Les Paul. Photo Courtesy of Gibson Guitar

Nashville, Tenn., — Gibson Guitar, home of the Les Paul guitar model and the Gibson Foundation have announced the availability of free tickets to their special tribute to the late Les Paul. The tribute concert will take place at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn. on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. (doors at 7:00). The tribute is free and open to fans of Les Paul and Gibson Guitar. Les Paul, the innovator and inventor who passed away at 94 years old this past August was known throughout the world as the man who created multi-track recording and the father of the electric guitar. Many musicians pay homage to Les Paul and credit their careers and musicianship directly to him.

Les Paul Tribute Ticket Information

Tickets for the Les Paul Tribute Concert are free and open to the general public. Seating is limited and interested fans must visit gibson.com/LesPaulTribute for a special link and password in order to obtain tickets. Tickets are limited to 4 per person per household. Anyone interested in attending is encouraged to verify that they will be in Nashville on November 19th before reserving tickets.

Where:
Ryman Auditorium
116 Fifth Avenue North
Nashville, Tennessee, 37219

When:
Doors for the event will open at 7:00pm and the concert will begin 8:00pm.

About the Les Paul Tribute Concert

Gibson Guitar along with some of music’s most respected celebrities will join together to celebrate the life of Les Paul during a night of music, special announcements, video tributes and testimonials and storytelling. The event marks the first tribute held by the guitar maker in honor of Les Paul. Many other programs and special events will continue to take place throughout the year and early 2010 to mark anniversary dates significant to Les Paul’s life and in an effort to preserve the legacy of the man who made modern music what it is today.

Les Paul’s son, Russ Paul, along with Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO, Henry Juszkiewicz and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum President Terry Stewart will emcee the 90 minute program which will begin at 8pm at the Ryman (doors open at 7pm CT). The Les Paul Trio, widely known for their Monday night performances with Les Paul at the Iridium in New York while Les was alive, will serve as house band and be joined on stage by musical great Steve Miller, also Les Paul’s godson. The evening will be a mix of Les Paul’s music and instrumentals and supported by chart-topping musical acts own memories of Les Paul and their own performances in tribute to the man, the music and the guitar.

Joining Steve Miller for the show will be rock’s elite including Joan Jett, Ace Frehley, Zakk Wylde and Jennifer Batten. Joining them will be contemporary artist Josh Kelly and Nashville’s own country hit-makers John Rich, Charlie Daniels, Emerson Drive, JD Souther and Steve Wariner. NY Jazz artist Sarah Partridge will perform a special rendition of Les’ own version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow while Anna Wilson will take the stage to perform her personal jazz remembrance.

“Many years ago Les told me the story of when he was taken to the Ryman Auditorium with his grandmother. He was extremely proud of the fact that she would not leave until he had a chance to play on that historic stage and based on Les Paul’s recollection was quite successful in achieving just that,” said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. “The show at the Ryman will be a celebration of Les’ life through music, storytelling and some very unique video elements. It will serve as a fitting tribute to a man who touched many lives during his 94 years.”

“My father always spoke of the Ryman Auditorium as a very special place,” said Rusty Paul, son of the late Les Paul. “It is the place that helped form the early years of my father’s love of music and subsequently drove his passion for his many inventions. I am so thrilled to be back here for this very special tribute and know that Dad is smiling from above.”

Les Paul was an acclaimed guitar player, entertainer and inventor. One of the foremost influences on 20th century sound and responsible for the world’s most famous guitar, the Les Paul model, Les Paul’s prestigious career in music and invention spans from the 1930s to the present. Though he’s indisputably one of America’s most popular, influential, and accomplished electric guitarists, Les Paul is best known as an early innovator in the development of the solid body guitar. His groundbreaking design would become the template for Gibson’s best-selling electric, the Les Paul model, introduced in 1952. Today, countless musical legends still consider Paul’s iconic guitar unmatched in sound and prowess. Among Paul’s most enduring contributions are those in the technological realm, including ingenious developments in multi-track recording, guitar effects, and the mechanics of sound in general. Les Paul passed away this past August at the age of 94.

In addition to the musical performances, legendary artists including Scotty Moore (Elvis Presley) and Lou Pallo of the Les Paul Trio will give personal stories from the stage about their experiences with Les Paul. Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz will tell a very special story that relates back to Les Paul’s early childhood and his experience at the Ryman Theatre while President of Gibson Guitar, Dave Berryman shares some entertaining tales of working with Les Paul. The audience will also be treated to exclusive video testimonials from globally recognized artists including Slash, Billy Gibbons, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter and many more. Additional surprises will be planned and announced throughout the show.

About Gibson Guitar

Gibson is known worldwide for producing classic models in every major style of fretted instrument, including acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins, and banjos. The Gibson Les Paul guitar is the best selling guitar of all time and bears the name of the late, great Les Paul. Gibson’s HD.6X-PRO Digital Guitar, the Gibson Robot Guitar and Gibson’s Dark Fire represent the biggest advances in electric guitar design in over 70 years. The Gibson Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Gibson Guitar Corp., and dedicates its time and services to making the place a better world for children through its support of music, education, health and human services. Founded in 1894 in Kalamazoo , Michigan , and headquartered in Nashville since 1984, Gibson Guitar Corp.’s family of brands now includes Epiphone, Dobro, Kramer, Steinberger, Tobias, Echoplex, Electar, Flatiron, Slingerland, Valley Arts, Maestro, Oberheim, Baldwin, Sunshine Piano, Take Anywhere Technology, J&C Fischer, Chickering, Hamilton, and Wurlitzer. Visit Gibson’s website at www.gibson.com

– From Gibson