Museum to Tell Story of Les Paul's Personal Guitars

On Tuesday, January 22, Rik Mercaldi will present a Gallery Talk “The Story of the Les Paul Guitars on Display at the Mahwah Museum.” The talk will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the upstairs gallery of the Mahwah Museum. The talk is part of the year-long celebration of “Les Paul in Mahwah,” a tribute to the creative musical genius who lived in Mahwah for over 50 years. 

Rik Mercaldi, owner of the Strumming Monkey, and an expert on vintage guitars, will discuss the guitars on display in the Les Paul exhibit, which were once owned and prized by Les Paul. Each of these guitars – including Les’s own performance guitar with the Les Paulverizer attached and a model specially made for Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin -- has its own unique story. Rik is a buyer, seller, and authenticator of used and vintage instruments for 20 years, and has been playing and performing for over 30 years.  He has performed in several bands in the New York metropolitan area and has recently released a self titled CD. 

Mahwah Museum Gallery Talks are part of the Exhibit “Les Paul in Mahwah: A Tribute” which celebrates the life and accomplishments of long-time Mahwah resident Les Paul. The exhibit has been extended to June 2013. Gallery Talks are held once a month on Tuesday evenings; upcoming talks include evenings with Bucky Pizzarelli and Ed Laub, Lou Pallo, and Charlie Carreras and Jim Wysocki. For more information, please visit www.mahwahmuseum.org  or call 201-512-0099.  

The Museum, at 201 Franklin Turnpike, Mahwah, is open Wednesdays and weekends from 1-5 p.m. and also features “New Jersey Fights in the Civil War: Remembering Soldiers Buried in Mahwah.”  A new exhibit, “Nike Missile Base in Mahwah: The Cold War Comes to Mahwah,” will open in February.  Further information and a schedule of the Museum’s lecture series are available at 201-512-0099 or at www.mahwahmuseum.org.

Admission to the January 22 Gallery Talk is $10.  Seating is limited and reservations are suggested. Reserve atlectures@mahwahmuseum.org, or call 201.512.0099.

The above was submitted by the Mahwah Museum.