It’s hard to argue the impact Peter Frampton has had on music.
He started his first band at age ten, later forming Humble Pie, and went solo in 1971. Frampton achieved remarkable success in 1976 when he was named Rolling Stone’s Artist of the Year. That same year, he released his album, ‘Frampton Comes Alive!,’ which went on to become one of the best-selling live albums of all time.
On Sunday night, Frampton was honored as the fourth Les Paul Spirit Award recipient at Gibson Garage in Nashville. Michael Braunstein, Executive Director of the Les Paul Foundation remarked that Frampton truly embodies the spirit of Les Paul.
Frampton described receiving the award as an incredibly mind-blowing experience.
During his acceptance speech, Frampton shared anecdotes from his interactions with Paul, including his telling of a story about using multitrack recording. In the late 1950s, Paul was one of the first to purchase a multitrack recorder to enhance both vocals and instruments in his music.
Frampton joins the ranks of previous Les Paul Spirit Award recipients, including Bob Weir, Nile Rodgers, and U2’s The Edge. Despite his 2019 diagnosis of inclusion body myositis, a condition that causes muscle weakness, he continues to write and perform.
Frampton received the award on what would have been Paul’s 109th birthday. The honor was presented in partnership with Gibson Gives.
Braunstein’s full comments:
Frampton’s full acceptance speech:
