CLEVELAND (AP) -- The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will pay tribute to the “father of the electric guitar" this fall.
Les Paul will be honored at the annual American Music Masters series, a weeklong event that begins Nov. 10, Rock Hall officials said Tuesday. A tribute concert -- artists will be named later -- is scheduled Nov. 15 at Cleveland's State Theater.
Paul, 93, is hoping to attend, said Rock Hall President and CEO Terry Stewart.
“You have an inductee who in some ways maybe has had one of the biggest influences of all our inductees with the creation of his solid-body guitar, overdubbing ... not to mention his musical styling and his ability to play," Stewart said. “He's become an idol and an icon to people in the rock world, as well as people in jazz and popular music."
Paul began playing guitar as a child and by 13 was performing semiprofessionally as a country-music guitarist. He later made his mark as a jazz-pop musician, recording hits like “How High the Moon" with his wife, singer Colleen Summers, better known as Mary Ford. They divorced in 1964.
Les Paul will be honored at the annual American Music Masters series, a weeklong event that begins Nov. 10, Rock Hall officials said Tuesday. A tribute concert -- artists will be named later -- is scheduled Nov. 15 at Cleveland's State Theater.
Paul, 93, is hoping to attend, said Rock Hall President and CEO Terry Stewart.
“You have an inductee who in some ways maybe has had one of the biggest influences of all our inductees with the creation of his solid-body guitar, overdubbing ... not to mention his musical styling and his ability to play," Stewart said. “He's become an idol and an icon to people in the rock world, as well as people in jazz and popular music."
Paul began playing guitar as a child and by 13 was performing semiprofessionally as a country-music guitarist. He later made his mark as a jazz-pop musician, recording hits like “How High the Moon" with his wife, singer Colleen Summers, better known as Mary Ford. They divorced in 1964.
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