right in harmony and right on beat.
Also, Mary Ford, whose hit harmonies were unsurpassed on
hit recordings like "Vaya con Dios," also could sing both lead and harmony live on
stage, thanks to the black box and a "very strange set
of pipes."
The fun really began, of course, when the miracle box
began "mal-functioning," when a hit song suddenly sounded very
different, when Paul's guitar sounded like a 5-string
banjo, and when Mary sounded like Tony Bennett. And, of
course, Tony Bennett harmonizing.
This couple was so good and messed up with such
precision, veteran Army sergeants actually sat there
laughing so hard for so long their beer got hot.
The only act that got anywhere near the reception from
troops in Germany was
Bobby Bare singing "Oh, Lord, I want to go home."
I never saw Les Paul or Mary Ford again after that autumn
night in 1962. I understand they divorced the next year.
Mary died in 1977.
The wonderful, unique sound of Les and Mary still
thrills me. I will always cherish the memory of them on
stage.
I know Les Paul was 94 and lived a long life, but I
still feel sad at his passing. Maybe he and Mary will
get back together for a heavenly concert.
I would dearly love to see that.
