Guest Contributor: Jana Uttz
The year 1969 was an important one in American history. Man walked on the moon and the Gibson Les Paul Standard guitar was born, In a decade that glorified rebellion and self expression, the birth of an iconic rock guitar was a perfect fit! Gibson was already an established company, but a request by jazz musician Les Paul changed the guitar industry and modern music forever.
Les Paul envisioned a guitar that could handle the heavy demands of rock music along with the fluid nuances of jazz. No such instrument existed at the time, Gibson accepted the challenge! The result was a versatile instrument as easily playable at a rock concert as it is a folk coffee shop. Since the day of its inception the Les Paul Standard has maintained a cult status among fans that continues to grow with no sign of slowing down.
I recently attended the 50th Anniversary of the Les Paul Standard at The Analog in The Hutton Hotel in Nashville, TN. The cool, eclectic decor of the hotel includes vintage stereos, albums, and recording devices. It was the perfect backdrop for the celebration of an instrument that changed the trajectory of popular music. On the venue stage, gorgeous Anniversary Edition Standards were showcased in finishes of mahogany, ebony, mother of pearl and maple. The air was electric with anticipation as excited fingers waited for an opportunity to test them. In addition, Custom Les Pauls in dozens of finishes snaked around the venue providing a visual feast that tantalized amateurs and professionals alike.
CEO James (JC) Curleigh and CMO Cesar Gueikien generously worked the excited crowd, beaming with pride and answering questions throughout the evening. As I stood in line to have my picture made with James and Cesar, I struck up conversations with those around me. Tom bought a Les Paul after attending a Led Zepplin concert as a teen, Mark bought his after becoming a fan of ZZ Top.. Diane followed Sade religiously in college, and eventually bought the same custom Les Paul as the artist. However, the biggest influence hands down was Slash, with far too many fans to mention!
After a question and answer forum led by JC and Cesar, local duo Striking Matches took the stage to entertain the audience. With both members of the duo equally talented on guitar, they exchanged tricky solos and searing guitar riffs with one another – much to the delight of the standing-room-only crowd. I am already a huge fan of the duo so I was not surprised by their showmanship. Looking around the room, I saw the rapt engagement of the crowd that is only achieved when artists create magic! Magic happens when superior craftsmanship is coupled with outstanding artistry, The crowd was treated to both.
The night ended way too soon for me. As I headed home, I found myself mulling over which guitar I would choose for myself. The ebony, for sure. Wait – it must be the mahogany. No, the pearlized red was it. Sigh – too many choices!!! Perhaps I need guitar lessons first? Details, details.