'56 Les Paul Gold Top

Don Maclean wrote the line “the day that music died” in memory of that February day in 1959 when Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and JP Richardson (aka “The Big Bopper”) were tragically lost before their time.

More recently, the demise of a certain MJ Jackson rocked the world of popular music. But today, dear reader, there is, sadly, a more poignant loss.

Today, 13th August 2009, saw the passing of one Lester Polsfuss, aka Rhubarb Red, aka Les Paul. To musicians (especially guitarists) he was a legend… Nay, an icon.

If you’ve listened to any piece if popular music made since the 1950′s, you owe him a debt of gratitude for inventing multitrack recording. He was a man that would never accept the status quo, and wouldn’t be beaten. If it wasn’t for his foresight and tenacity, the guitar that bears his name would not exist… And that might’ve meant no Clapton, Page, Beck, Green, Slash, Rhoads and countless others.

Even at 94 years of age, he was still packing them in every week at the Iridium, NYC.

RIP Les Paul – the most important man in music in the last 100 years…