Remembering Les Paul & Mary Ford
Jun 10, 2021 12:47:15 #
I remember my dad telling me the story of Les Paul and a car accident. I found this and thought all you Les Paul and Mary Ford fans would like to see it.
Posted October 14, 2014
I am sure there are quite a few members that are unaware of the story of Le Paul and his car accident. Searching through some stories, I found this and thought I would post it. I just copied and pasted it from the article.
Pretty amazing actually.
Car Wreck!
In the late 1940’s, Les Paul’s career was starting to soar to new heights. He had been successful breaking into the Los Angeles music and radio scene; building up his reputation, his professional contacts, and continuing to invent and improve sound/music techniques. By January 1948, Les Paul and Mary Ford had been together for two years and he decided it was time for her to meet his family. Making a road trip out of their time off from Capitol Records, Les and Mary hit the road out of California for Waukesha, Wisconsin.
By the time Les and Mary stopped in Flagstaff, Arizona, it was clear that Les was running a fever. Les went in to see a few doctors, but they could not give an accurate diagnosis of his fever, so Les decided to wait till he could get back to Hollywood and rest up. Their visit to Waukesha went well; however, even though Les usually did all the driving, Les was too ill to drive home. Mary would have to make the long trip to California, through a January winter, with Les lying in the front seat. They ran into a winter storm and came to an area where a railroad track crossed under a highway, between the cities of Davenport and Chandler Oklahoma, when Les heard Mary scream and felt the car swerve. Les quickly shot up from his seat, kicked Mary’s foot off the brake and managed to straighten out the car a bit, but it was too late. The last memory Les had of the accident is saying to Mary, “This is it,” and throwing his right arm around Mary to protect her face. News articles reported that the car went off the side of a railroad overpass and dropped 20 feet into a ravine. There were no seatbelts and Les, Mary and all their music equipment went through the roof of the convertible as it dropped down to the frozen river below, landing upside-down. In this case, Les believed that the lack of seatbelts may have helped them survive the crash. Since the car had also downed telephone and telegraph lines, the phone company sent out work crews which then came upon the car accident; otherwise, there might not have been help for Les and Mary for a long time in that storm. Even still, Les and Mary had to wait in the snow eight hours for help.
Mary was thankfully not seriously injured. Les, however, had six broken ribs, a fractured pelvis, broken vertebrae, a punctured spleen, a broken nose, and hurt collarbones and shoulder. His right arm, the one he protected Mary with, was shattered along with a crushed elbow. He had also contracted pneumonia. Les Paul was in bad shape; he nearly died. Most doctors may have amputated the arm, but Les’ doctor, Dr. Robert Knight, was determined to save the arm. At this point, after several dark first few weeks in the hospital, Les decided to persevere and not listen to those who told him that he may never play guitar again. After several surgeries, Les was flown back to California to see a bone specialist. In Ca, Dr. McKeaver replaced Les’ right elbow with a piece of bone from Les’ leg, but there would be no elbow joint; meaning that once Les’ arm was set, it would stay in that position. So Les told Dr. McKeaver, “Put my forefinger in my bellybutton when you set it. That’s how I hold the guitar, and I’ll still be able to play.” The doctors still were telling Les that he may never regain full use of his hand, but he wasn’t listening. Les was determined to be able to play again, and after over a year of recuperation and adapting to the change in his arm, Les was not only able to play guitar, he went on to hit the top of the music charts with Mary Ford.
Posted October 14, 2014
I am sure there are quite a few members that are unaware of the story of Le Paul and his car accident. Searching through some stories, I found this and thought I would post it. I just copied and pasted it from the article.
Pretty amazing actually.
Car Wreck!
In the late 1940’s, Les Paul’s career was starting to soar to new heights. He had been successful breaking into the Los Angeles music and radio scene; building up his reputation, his professional contacts, and continuing to invent and improve sound/music techniques. By January 1948, Les Paul and Mary Ford had been together for two years and he decided it was time for her to meet his family. Making a road trip out of their time off from Capitol Records, Les and Mary hit the road out of California for Waukesha, Wisconsin.
