Musical memories

The death of music legend Les Paul on Aug. 13 has sparked new interest in creating a fitting memorial to the man who was called The Wizard of Waukesha. Paul died after complications of pneumonia at age 94 in White Plains, N.Y.

The Waukesha County Museum currently has a small memorial display of various Les Paul items. Visitors to the museum can view the display and sign a guest book at no charge.

"We have a couple of intriguing items, including Les' handprints in cement. People are coming in and putting their hands in," said Jim Hahn, the museum's director of development and marketing at the museum. Among the other items are a childhood guitar and a device Les' mother used to record her son's music.

Hahn thought the display would be up for about a month "but if people are coming in fairly steadily we'll keep it up longer."

Plans continue for a permanent Les Paul exhibit at the museum, an exhibit which Paul himself had supported.

"We are so very proud to note that the last time Les came home to Waukesha was for our 2007 benefit concert in support of our efforts to honor his legacy," said Hahn. "He felt the more exhibits that told his story, the better."

Although he quit school at age 17 to become a professional musician and soon moved away from Waukesha, Paul never forgot his roots.

"Despite his many professional accolades, international fame, and considerable career achievements, Paul was never shy about expressing his enormous pride at having grown up in Waukesha," notes Kirsten Lee Villegas, Executive Director of the Waukesha County Museum.

"We are so grateful for Les' personal support of our museum's long-standing plan to create a permanent, hometown exhibit which appropriately honors his legacy," Villegas added, "And we remain committed to the project as a lasting tribute to Les and his remarkable story."

Dave Frazer, president of the museum's board of trustees, acknowledged how important Les' support has been to the exhibit's completion. "Les understood the size of the task of creating a signature exhibit, and he not only committed a generous personal financial gift and performed at a local benefit, but he also provided a great deal of behind-the-scenes support that can never be fully appreciated," Frazer added.

The museum has recently collaborated with a national design firm and drafted a preliminary outline of the next major steps for the exhibit - ensuring future generations of young people are inspired by Les Paul's life story and the values it represents.

Les Paul was born Lester William Polfuss on June 9, 1915 on East North Avenue. The family lived in an apartment next to an automobile garage Les' dad operated.

Besides a performance and recording career that spanned more than 80 years, Paul's musical accomplishments include the invention of the Gibson Les Paul guitar. His clever re-thinking of the instrument was used by generations of the world's best musicians, including Stevie Ray Vaughn and Eric Clapton. His work in multi-track recording remains the standard today for capturing sound.

Persons who wish to support the Waukesha County Museum's efforts to complete the Les Paul exhibit can contact the museum directly at (262) 521-2859 or through their website: countymuseum.org." target="_blank">www.waukeshacountymuseum.org.

The Waukesha County Museum is located at 101 W. Main St. at East Avenue in Waukesha. Exhibits and the Museum Store are open regularly from Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. General admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors aged 62 and above, $3 for students aged 6-17 and free for children 5 and under.

For additional information, call (262) 521-2859 or visit www.waukesha countymuseum.org

Signs of remembrance

With all the publicity surrounding the passing of Les Paul perhaps more people will take note of the signs around Waukesha that indicate the city's - and the area's - fondness for the music legend:

• Sign on North Street at St. Paul near Frame Park announces the "Birthplace of Les Paul."

• The Les Paul Performance Center in Cutler Park was dedicated many years ago.

• Les Paul Parkway signs, on the Highway 164 by-pass on Waukesha's east and south ends, have a guitar printed on them.

• Exhibit of Les Paul artifacts is currently at the Waukesha County Museum. Plans are being made for a permanent exhibit.

• Les Paul will be buried on Friday at Prairie Home Cemetery, 605 S. Prairie Ave. where his mother and other family members are buried.

• Les Paul's House of Sound exhibit can be viewed at Discovery World in Milwaukee.