AXS TV will pay tribute to the legacy of music pioneer Les Paul next month, premiering the 2006 concert special Les Paul & Friends: 90th Birthday Salute at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST on June 18, 2017. This special broadcast is in celebration of Paul’s 101st birthday on June 9.
According to a press release, the program on Paul, described as “a hit-making musician, solid-body electric guitar trailblazer, and an inventor of unprecedented recording techniques,” was filmed live at what was then the Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles on February 8, 2006. “Les Paul & Friends gives viewers a front row seat for an unforgettable night of powerhouse performances, as some of music’s biggest names come together to honor the ultimate icon. The night is headlined by show-stopping numbers from an all-star slate of Paul disciples, that includes Slash and Edgar Winter teaming up on the Stevie Wonder staple ‘Superstition’; Toto axeman Steve Lukather’s rendition of Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Little Wing’; and Joe Perry and Buddy Guy closing the night with a soulful blues set. Other highlights include spirited performances by Joe Satriani, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Neal Schon, and more.”
Related: Read BCB’s own tribute to the late Les Paul
As part of the night’s festivities, Les Paul & Friends also features rare commentary taken from several of Paul’s final interviews recorded at New York’s Iridium Jazz Club, as well as at Paul’s home in Mahwah, New Jersey. The special event was held to raise funds and awareness for the South Central charity A Place Called Home, designed to give at-risk youth a safe and secure environment they can thrive in.
The program is produced by AXS TV in association with In Touch Entertainment and Icon Television Music, Inc., which is also handling worldwide distribution. The special is produced by a team including Charles Carlini, Bob Cutarella, Howard Lipp and Glenn Aveni.
Watch a sneak peek of the Les Paul tribute concert
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