Les Paul glad for tribute album

Music industry legend Les Paul gets saluted by a who's-who of rock guitar players tomorrow (Tuesday, August 30th) when the album Les Paul & Friends: American Made, World Played is released. It features Paul in a series of teamups with folks including ZZ Top's Reverend Billy F. Gibbons, Journey's Neal Schon, Eric Clapton, Steve Miller, Jeff Beck, Aerosmith's Joe Perry, and Keith Richards from the Rolling Stones, just to name a few. Paul told us that he dug into his personal address book to choose the players on the album:
[ click here to listen if you have a Backstage Pass] "Most of 'em were people that are very dear friends of mine and are...I admire what they do. They're great players, but knowing 'em personally, and knowing what they can play in other types of music - back in the dressing room (chuckles) - it makes me admire 'em all the more, and it's fun to play with 'em."

Les Paul, who turned 90 back in June, is probably best known for inventing the solid-body electric guitar that still bears his name, and that was made famous by people including Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page, Slash from Velvet Revolver, and Ace Frehley from Kiss.

Among his other credits is the introduction of the multi-track recording process to studios and record companies.

Paul continues to play two shows every Monday night at the New York City jazz club Iridium, just as he's done for many years. It's quite common for one or more of his friends, including the people on American Made, World Played, to join him on stage there.

He was given the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award from the Songwriters Hall Of Fame on his birthday in June.
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