Janice Brooks
From:
Pleasant Gap Pa
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Posted 17 Nov 2007 6:44 am |
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Les Paul Receives Top Arts Award from President Bush
by Staff.
http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/004009.html
http://www.modernguitars.com/imagefiles/news/lesgeorge.jpg
Guitarist and inventor Les Paul meets U.S. President George W. Bush on
November 15 during awarding of 2007 National Medal of Arts. Photo by
Michael G. Stewart.
Long recognized as a key figure in the history of the electric guitar
and modern audio recording techniques, Les Paul can now add the highest
award given to artists and arts patrons by the United States Government,
the National Medal of Arts, to his already impressive list of
achievements. In a ceremony conducted on November 15 in the East Room of
the White House, President Bush said of the recipients of the National
Medal of Arts (10) and National Humanities Medal (10): "Your
accomplishments remind us that freedom of thought and freedom of
expression are two pillars of our democracy. These freedoms have helped
our nation build some of the finest centers of learning in the world.
They've helped inspire new movements in art and literature. And they've
helped fill our libraries and museums and theaters with great works for
all our citizens to enjoy."
A military aide read the citation that accompanied each recipient's
award: "Les Paul. The 2007 National Medal of Arts to Les Paul for his
innovation as a musician, his pioneering designs of the electric guitar,
and his groundbreaking recording techniques that have influenced the
development of American jazz, blues, and pop music, and inspired
generations of guitarists." See yesterday's article for a full
transcript of the ceremony and more information about the National Medal
of Arts. |
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