The interview with Les Paul (1915-2009) took place in April 2008, coordinated from Los Angeles, I flew to New York just to have the opportunity to speak with the Les Paul earlier in the day before his performance that evening at the Iridium.
Les typically played two shows every Monday night (8:00 PM and 10:00 PM). He performed with the Les Paul Trio, which often included Lou Pallo on guitar and Nicki Parrott on bass.
His shows were famous for surprise appearances by guitar icons like Slash, Steve Miller, and Paul McCartney. Les Paul continued this Monday night tradition until his final performance on June 1, 2009, just months before he passed away in August 2009. Les Paul’s accomplishments are so vast that he is often called the "Father of Modern Music". He is uniquely recognized as the only person inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
Musical Inventions & Technology include, Solid-Body Electric Guitar: In 1941, he built "The Log," one of the first solid-body electric guitars, which eventually led to the iconic Gibson Les Paul model.
Multitrack Recording: He pioneered the technique of recording separate tracks and layering them, effectively inventing the modern studio process.
Studio Effects: He is credited with developing overdubbing (sound-on-sound), tape delay, phasing, and reverb.
8-Track Tape Recorder: He commissioned the first 8-track "Octopus" recorder from Ampex, allowing for even more complex arrangements.
The Paulverizer: A device attached to his guitar that allowed him to control recording and playback loops live on stage.
He also achieved Chart-Topping Hits: Alongside his wife, Mary Ford, he had numerous #1 hits in the 1950s, including "How High the Moon" and "Vaya Con Dios". Les was a virtuoso guitarist: Known for his "brassy" playing style and lightning-fast runs, he influenced generations of guitarists from Eric Clapton to Slash. Les Paul won multiple Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award (1983) and a Technical Grammy (2001).
National Medal of Arts: Awarded in 2007 by the National Endowment for the Arts for his contributions to American culture.
Emmy Award: Received a Lifetime Achievement Award in Engineering in 2004.

KPFK Music Director Maggie LePique interviewed then-92 year old Les Paul before his weekly performance at the Iridium Club in New York City on April 7th, 2008. On a chilly Monday afternoon before his first set, Les was in great form: what started out as a friendly conversation becomes a whirlwind overview of this legendary guitar player and inventor. From his early hard body electric guitar invention to the Les Pulverizer to his first ever multi-track recording to his blistering guitar technique, Les Paul is the original Guitar Hero. ENJOY!!

Source: https://www.les-paul.com/

Source: https://lespaulverizer.com/

Host Maggie LePique, a radio veteran since the 1980's at NPR in Kansas City Mo. She began her radio career in Los Angeles in the early 1990's and has worked for Pacifica station KPFK Radio in Los Angeles since 1994.

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Host Maggie LePique & Stanley Clarke discuss the new release "Last Train to Sanity," a major project featuring new music, classic jazz-fusion remakes, and a significant autobiographical book, arriving as a 2-LP/CD set with a deluxe edition containing extra goodies, including a book called Notes From The Journey, "which is a book that goes from eight years old up until today,” Clarke says. “It has as much stuff as we could fit in there." Its available to pre-order January 26 2026, with the "4EVER" band supporting. Maggie & Stanley also discuss musicians who have had a life long and meaningful influence on the Four-time Grammy Award winner. “The 4EVER band includes drummer Jeremiah Collier, Colin Cook on guitar, Emilio Modeste on tenor sax and clarinet and Jahari Stampley on piano and keyboard. Special guest appearances throughout include a thrilling bass duet with Cameroonian bassist, Armand Sabal-Lecco, a beautiful reimagining of Clarke’s piece “Tradition” with Ruslan Sirota on piano and a duet between Stanley and Salar Nader, one of the most sought-after young tabla players.”

