Peter Frampton Receives Les Paul Innovation Award

Steve Lukather presents Peter Frampton with Les Paul Award

Toward the end of the evening at the 34th annual NAMM TEC awards show, Steve Lukather, singer-songwriter and founding member of American based rock band, Toto, was on deck to present his good friend, Mr. Peter Frampton with the Les Paul Innovation Award.

Christened after musically talented, luthier and innovator of the solid body electric guitar, the Les Paul Award was created in 1991. Its purpose is to honor and recognize artists have gone above and beyond the norm in the utilization of sound and recording technology.

British born (Bromley, Kent, England), Peter Frampton, now living in Nashville, Tennessee, is a singer-songwriter, guitarist and actor that made his mark in the music industry in the late 60s and early 70s. Peter’s career started in his early teens and quickly moved into mainstream music. By the age of 18 he became one of the founding members The British rock group Humble pie.

In 1971 Peter left the group to pursue a career as a solo musician. Today he has an extensive discography but will forever be best known for his “Frampton Comes Alive” album released In 1976 that features two tracks utilizing a musicians’ “Talk Box*.

Mr. Frampton’s career bridged into several connected avenues within the music and sound industries. These roads led to destinations such as acting, consulting, technical advising, film, movies, and television.

Before the formal presentation of the Les Paul Award, Peter entertained his peers and fans, with some classic “Frampton,” a beautifully energetic rendition of “I Want You to Love Me” and immediately paid homage to the late, great, Chris Cornell, with “Black Hole Sun.”

Once presented with this prestigious award, he spoke humbly about himself and eloquently about Les Paul…”Les Paul was the godfather of modern recording, the most innovative of guitar players, and the creator of what we do. It’s a debt we all owe him. Whatever I’ve done to win this amazing recognition started with Les. Les showed us that innovation isn’t about high tech or money – it’s about ideas and using the tools at your disposal to make music in ways it’s never been made before.”

The evening concluded with Peter Frampton picking up his guitar, engaging his talk box and setting the room on fire with one of my very favorites, “Do You Feel Like I Do?”.

To read more about the Les Paul Innovation Award and the Les Paul Foundation, please visit their website: www.lespaulfoundation.org