Backstage with Jeff Maynor--Les Paul Tribute

What a music weekend in Cleveland!

It's the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's Annual American Music Masters Tribute, this year honoring legendary guitar inventor and player Les Paul.

Saturday at Case Western Reserve University musicians, writers and academics will be discussing the extraordinary career of Les Paul. The day also includes a guitar clinic and discussion with Les Paul himself.

Les Paul is one of the inventors of the solid-body electric guitar, and for over 50 years the Gibson Les Paul guitar has been standard-issue for guitar players.

The Saturday night tribute concert at the State Theater is sold out. It will feature performances by leading guitar players Richie Sambora, Slash, Duane Eddy, James Burton, and many more.

Duane Eddy, 1994 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, was a live guest on Channel 3's Weekend Morning News Saturday.

He told he he grew up idolizing Les Paul, who had his peak recording success in the early-to-mid fifties, pre-rock and roll.

Eddy has played several electric guitars over his career. He currently plays his own Duane Eddy Signature Gibson model.

Longtime viewers may remember one of my country favorites, singer-songwriter Dale Watson. Dale has a Duane Eddy autograph across the front of one of his guitars. I asked Duane if he remembers Dale and he said, "Sure do. Saw him perform at a wedding. He's great. Reminds me of myself when I was starting out."

More on the Les Paul Tribute Concert to follow.

--Jeff Maynor
jeffmaynor@wkyc.com


You can watch Jeff's entire interview with Duane Eddy below...