Les Paul's son says family got no warning before New Jersey home was demolished
The New Jersey home of guitarist Les Paul was demolished shortly after its sale. This property served as his workshop and laboratory for recording innovations. His son expressed deep pain and questioned the lack of family notification. Efforts were made to save historically significant materials from the damaged house. The demolition raises broader questions about preserving creative history and…
Les Paul's son, Gene Paul, expressed deep distress over the demolition of the New Jersey home where his father lived, worked, and made groundbreaking contributions to music recording. The 6,300-square-foot property on seven acres in Mahwah's Deerhaven community was sold for $990,000 just weeks before it was demolished. Gene Paul revealed in a Facebook post that the family was not given any advance notice of the demolition, which he described as "deeply painful."
The loss of the house carries significant emotional weight for the family, as it was not only their childhood home but also a crucial laboratory where Les Paul developed pioneering multitrack recording techniques, experimented with electric-guitar technology, and recorded songs with his wife, Mary Ford. The house was a destination for prominent musicians to discuss music and technology.
The family's concern extends beyond the disappearance of the house, as they have raised questions about the preservation of historically significant objects and spaces. The Les Paul Legacy Group stated that efforts were made to save significant material, though some items were damaged by water and mold after years of alleged neglect.
The debate over preserving creative history has been heightened by the demolition, with questions emerging about when a private home becomes a part of cultural history that warrants protection.
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