MUMBAI: To honour Les Paul, the pioneer of electric guitar and multi-track recordings, Gibson Guitar Corporation gave a $100,000 fund to Nashville’s Belmont University. The fund was given on 9 June, which also marked the 100th birthday of Les Paul.
The Les Paul Music Innovation Award, which is powered by Gibson, honours the life and contributions of Paul by funding research for faculty and students, inspiring the next generation of industry leaders to express innovation and creativity to strengthen the music economy. Gibson Guitar Corporation will also provide annual funds to students and faculty of the College of Entertainment & Music Business at Belmont.
Speaking on the Gibson-powered Les Paul Music Innovation Award, Gibson Brands, chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz said, “Les’ life and name are synonymous with talent, quality and creativity. To honour his legacy of being one of the best music innovators of all time, we are assisting the future generations of Belmont music students and faculty with their dreams.”
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Also commenting on the same, Belmont University, Mike Curb College of Entertainment, Dean, Doug Howard stated, “We give our most sincere thanks to the Gibson Foundation for their generous gift bearing the name of Les Paul, a true visionary and creative genius who possessed an unmatched entrepreneurial spirit and who will inspire and support yet another generation.”
Les Paul, born 9 June 1915, is widely considered to be the single most important figure in the mass popularisation of the solid-body electric guitar and is best known today for the iconic instrument he designed – The Gibson Les Paul electric guitar. He is also credited with developing many modern-day recording innovations including, overdubbing, tape delay, phasing effects and multi-track recording. Les Paul is also the only person to be included in both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
After performing for about 70 years, Paul passed away from pneumonia at the age of 94, on 12 August, 2009, a few days after his last performance.
