Just watched the DVD called 'Les Paul: Chasing Sound' and was amazed at what he accomplished. I had heard about him from music and knew the Gibson Les Paul guitar was named after him.
But what I didn't know was that he invented an electric guitar by putting phonograph needles underneath the strings. Later he invented the solid body guitar and spent many years trying to get guitar manufacturers to make it. Gibson finally did. He also invented multi-track recording and other electronics for recording.
And he was writing music and making hit recordings from the 30s till the 60s with wife Mary Ford and also with Bing Crosby. A bit before my time so I didn't follow him. He created whole new sounds with the guitar.
What struck me about his success was that he kept saying that he was so lucky at different points. But it wasn't luck at all. He would work constantly making music. He started in Chicago playing Cowboy music. He would go across town and play jazz in the night clubs until early morning and then say "I've got to go to work" and go play country music on the radio. That's a lot of work (process).
He would see what he had to do next and arrange things to work out. For instance he decided to go to Hollywood to get on the radio there. He gets his band ready and drives there to meet a particular radio host that he chose.
He finds out where they broadcast and what time they will be leaving the building. The guy shuts the door in his face (first rejection) but then he sees the VIP who the host works for coming out. He happens to know his name and what he looks like (was that luck?) and asks him if it's him. The guy responds yes but I don't have time and I can't support anyone new (second rejection). So Les says 'well can we play for you here while you're waiting for your car"? He says "Well I can't stop you". Then once he hears Les play he says "You're working for me now. Let's go up to the studio".
There were plenty of examples like that. Just pay attention to what he was doing before each 'event' when he says he was lucky. And notice how he decides what he needs to do and then just starts doing it. He was 90 when this documentary was made, he was still playing for audiences. When someone asks him what he's doing now he says every day is booked. So inspiring.
But what I didn't know was that he invented an electric guitar by putting phonograph needles underneath the strings. Later he invented the solid body guitar and spent many years trying to get guitar manufacturers to make it. Gibson finally did. He also invented multi-track recording and other electronics for recording.
And he was writing music and making hit recordings from the 30s till the 60s with wife Mary Ford and also with Bing Crosby. A bit before my time so I didn't follow him. He created whole new sounds with the guitar.
What struck me about his success was that he kept saying that he was so lucky at different points. But it wasn't luck at all. He would work constantly making music. He started in Chicago playing Cowboy music. He would go across town and play jazz in the night clubs until early morning and then say "I've got to go to work" and go play country music on the radio. That's a lot of work (process).
He would see what he had to do next and arrange things to work out. For instance he decided to go to Hollywood to get on the radio there. He gets his band ready and drives there to meet a particular radio host that he chose.
He finds out where they broadcast and what time they will be leaving the building. The guy shuts the door in his face (first rejection) but then he sees the VIP who the host works for coming out. He happens to know his name and what he looks like (was that luck?) and asks him if it's him. The guy responds yes but I don't have time and I can't support anyone new (second rejection). So Les says 'well can we play for you here while you're waiting for your car"? He says "Well I can't stop you". Then once he hears Les play he says "You're working for me now. Let's go up to the studio".
There were plenty of examples like that. Just pay attention to what he was doing before each 'event' when he says he was lucky. And notice how he decides what he needs to do and then just starts doing it. He was 90 when this documentary was made, he was still playing for audiences. When someone asks him what he's doing now he says every day is booked. So inspiring.
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