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Jeff Beck, Imelda May Honor Les Paul at the Grammys

Jeff BeckMichael Jackson wasn't the only artist to receive a posthumous tribute at the 2010 Grammy Awards. Jeff Beck and Irish rockabilly revivalist Imelda May paid tribute to the original guitar hero, Les Paul. Beck, who inducted Paul into the Rock and Roll Hall fame back in 1988, did Paul justice by taking an extended solo during the Paul classic 'How High the Moon.'

'Crazy Heart' actor Jeff Bridges introduced Beck and May, saying one of Paul's greatest gifts was "the solid body, electric guitar."

The performance came at the end of the Grammy's "In Memoriam" feature, which also honored Vic Chesnutt, Jay Bennett, DJ AM and Mary Travers, among many others.

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Buren Matthews

I would Love to have a copy of this show i also liked the person wohm sung Elvis songs wander who he was ... wow it was such a great show....

January 04 2011 at 1:28 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Barbara

What a performance. I was lucky enough to have tivo'd it and have watched it over and over. Just can't get enough.

February 05 2010 at 10:08 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
NYCfan

Agree the performance stood out on a night of amazing performances. Wanted to ask who the drummer was. Does anyone know? I really enjoyed what he was doing and thought it added much to the sound.

February 04 2010 at 10:44 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to NYCfan's comment
Norton Roadster

The drummer is Narada Michael Walden.

March 15 2010 at 6:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
art

Jeff Beck and Imelda May were the only genuine performances of the whole Grammy celebration. That woman can sing and Jeff Beck is a real musician who actually knows what he is doing on the guitar. The rest of them -- silly, by comparison.

February 03 2010 at 2:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lynn

By far the best of the night--no competition. Jeff Beck and Imelda May are the coolest of the cool, and I was quite unexpectedly blown away by their performance. In the never-ending cookie-cutter, formulaic mediocrity of American music, a burst of cool, classy, and effortless brilliance. Loved every second of it and I want more, more, more.

February 01 2010 at 4:29 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
sara

anyone know if there is a download for this performance?

February 01 2010 at 11:17 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
James Burr

The music for "How Hight the Moon" was written by my Great Uncle, Morgan "Bud" Lewis. If my Grandmother was here, I am sure she would be proud that her brother's tune lives on in the age of Ga Ga.Bud wrote the music, his writing partner Nancy Hamilton wrote the words. Bud was also the rehersal pianist for Oklahoma! Les Paul & Mary Ford took his tune from 1940 ad turned it into a #1 hit in 1951.

February 01 2010 at 8:29 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to James Burr's comment
Kim

James! Thank you for giving us a glance of historical information; I never knew this and want my son to know as much background as possible about where songs originated from. I just love this song and to have you give us this information is so valuable so that I can tell my friends the origin of it - well, it's the best type of interesting info around! Terrific and thanks!!! Kim

November 19 2010 at 8:38 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
john ray

Wow! I loved it. They captured the sound of Les Paul and Mary Ford perfectly. Anyone know where I can get a DVD copy of the performance?

February 01 2010 at 7:55 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to john ray's comment
Linda Malamas

Just superb, Jeff Beck and Imelda May's performance was incredible. How can I get a DVD of the performance or download this performance? They just stole the show!!

February 03 2010 at 5:27 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rupert Z

Jeff Beck and Imelda May's tribute to the life and accomplishments of Les Paul was by far the finest moment of the 52nd Grammy Awards. Not only was Beck's guitar virtuosity a reflection of Les Paul's influence, furthermore this performance had the most authentic audio mix of the entire broadcast. It was superbly balanced and a honor to Les Paul's pioneering efforts toward the excellence in art of recorded sound.

February 01 2010 at 7:54 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bill

Amazing.. these 2 should do an album.
the chemistry and guitar with her amazing voice was a pure pleasure.

February 01 2010 at 6:38 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply