If you haven’t heard, the legendary guitarist, Les Paul, died this morning from “complications of severe penumonia”.
He’s touted as the father of multitrack recording, invited the solid body guitar called the Gibson Les Paul, inspired generations of musicians and almost single-handedly gave birth to rock n roll.
His passing surely marks the end of an era in NYC, as he was still an active musician, playing 2 shows a week at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York, NY.
The news has caused me to think about what true musical greatness is, at it’s core. I don’t profess to have the answer, but I do have many opinions.
True greatness, to me, is about connection and inspiration. Chris Brogan recently wrote about “The Moment of Love“, explaining it as a visible emotion. As a musician, I “get” it. I’ve been on stage in that magical moment where you’re not just performing… you’re telling a story, you’re saying something, and you’re truly connected to the people playing with you, and watching you play.
It’s that magic moment that causes inspiration. It’s that raw talent and force exposed in that moment which sheds light on the true power of music, and it’s the ability to sustain that moment not just for a few fleeting seconds, but throughout entire shows that separates the really good from the truly great.
Yes, it’s about the music. It’s about the talent and the atmosphere and the performer and the experience.
But, it’s also not about the music. It’s about the communication, the emotions and the lasting impressions created.
Those rare moments when I know I’m in the presence of true greatness stick with me like no others have the power to do.
I doubt that the music world would be the same without Les Paul today. He inspired, he taught, he created and he shaped the face of music forever. His presence and influence will be felt for many decades to come. Isn’t that the greatness we’re truly seeking? The greatness that comes with the ability to create something bigger than ourselves.
So RIP, Les Paul. Thank you for sharing your talents and passions with the world, and thank you for gifting millions with the experience of hearing your genius.
*this photo made available under the Creative Commons license by emurray