Saint Rose music industry program to host 'Les Paul Thru the Lens' exhibit March 14-20
February 25, 2022 · 2022
Les Paul in his home studio (courtesy of the Les Paul Foundation)
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- March 14 at 7 p.m. – https://fb.me/e/4fU6G9ZsE
- March 15 at 7 p.m. – https://fb.me/e/1aX8qKTYU
- March 16 at 7 p.m. – https://fb.me/e/2mIeMzQFh
- March 18 at 7 p.m. – https://fb.me/e/5fon3Mq5N
The music industry program at The College of Saint Rose will host an exhibit and events March 14 through March 20 dedicated to musician and inventor Les Paul.
“Les Paul Thru the Lens,” held in the Esther Massry Gallery at the Massry Center for the Arts, 1002 Madison Avenue in Albany, will feature photography of Paul’s life and recording equipment that was used by Paul. The exhibit will be open March 14 through 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and March 19 and 20 from noon to 5 p.m. It is free and open to the public.
“Les Paul Thru the Lens” is a photography exhibit that chronicles Paul’s life and achievements, including his marriage to vocalist and song partner Mary Ford, his work in the recording studio, prototypes of the solid-body electric guitar, and his work as a performer. A virtual guide accessible by scanning a QR code at the exhibit allows visitors to discover more about Paul’s work.
“We get to see how experimental recordings influenced music made by generations that came after him,” said Dr. Sean McClowry, associate professor of music industry at Saint Rose. “This is a great opportunity for people to witness the work of one of the greatest pioneers of music up close and in person.”
Four events will be held during the exhibition – also free and open to the public. The events will be livestreamed on multiple platforms with the links found at www.strose.edu/music-industry.
Les Paul working on some of his groundbreaking equipment (courtesy of the Les Paul Foundation)
“The Anatomy of ‘Lover’: Recreating Les Paul’s First Sound on Sound Hit Record”
March 14 at 7 p.m. in the Esther Massry Gallery, 1002 Madison Avenue, Albany
Drawing upon his research pertaining to Les Paul, Saint Rose Music Industry Associate Professor Sean McClowry will use the record-cutting equipment to demonstrate live how Les Paul achieved his groundbreaking record in 1948 called “Lover.”
“Sound on Sound(s): Demonstrating Les Paul & Mary Ford’s Multi-track Recording Methods”
March 15 at 7 p.m. in the Esther Massry Gallery, 1002 Madison Avenue, Albany
Alongside Saint Rose Music Industry Associate Professor Sean McClowry, guest presenter and Saint Rose music industry alum Amy Branham will demonstrate live how Les Paul and Mary Ford recorded together in their home studios using several analog reel-to-reel recorders to create their unique sound that would influence generations after them.
Jim Wysocki, mayor of Mahwah, New Jersey, and longtime friend of Les Paul
“Les Paul From Start to Finish”
March 16 at 7 p.m. in the Esther Massry Gallery, 1002 Madison Avenue, Albany
Jim Wysocki, the mayor of Mahwah, New Jersey, and a close friend of Paul throughout his years living in Mahwah, will tell the story of Paul through the guitars and historic information Paul shared during the course of their 30-year friendship.
A record cutter used by music industry students at Saint Rose (courtesy of the Saint Rose music industry program)
“Analog Recording in the 21st Century”
March 18 at 7 p.m. in the Hearst Center for Communications and Interactive Media, 996 Madison Avenue in Albany
Almost completely replaced by digital technology, analog recording on magnetic tape has remained as a boutique and exotic form of recording music due to its unique sound. A live recording session featuring Saint Rose music industry students will allow the public to hear the difference between analog and digital recording methods. The event includes a guided comparison by Saint Rose Music Industry Associate Professor Sean McClowry.
The Les Paul Studio Collection at Saint Rose was made possible through a grant from the Les Paul Foundation and consists of a restored record-cutting machine and several historic Ampex reel-to-reel tape machines. It is used by Saint Rose students for classes, recording projects, and by our student-run Rose Record Label Group. In December, Saint Rose was a recipient of a new grant from the Les Paul Foundation to support the continued work with Les Paul equipment and support the creation of a permanent museum-like display on campus.
EVENTS AT A GLANCE
“Les Paul Thru the Lens” photography exhibit and events
When: March 14-20. Exhibit hours are March 14-18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and March 19 and 20 from noon to 5 p.m.
Where: Esther Massry Gallery, Massry Center for the Arts, 1002 Madison Avenue in Albany
Notes: The exhibit and related events are free and open to the public.