Les Paul's 90th Birthday to Be Celebrated with New CDs, Books, and Special Events

American guitar legend Les Paul will turn 90-years-old on Thursday, June 9. To celebrate the world-renowned electric guitar innovator and performer's 90th year, Capitol/EMI Music Catalog Marketing is joining other Les Paul admirers to put on quite a celebration, including new CD releases, two new books, and a host of special events fit for the father of the electric guitar.

Les Paul, who continues to perform weekly at New York's Iridium Jazz Club, is currently in the studio recording a new album of all-star collaborations with many of music's best-known artists, including Eric Clapton, Sting, Peter Frampton, Johnny Rzeznik, Jeff Beck, Joss Stone, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Joan Osborne, Richie Sambora, and many more to be announced. The to-be-titled CD is planned for release this summer by Capitol/EMI Music Catalog Marketing.

On June 7, Capitol/EMM will reissue Les Paul with Mary Ford: The Best of The Capitol Masters (90th Birthday Edition), a collection of Les Paul's finest Capitol recordings, with new artwork, 3 bonus tracks and a new package essay written by Les Paul.

On his birthday, Les Paul will receive the Songwriters' Hall of Fame's Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award, and on June 19, he will perform as a Spotlight Artist with special guests at New York's JVC Jazz Festival.

Les Paul, born June 9, 1915 in Waukesha, Wisconsin, is not just one of the world's finest guitarists of all time, but is also a Rock & Roll Hall Of Famer, five-time Grammy Award winner, the inventor of the solid body electric guitar, and the pioneer of numerous enduring studio techniques, including multi-track recording and the use of reverb. His signature Les Paul line of Gibson guitars debuted in 1952 and quickly grew into a family of four models, the Junior, Special, Standard and Custom, all of which became Gibson classics. Gibson's Les Paul guitars, including new custom models from Jimmy Page and Joe Perry, are universally hailed as the best and are the top choice for many of
the world's premier players.

Two new Les Paul books will be published in the coming months: The Les Paul Legacy by Rob Lawrence is due this summer from Hal Leonard Publishing. Les Paul In His Own Words, a limited edition autobiography with each numbered copy signed by Les Paul, is scheduled for a June 9 release by Russ Cochran Publishing.

On June 9, the evening of Les Paul's 90th birthday, he will be honored with the Songwriters' Hall Of Fame Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award. The honors will be bestowed at the organization's 2005 awards dinner at New York's Marriott Marquis Hotel. On June 19, Les Paul will perform with special guests at New York's Carnegie Hall as a Spotlight Artist of the JVC Jazz Festival.

Les Paul continues to play weekly shows at New York's Iridium Jazz Club, with 8pm and 10pm sets every Monday evening. Summer 2005 tour dates will soon
be announced.

Les Paul with Mary Ford: The Best of The Capitol Masters (90th Birthday Edition)

1. Les Paul & Mary Ford: Dialog & In The Mood (bonus track)
2. Les Paul: Lover
3. Les Paul: Nola
4. Les Paul & Mary Ford: Tennessee Waltz
5. Les Paul & Mary Ford: Mockin' Bird Hill
6. Les Paul & Mary Ford: How High The Moon
7. Les Paul & Mary Ford: The World is Waiting For The Sunrise
8. Les Paul: Whispering
9. Les Paul & Mary Ford: Just One More Chance
10. Les Paul & Mary Ford: Tiger Rag
11. Les Paul & Mary Ford: In The Good Old Summertime
12. Les Paul: Meet Mister Callaghan
13. Les Paul: Lady Of Spain
14. Les Paul & Mary Ford: My Baby's Comin' Home
15. Les Paul & Mary Ford: Bye Bye Blues
16. Les Paul & Mary Ford: I'm Sitting On Top Of The World
17. Les Paul & Mary Ford: Vaya Con Dios (May God Be With You)
18. Les Paul & Mary Ford: I Really Don't Want To Know
19. Les Paul & Mary Ford: I'm A Fool To Care
20. Les Paul & Mary Ford: Whither Thou Goest
21. Les Paul & Mary Ford: Hummingbird
22. Les Paul: Brazil (bonus track)
23. Les Paul: Case of the Missing Les Paulverizer (medley from the Les Paul & Mary Ford Radio Show: a. Avalon / b. Hawaiian War Chant / c. Where or When / d. I'll See You In My Dreams) (bonus track)