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The Les Paul Foundation will kick-off a yearlong celebration of guitarist, inventor and innovator Les Paul with a star-studded event in New York’s Time Square on June 9. That day marks what would be Paul's 100th birthday.

Joe Satriani, Steve Miller, Joan Jett, Neal Schon, Johnny A and Count’s 77 are among the performers scheduled for the show, which will take place at the Hard Rock Cafe New York. A red carpet arrival will begin at 6 p.m. followed by a special ticketed musical event inside.



 

The Les Paul 100th Anniversary runs through May 2016 and will include re-releases of Les Paul’s music and a national mobile tour called Les Paul’s Big Sound Experience.

 

The Les Paul Foundation will reissue four definitive Les Paul albums digitally. These include three previously unreleased albums and The Hitmakers, a special collectible vinyl Les Paul release.

 

The Les Paul’s Big Sound Experience is a 53-foot interactive state-of-the-art mobile exhibit that will visit cities across the country until late May 2016. The exhibit allows visitors to explore music, sound and technology innovations in a hands-on, entertaining interactive experience.

 

The mobile tour will begin on June 9 in New York City in conjunction with the Times Square event. The exhibit will be open at Broadway and 44th from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and be free to the public. Fans who purchase tickets to the Hard Rock event on June 9 will also receive a special VIP pass to the mobile exhibit, giving them preferred entry, food and drink and the chance to be among some of the music world’s most popular performers.

Other activities for this celebration include a new interactive website, educational grants, media promotions and a national PSA campaign giving youth a chance to “Pledge to Invent.  

 

 

Take a look at the video below, which includes Eddie Van Halen, Jeff Beck, Keith Richards, B.B. King and others paying tribute to Les.