After watching the documentary on Les Paul's life, and being introduced to him this way for the first time I felt like I had been out of the loop, but I guess I have an excuse because 1. I don't play guitar, and 2. I never was in the music loop to begin with, so no big surprise there.
The documentary portrays Les how he portrayed himself throughout his career. Les, unlike Pete Seeger who avoided the spotlight whenever possible, naturally belonged in the spotlight and benefited from it.
He strategically organized his life around promoting his music.
One thing he is praised for among musicians is TONE. Tone is probably key in all art. Photography, movies, music, expression, writing. What does the viewer, listener, reader all get out of it? Les knew how to market his goods. Music was a medium he could filter his inventions through, but his inventions were inspired by music, instruments, and SOUND and what made him marketable was the obvious appreciation for his craft.
This documentary even provided "marketing material" for the Les Paul electric guitar.
Would his collaboration between him guitar, technology, and Mary Ford be as accepted today as it was then? Or would we just pick up something some old guy invented and think we were creating something new on it? Remember his brother did say he was weird, because he wondered why rather than just accepting it as the way things were. This reflects back to What are you Laughin' At?! post. Did those Bluesmen create anything new? Or were they continuing a tradition that had roots older than them?
New, different, was in but it was also out. People did accept Mary Ford and Les Paul and their multitracking, but they were not so accepting of the youth culture's, Rock n Roll. However because of the rejection of rock n roll Les and Mary were back in again, another example of pure LUCK!
I believe his attitude had more to do with it then anything. But also this documentary was to celebrate, commemorate a legend. One example of a talented inventor who got lucky at every turn he made, and proof that passion and attitude really are all one needs... once they got talent of course.
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Les Paul seemed prepared to accomplish what he did by pursuing his interests so obsessively. He was there when the time was right. What can be learned from that?
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