(PDF) (DOC) (JPG)February 3, 2014

(MAHWAH, NJ)–The Ramapo College Music Program and the Ramapo Music Club are proud to present the Third Annual Les Paul Tribute Festival from February 3-8, 2014. The festival honors Les Paul and his innovations as a guitarist, inventor and entrepreneur. This year’s events include a wide range of guest speakers, some who worked with Paul directly and others who represent his inventive, groundbreaking approach to music and the music industry. The legendary Gibson guitar bus will be on campus Monday, February 3 to open the festival. It is a mobile museum where students will have the opportunity to play Les Paul guitars and other instruments made by Gibson.

The festival will conclude with a concert on Saturday, February 8 by three student bands selected by the Ramapo Music Club, a student organization primarily comprised of Music Industry majors. Audio Insight, a progressive rock band who has performed at two Bamboozle Festivals, will headline the show with their guitar-driven, high-energy sound. The Bloodwashed Band is an acoustic folk/rock group with strings and multiple vocalists, and The NJ Gordon Experience performs an original mix of jazz and funk.

All events, including guest speakers and master classes, will be held in the Trustees Pavilion on the Ramapo College campus:

Monday, February 3 @11:30 a.m.
A conversation with Gene Cornish, guitarist for The Rascals who worked with Les Paul in the studio and a long time player of Les Paul guitars; Rusty Paul, Les Paul’s son, and Ramapo Music Industry Professor Aaron van Duyne. 

Tuesday, February 4 @ 11 a.m.
Jazz guitarist Mark Sganga will join Ramapo adjunct professor Sue Williams in a workshop devoted to Les Paul’s Harmonic Concept.

Tuesday, February 4 @ 1 p.m.
David Wish – Founder/Director of Little Kids Rock, which is revitalizing music education in U.S. public schools by bringing free music instruction and instruments to under-served schools across the country.

Wednesday, February 5 @ 1 p.m.
Lou Gonzalez – Founder of Quad Studios in Nashville/Manhattan, recording engineer who worked with Les Paul and has produced many great hit records by artists including Madonna, No Doubt, Neil Young, Metallica, and many more.

Thursday, February 6 @ 2 p.m.
Emmy Black – Ramapo graduate who is A & R at Bar/None records. She will talk about innovation in artist development, specifically her experience developing former Ramapo band The Front Bottoms who are enjoying great success on Bar None. 

Tickets for the Saturday concert are FREE for students, $15 for others. All events in the Trustees Pavilion are also free. Contact Ben Neill at bneill@ramapo.edu or Marc Gidal at  mgidal@ramapo.edu for more information. Berrie Center Box Office (201) 684-7844.

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About Ramapo College

Ramapo College of New Jersey is the state’s premier public liberal arts college and is committed to academic excellence through interdisciplinary and experiential learning, and international and intercultural understanding. The comprehensive college is situated among the beautiful Ramapo Mountains, is within commuting distance to New York City, was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America by CondeNast Traveler, and boasts the best on-campus housing in New Jersey per Niche.com. Established in 1969, Ramapo College offers bachelor’s degrees in the arts, business, data science, humanities, social sciences and the sciences, as well as in professional studies, which include business, education, nursing and social work. In addition, the College offers courses leading to teacher certification at the elementary and secondary levels, and offers graduate programs leading to master’s degrees in Accounting, Applied Mathematics, Business Administration, Contemporary Instructional Design, Computer Science, Creative Music Technology, Data Science, Educational Leadership, Nursing, Social Work and Special Education, as well as a Doctor of Nursing Practice.

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