Stanley Clarke is one of the most celebrated acoustic and electric bass players in the world. He is equally gifted as a recording artist, performer, composer, conductor, arranger, producer, and film score composer. A true pioneer in jazz and jazz-fusion, Clarke is particularly known for his ferocious bass dexterity and consummate musicality. An accomplished film and TV composer of more than 70 projects, Clarke's credits include the Academy Award®-nominated Boyz N The Hood, the Tina Turner biopic What's Love Got To Do With It, and Barbershop: The Next Cut.

Stanley remains as driven today as the teen prodigy from Philly with big dreams, and now, a lifetime of legendary accomplishments and contributions.

Stanley Clarke and the 4EVER band will be performing Thurs. January 22-Sunday January 25, 2026 at the Blue Note Los Angeles in Hollywood. 2 shows nightly at 7pm and 9:30pm

Source: https://www.bluenotejazz.com/la/shows/?calendar_view

Source: https://stanleyclarke.com/

Host Maggie LePique, a radio veteran since the 1980's at NPR in Kansas City Mo. She began her radio career in Los Angeles in the early 1990's and has worked for Pacifica station KPFK Radio in Los Angeles since 1994.

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Maggie & John C. Reilly discuss “What’s Not to Love?” Mister Romantic’s debut album out now on Eternal Magic Recordings is a collection of beloved songs from the American Songbook reimagined by Reilly and his Grammy-winning band.

“What’s Not To Love?” was recorded in 2024 in Los Angeles at Nest Recorders and was co-produced by Reilly and Davíd Garza. In addition to Garza on piano and guitar, the band also includes Gabe Witcher on violin, Sebastian Steinberg on bass, and Charles De Castro on accordion and cornet.
CREATED BY JOHN C. REILLY

“I looked at our weary world a few years ago and tried to think of a way I could spread love and empathy. I decided the most fun way to do that was through performing and singing and telling people I love them…so the emotional vaudeville show Mister Romantic was born, out of both hope and despair.”

From studying theater as a kid growing up in Chicago, to amateur clowning as a teen and studying acting at The Theatre School at DePaul University, to his Oscar-nominated role starring in the film adaptation of Chicago and beloved performance starring in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, to his TONY-nominated performance in Sam Shepard’s True West, and more, theater and music have been pillars of John’s career.

What’s Not To Love? is a collection of gorgeous renditions of songs from the Great American Songbook backed by a band of multiple GRAMMY®-winners.

On lead single “Dream” Reilly delivers a gentle, dreamy sea-side cover of the 1944 Johnny Mercer song, which has previously been recorded by Frank Sinatra and Roy Orbison.

The album was recorded in 2024 in Los Angeles at Nest Recorders and was co-produced by Reilly and Davíd Garza (Fiona Apple, Sharon Van Etten). In addition to Garza on piano and guitar, the band also includes Gabe Witcher on violin (Punch Brothers, Rosanne Cash), Sebastian Steinberg on bass (Fiona Apple, Phoebe Bridgers), and Charles De Castro on accordion and cornet (Keb’ Mo’).

The 13 tracks include a pair of Irving Berlin songs, a trio of Tom Waits songs and many songs made famous by Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, Jo Stafford and more. Reilly and this special band reimagine and re-embrace these beloved tunes and bring them again to another generation.

About the Live Show:
Prepare to be captivated by the incomparable John C. Reilly in Mister Romantic, a vaudeville show that has already garnered critical acclaim and captured the public’s imagination. The New York Times calls the show "wryly funny, sometimes tender and sad, but always sincere" and Vanity Fair describes it as “fiercely funny” and says "John C. Reilly is one hell of a singer." Mister Romantic asks you to open your heart to the love all around you and marks a new chapter in Reilly’s acclaimed career.

Source: https://www.misterromantic.com/

Source: https://www.steppenwolf.org/tickets--events/seasons-/2025-26/mister-romantic/

Source: https://www.misterromantic.com/music

Host Maggie LePique, a radio veteran since the 1980's at NPR in Kansas City Mo. She began her radio career in Los Angeles in the early 1990's and has worked for Pacifica station KPFK Radio in Los Angeles since 1994.

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