Gibson Brands Funds $100,000 Innovation Initiative to Honor Les Paul’s 100th Birthday
Gibson Brands is providing a $100,000 fund to Belmont University in honor of Les Paul, whose 100th birthday would have June 9. “The Les Paul Music Innovation Award” (powered by Gibson) honors the life and contributions of Les Paul by funding research for faculty and students, inspiring the next generation of industry leaders to express innovation and creativity to strengthen the music economy. It will provide annual funds to students and faculty of the Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business at Belmont.
“We give our most sincere thanks to the Gibson Foundation for their generous gift bearing the name of Les Paul, a true visionary and creative genius who possessed an unmatched entrepreneurial spirit and who will inspire and support yet another generation,” stated Doug Howard, Dean of the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business. Les Paul was born on June 9, 1915 and became an internationally celebrated jazz, country and blues guitarist, songwriter, luthier and inventor. He is widely considered to be the single most important figure in the mass popularization of the solid-body electric guitar and is perhaps best known today for the iconic instrument he designed, the Gibson Les Paul electric guitar. He is also credited with developing many modern-day recording innovations including overdubbing, tape delay, phasing effects and multitrack recording and his innovative talents in design, songwriting and guitar playing continue to influence modern day guitarists across the world in nearly every genre of music.
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Gibson Brands Funds $100,000 Innovation Initiative to Honor Les Paul’s 100th Birthday