By the time Les and Mary stopped in Flagstaff, Arizona, it was clear that Les was running a fever. Les went in to see a few doctors, but they could not give an accurate diagnosis of his fever, so Les decided to wait till he could get back to Hollywood and rest up. Their visit to Waukesha went well; however, even though Les usually did all the driving, Les was too ill to drive home. Mary would have to make the long trip to California, through a January winter, with Les lying in the front seat. They ran into a winter storm and came to an area where a railroad track crossed under a highway, between the cities of Davenport and Chandler Oklahoma, when Les heard Mary scream and felt the car swerve. Les quickly shot up from his seat, kicked Mary’s foot off the brake and managed to straighten out the car a bit, but it was too late. The last memory Les had of the accident is saying to Mary, “This is it,” and throwing his right arm around Mary to protect her face. News articles reported that the car went off the side of a railroad overpass and dropped 20 feet into a ravine. There were no seatbelts and Les, Mary and all their music equipment went through the roof of the convertible as it dropped down to the frozen river below, landing upside-down. In this case, Les believed that the lack of seatbelts may have helped them survive the crash. Since the car had also downed telephone and telegraph lines, the phone company sent out work crews which then came upon the car accident; otherwise, there might not have been help for Les and Mary for a long time in that storm. Even still, Les and Mary had to wait in the snow eight hours for help.
Mary was thankfully not seriously injured. Les, however, had six broken ribs, a fractured pelvis, broken vertebrae, a punctured spleen, a broken nose, and hurt collarbones and shoulder. His right arm, the one he protected Mary with, was shattered along with a crushed elbow. He had also contracted pneumonia. Les Paul was in bad shape; he nearly died. Most doctors may have amputated the arm, but Les’ doctor, Dr. Robert Knight, was determined to save the arm. At this point, after several dark first few weeks in the hospital, Les decided to persevere and not listen to those who told him that he may never play guitar again. After several surgeries, Les was flown back to California to see a bone specialist. In Ca, Dr. McKeaver replaced Les’ right elbow with a piece of bone from Les’ leg, but there would be no elbow joint; meaning that once Les’ arm was set, it would stay in that position. So Les told Dr. McKeaver, “Put my forefinger in my bellybutton when you set it. That’s how I hold the guitar, and I’ll still be able to play.” The doctors still were telling Les that he may never regain full use of his hand, but he wasn’t listening. Les was determined to be able to play again, and after over a year of recuperation and adapting to the change in his arm, Les was not only able to play guitar, he went on to hit the top of the music charts with Mary Ford.
Jun 10, 2021 14:16:32 #
markngolf wrote:
I recall how exciting they were in the early 50's. Here are some nostalgic recordings & videos.
https://youtu.be/NkGf1GHAxhE
https://youtu.be/--t1xmw02B0
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Les Paul!!
Enjoy,
Mark
https://youtu.be/NkGf1GHAxhE
https://youtu.be/--t1xmw02B0
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Les Paul!!
Enjoy,
Mark
I remember their TV show broadcast from their home. I have a CD of some of their recordings and at one point I owned a Les Paul guitar.
Jun 10, 2021 15:02:08 #
Curmudgeon wrote:
My Dad was a fan, therefore, by default, so was I. Thanks for the memories
So, I’m as old as your dad? 🤓
Mark
Jun 10, 2021 16:33:30 #
markngolf wrote:
My pleasure!! Les Paul was way ahead of the curve.
Mark
Mark
Les Paul and Leo Fender were both ahead of the curve when it comes to guitars.
Thanks for sharing Mark.
Jun 10, 2021 17:06:18 #
Vince68 wrote:
Les Paul and Leo Fender were both ahead of the curve when it comes to guitars.
Thanks for sharing Mark.
Thanks for sharing Mark.
For sure, Vince!
Thanks,
Mark
Jun 11, 2021 09:57:04 #
Jun 13, 2021 14:55:18 #
Jun 13, 2021 15:08:23 #
topcat wrote:
He was one great guitar player.
Yeah, don't give her any recognition for the note-for-note mimic.
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