LES PAUL: Still Changing Songs

But selling millions of records to the new generation of teenaged record buyers.
[Laughs] Sure, and so this guy named Fabian comes along, and others followed him. There were a lot of bow wows in there, but also if you looked back deep, you would see some good things as well. I was just thinking the other day, “What was my reason for going to Memphis?” Oh yeah, that piano player. What was his name?

Jerry Lee Lewis?
Jerry Lee Lewis, yeah, and so I went to hear him, and I went to hear the B.B. King and all the other guys.

You’ve jammed many times with B.B.
Oh, I love him.

What songwriter to you exemplifies someone who really excelled at his craft?
I wouldn’t hesitate to mention Irving Berlin. How many great songs has he written? “White Christmas,” “Blue Skies…” Just about anything you want to name. He was just tremendous, but of course now the songwriting business has all changed, and everything is different.

What is your secret for staying in shape and active and creative at 93?
Well, first of all, it’s no secret, and the second thing is, I’m not in great shape. [Laughs] I have health problems, and have had a lot of accidents and things. But, probably the greatest part about it is that every time you get knocked down, you still have to find the will to get up and do it again.

You must be doing something right for over 70 years, because people still line up to hear you play.
Well, it makes me happy that people still come and enjoy what I do. You get a standing ovation, and you just say, “Why me?”