The Les Paul Foundation, whose mission is to share the legacy of Les Paul through the support of music education, recording, innovation, exhibits about Les Paul and medical research related to hearing has announced the annual Les Paul Spirit Award in partnership with Gibson Gives, the philanthropic division of Gibson.
The annual award is presented to an individual who exemplifies the spirit of the late, great Les Paul through innovation, engineering, technology and/or music. In addition to the award, a grant from the Les Paul Foundation will be made in the honoree’s name to the charity of his choice.
Like Les Paul, Peter Frampton personifies the spirit of excellence through musicianship and industry recognition. Frampton has also experimented with new technologies and music trends, apparent in his early recordings on albums “Frampton” and “Frampton Comes Alive!” and particularly his hit singles “Do You Feel Like We Do” and “Show Me the Way,” synonymous with the use of the talk box.
“I cannot think of anyone more fitting to be honored with this year’s Les Paul Spirit Award than Peter Frampton. Not only is he an extraordinary talent who has given us an amazing array of extraordinary music, but he is an innovator who understands music, technologies, and the spirit of Les Paul,” said Michael Braunstein, Executive Director of The Les Paul Foundation. “If Les were still alive today, I have absolutely no doubt that he and Peter would be experimenting together at Les’ house. I am personally thrilled to be able to present Peter with this award because I know he exemplifies everything Les was about and wanted to accomplish. I want to also thank the Gibson Gives Foundation for partnering with us on this exciting annual award and for everything they do to keep Les’ name alive.”
Frampton grew up in England and joined a band at 16; two years later he was added to the lineup in supergroup Humble Pie and achieved massive success across the United Kingdom. In 1971, Frampton left Humble Pie and released his solo debut, “Wind of Change.” In 1976, the rocker recorded one of the most successful live albums of all time: “Frampton Comes Alive!” – featuring Frampton’s use of the talk box to create a human and guitar hybrid sound, was and is unprecedented in the music industry. Other chart-topping hits showcased on the album included “Show Me the Way,” “Baby, I Love Your Way,” and “Do You Feel Like We Do”; all of them reached the Top 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 list.
Frampton continues to write and perform despite sharing his diagnosis of inclusion body myositis in 2019; he is among the artists that will be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame at the 2024 event in Cleveland, OH this fall.
The Les Paul Spirit Award will be presented to Frampton on Sunday, June 9 at 6:30pm CT at a private event held at the Gibson Garage Nashville located at 209 10th Avenue S in Nashville; the event will take place on what would have been Les Paul’s 109th birthday and marks the third anniversary of the Gibson Garage Nashville.
The exclusive Les Paul Spirit Award for Peter Frampton is made from actual hand-carved acoustic boards built by Les Paul that he used in his home studio. Les Paul designed and created this now historical memorabilia during his life. The acoustic wood piece is a unique presentation and supported by Les’ personal story. No two Les Paul Spirit Awards are exactly the same, given the unique nature of the studio pieces which are being used to create them and their intrinsic value as authentic Les Paul memorabilia.
Pick up some Peter Frampton music here.
See also:
Ozzy Osbourne and Foreigner among 2024 Rock Hall inductees
Peter Frampton announces 2024 North American dates
Peter Frampton announces fall US dates
Peter Frampton streams video of Baby I Love Your Way from Royal Albert Hall performance
