Gibson Sunburst Electric Guitar and Les Paul

I love Les Paul and his Gibson Les Paul Sunburst electric guitar. Since his death on August 13 2009 in his 94th year, there have been many tributes paid to him and his achievements since his death.

This is mine...

Les Paul's contribution to the music industry was largely recognized by countless award bodies and prestigious institutions.

Guitarist Jeff Beck inducted Les Paul into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. The Mix Foundation in 1991 created an award called to honor "individuals or institutions that had set the highest standards of excellence in the creative application of audio technology" called the Les Paul Award.

The National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2005 inducted Les Paul for his contribution to solid body Sunburst electric guitar developments. The following year in 2006 he was named an honorary member by the Audio Engineering Society and inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

In 2005 part of his 90th birthday celebrations included a tribute concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City where Les Paul was given a commemorative guitar from Gibson Guitar Corporation. Steve Miller, Jose Feliciano and Peter Frampton and other contemporary vocalists and guitarists performed at the celebrations.

The Rock guitarist Steve Miller was taught how to play guitar by Les Paul. He is Godfather to Miller after his father was best man at Les Paul and Mary Fords wedding in 1949.

Still at the age of 90 in 2006 Paul received two Grammy Awards for his Les Paul & Friends: American Made World Played album. He had already received a lifetime achievement award, called the Grammy Trustees Award in 1983.

Les Paul made a biographical documentary film called Chasing Sound which was released on DVD in HD in 2007. It documents the life of the guitar superstar legend and tells his rags to riches story. From Waukesha his home town, to Chicago, then Nashville, on to Hollywood and then his induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

Les Paul talks about his many great lifetime achievements. His music and his greatest hits provide a sound track to his life story. It also features interviews with Jeff Beck, B.B. King, Tony Bennett, Merle Haggard, Bonnie Raitt and Steve Miller.

20 November 2008 a tribute concert was held in Paul's honor at the State Theater in Cleveland Ohio, where Les Paul received the American Music Masters award from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

This fantastic achievement was celebrated with performances by the young and old guitarists that Paul had influenced including; Duane Eddy, Lonnie Mack, Eric Carmen, Jennifer Batten, Dennis Coffey, James Burton, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, Billy Gibbons, Lenny Kaye, Barbara Lynn, Steve Lukather, Katy Moffatt, Richie Sambora, Alannah Myles, The Ventures, and Slash.

On August 13 2009, at the age of 94, Les Paul passed away due to pneumonia and added complications, he had been ill for sometime. Known as the 'Wizard of Waukesha', Les Paul was buried at Prairie Home Cemetery in his home town of Waukesha, in an open area that visitors can visit and pay tribute to.

Many guitarists and performers have paid tribute to the artist that continues to make a lasting impression on their lives; Randy Bachman, Trey Anastasio, The Hard Lessons, Ace Frehley, John 5, Tad Kubler, B.B. King, Joe Satriani, Brian May, Tom Morello, Brian "Head" Welch, Joe Perry and Keith Richards.

Slash from Guns N' Roses said Les Paul "vibrant and full of positive energy".

The Edge, guitarist with U2 said, "his legacy as a musician and inventor will live on and his influence on Rock & Roll will never be forgotten".

Les Paul will be remembered for his contribution to music and the art of recording. He also pioneered various ground breaking guitar playing techniques and styles like; chord sequences, fretting, timing, trills and licks. All of which continue to influence contemporary future guitarists.

The Les Paul Gibson Sunburst electric guitar carries the name of a genius that is more than a brand name. The Gibson Les Paul is the symbol of one mans life quest for perfection in a Sunburst electric guitar.

The legend and guitar icon will live on and continue to inspire and influence new and established musicians for many years to come. The life goal of Les Paul was simply, 'to make people happy'. It's fare to say, whatever music style you are into, he achieved his goal.

Since the death of Les Paul, I went on a mission to educate myself about the Gibson Les Paul and the awesome genius behind the 'Busrt guitar, Les Paul himself.

This is what I found out... Sunburst Electric Guitar.