Les Paul is a guiding light in the life of Richie Sambora and it seems he still is, shining a 'spot' on his man from above. On July 22 and 23, in honor of the legendary Les Paul, Sambora delivered his blues-based vocals and signature guitar sound to an intimate room of 170 lucky fans at The Iridium Theatre in Manhattan. For those whose fortune's wheel landed on "Sold Out," the series of 3 shows - meant to mark the late Les Paul's birthday and raise funds for the Les Paul Foundation - will air on Public Television's Front And Center this Fall. What was immediately evident to any onlooker were Sambora's vocal chops, opening with a bare-bones version of Leon Russell's intimate "Song For You." Sans guitar, Sambora solidified his Frontman-worthy status. His dramatic interpretation introducing the audience to the man beyond the axe. A talent more than the gifted artisan famous for the complimentary glow and grit he's brought to Bon Jovi's generation-transcending sound.

1. 10/31/2014 Richie Sambora: In The Light of A Legend
Richie Sambora: In The Light of A Legend
By Jennifer Pricci
Les Paul is a guiding light in the life of Richie Sambora and it seems he still is, shining a 'spot'
on his man from above. On July 22 and 23, in honor of the legendary Les Paul, Sambora
delivered his blues-based vocals and signature guitar sound to an intimate room of 170 lucky
fans at The Iridium Theatre in Manhattan. For those whose fortune's wheel landed on "Sold
Out," the series of 3 shows - meant to mark the late Les Paul's birthday and raise funds for the
Les Paul Foundation - will air on Public Television's Front And Center this Fall.
What was immediately evident to any onlooker were Sambora's vocal chops, opening with a
bare-bones version of Leon Russell's intimate "Song For You." Sans guitar, Sambora solidified
his Frontman-worthy status. His dramatic interpretation introducing the audience to the man
beyond the axe. A talent more than the gifted artisan famous for the complimentary glow and
grit he's brought to Bon Jovi's generation-transcending sound.
The show quickly ascended toward huge riff rockers. Diehard Sambora fans made their
presence known by singing each word to every song off Sambora's series of impressive solo
albums, including the underrated 2012 Aftermath of the Lowdown. Their faces pained by the
excruciating reality that the live for television performance meant cheeks had to stay in seats
and fists couldn't pump. But faces mirrored the exhilaration that Sambora delivered to the 170
pairs of electrified eyes.
Yes, electrified. And that's what brought everyone, including Sambora and his band of bonafied
musicians, to the Iridium that night. Les Paul's brainchild - the solid-body electric guitar. An
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2. 10/31/2014 Richie Sambora: In The Light of A Legend
utterly baffling invention presented to Gibson long before today's most glorified rock'n'roller's
had jobs.
Sambora recently recalled to MusicRadar the experience of meeting Les for the first time.
It was during a small birthday party at his home, nearly 30 years ago, that his mentor made a
surprise appearance, a truly pivotal moment for Sambora as excessive recording demands had
him very overwhelmed.
"You're kiddin' me! I mean, when does this happen in life, ever?
"I grabbed Les, and he and I went out to the dock. I told my assistant, ‘Nobody gets past this
point until I'm done.' Les and I stayed on the dock talking for, like, two hours. It was the best. If
we had grown up together, we would've been friends. Which is a weird thing when you think
about it, him being the father of the electric guitar and the inventor of multi-track recording.
Somehow, I was able to distinguish that line – ‘There's the legend and there's the man.'"
He brought Sambora a gift that night. A white Les Paul and a piece of advice; "Son, here's the
sword. Go cut the shit."
And cut it he did. Sporting that white Les Paul and recounting to the audience with great
sentiment its history, Sambora delivered arena-sized versions of Aftermath tracks "Nowadays,"
"Taking A Chance On The Wind," "Seven Years Gone" and the debut single "Every Road
Leads Home To You." He brought the house down with one of his beloved classics, "Stranger
in This Town," perfect for showcasing his distinctive vocals drenched in soul and splashed with
gut and vibrato. A voice perfectly suited to his unequivocal fretwork and earth-shattering,
primal, blues-based guitar solos. And with just a few Bon Jovi tracks thrown in for good
measure, Mr. Bluesman – as he's affectionately known – treats his fans and introduces new
ones to carnal versions of regnant #1 Billboard Hits… and hopefully the message that he
served as co-writer behind each and every one.
Much has been made about Sambora's recent departure from Bon Jovi… the who, the what,
the why…? Jon has successfully built a multi-million dollar corporation known as Bon Jovi, of
which he is – among other things – CEO. Every corporation needs a solid business strategy to
thrive, and what's particularly fascinating about Bon Jovi is how they rode to explosive success
based largely on the strength of their business model. Conversely, Sambora flourishes when
breaking the mold. He understands and values the importance of improv – and he excels at it.
He is a talent that throws a kink in the Henry Ford assembly line, plucking the expressive
objective of his craft from its model and changing the process – offering a dynamic and
impassioned music experience that can span an evening… or a career.
Richie Sambora is an innovative talent. His mentor? An innovator. And as the spot shined
brightly on Sambora that night – a musician's musician whose licks, trills, timing and style make
him an icon of rock, blues and guitar – there is no doubt Les was looking down, on his feet, and
pumping his fist for the legend-to-be.
For more information on Front And Center visit their official website
at www.frontandcenter.com .
To see Richie Sambora's televised Tribute to Les Paul check your local PBS listings
at www.pbs.org .
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3. 10/31/2014 Richie Sambora: In The Light of A Legend
originally published: 2014-09-20 10:47:00
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